EoR No. 12: The least useful financial news you’ve read lately
Plus, women’s wellbeing at work, idealization of entrepreneurship, the effectiveness of consumer activism and more
Top of mind
I’ve gotten some lovely feedback on Tuesday’s post about what you can ignore in financial news — thank you! I’m glad it’s been helpful. I believe filtering the news for need-to-know information is one of the toughest and most important media literacy skills to develop in this moment when information is so deeply weaponized.
Generally avoiding the news (unless I have to write about it…) is how I’m surviving right now. I wish I could offer a more general list of “what you can avoid in the news,” but that’s not my area of expertise. If it’s yours, or you know anyone who’s written something like this, let me know!
News and upcoming events:
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🥑 ICYMI at Healthy Rich this week
🔗 Things to catch
Is consumer activism a lost cause? A reflection on trending boycotts and how to decide where to put your money.
I loved talking with Simon Owens for his media podcast about growing Healthy Rich and landing a book deal for YDNAB through a viral guest post.
Working women and men are similarly likely to have the flexibility they need at work to address child care responsibilities — but women are way more likely to downgrade their careers to take care of kids. More from Gallup on women’s wellbeing at work.
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💬 Let’s discuss
What’s the worst piece of financial news you’ve seen lately?
“Worst” can mean whatever it means to you — fear-mongering, poorly reported, ridiculously scandalized, whatever. What is financial media getting wrong? Which headlines do you wish you had skipped? Share a piece of news that was less useful than you thought it would be. (If it’s been debunked, please also share the debunking!)
If you already submitted a question via email, I’ve got it; no need to submit again!
This was from a friend who has, let's say, some interesting ideas about finance and investment. He is deeply into crypto, whatever that might say about his paradigm, and it's hard to tell from our conversations where he stands politically: he is not MAGA by any means, but shocked me with his not-all-in stance on reproductive freedom. Anyway, let's say we laugh a lot when we infrequently chat over the phone, and both have twisted senses of humor.
Having said that, the following "financial" advice was offered, in all seriousness. I checked that it wasn't a joke. Several times.
"When people ask me how they should invest, I tell them to buy canned salmon."
With mad laughter, I said, "What if I don't like salmon? Tuna? Is tuna good?" but he insisted this is the most solid financial advice he adheres to and recommends. He was Not Joking. Deadly Serious. It left me wondering about meds. I've got nothing. You asked for strange. My head hurts.
re: worst piece of financial advice. Even though this article reads like satire, I'm fairly confident it's not. One of the strangest financial pieces I've ever read, but I did read every word. It's like a train wreck, I could not stop reading it lol.
So maybe this is one of the WEIRDEST financial advice articles I've ever read.
https://www.financialsamurai.com/the-rise-of-stealth-wealth-guide-to-staying-invisible-from-society-rage/