Financially Forward: Gerald Harris

Many people invest in the market for the potential profit, dividends, excitement, and, just possibly, the possibility they will hit a moon shot. At the same time, safety is also important to them and they want to stay far away from the scandals and shocking scams that have been associated with some penny stocks. How should they proceed? Many opt for an obvious answer: buying shares in very large companies with solid reputations.

Driving a cab is high-pressure work. Then why does anyone do it? One driver gave this answer: “I leave every morning with empty pockets and come back with a wallet full of money.” Others expressed a similar sentiment. After driving a taxi for a few years, people from all kinds of backgrounds were able to save enough to make a down payment on a house or to start a small business. Either way, they enjoyed a taste of the American dream.

Technology never slows down. There’s always something new, something faster, cheaper, and better that’s being developed, and that’s true for 5G wireless too. This new technology boasts some very impressive capabilities such as very high speed – dramatically faster than what’s being used now.

So many bizarre and unsettling things are happening out there that it’s understandable if someone starts going crazy. That said, let me tell you about the onset of my paranoia and why it’s been increasing.

By some important measures, the economy is booming. The unemployment rate is at a record low, the number of new jobs that have been created is at a record high, and the stock market remains strong. But don’t try to convince the millions of Americans up against the financial ropes how good things are. They’ve formed very rigid opinions about this, not by studying statistics or analyzing charts, but from their real-life experiences. And optimistic is the last thing they’re feeling.

Erik H. had just gotten his first job and was anxious to make a good start at it. But the fact that he didn’t tell his employer about his difficulty to read nearly cost him not only his job but his life.