I've always been fascinated with the concept of Independence Day.
Especially since I've had the privilege of visiting more than 50 countries around the world.
Where the vast majority of countries have their own version of it.
And our American friends celebrate their own today.
But first... a brief segue on naming.
Independence Day means something.
The Fourth of July is just a date on the calendar.
It’s kind of like calling Christmas ‘The Twenty-fifth of December’ or New Year’s ‘The First of January.’
Silly.
But back to Independence as a concept.
When the Declaration of Independence was written, 90% of Americans worked for themselves.
Today only 10% do.
Of the 90% who work for a paycheck, over 55% work for institutions with 500 employees or more.
That means over half of America is financially accountable to some kind of big bureaucracy.
Not a good thing.
And I was fortunate to learn early in life that one of the best things you can do... for your country and yourself...
Is to become financially independent!
And use your financial independence to take a stand against the forces that routinely undermine your communities and your country.
Because if people like you don’t do it, who’s going to?
Even if you're not American (like myself) and today is just a run-of-the-mill Saturday ... these words are worth bearing in mind.
Because we're in the midst of a seismic shift right now... the likes of which we've never seen before.
The investor class is becoming more and more privileged by the day... and those outside of it... are getting left behind at a rapid rate.
And I'm fully aware that I'm preaching to the choir on this one...
But if you're reading this email... then you're in a good place to set yourself up for your financial future
Oliver
P.S.
Back when I lived in Texas, someone at my gym asked me if I was sad about the upcoming celebrations... because... you know... I'm British
I said "it's been 250 years, I think I'm just about over it"