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Killing Sacred Cows: Overcoming the Financial Myths That Are Destroying Your Prosperity by Garrett B. Gunderson
Book Summary InformationAuthor: Garrett B. Gunderson Edition: Hardcover Audio: English (Unknown); English (Original Language); English (Published) Published: 2008-07-01 ISBN: 1929774516 Number of pages: 272 Publisher: Greenleaf Book Group LLC
Book Reviews of Killing Sacred Cows: Overcoming the Financial Myths That Are Destroying Your ProsperityBook Review: Quiet the Naysayers Summary: 5 Stars
When this book first came out, I did not buy it because of the negative reviews and the sarcasm they contain. For the last couple of years, I have been blogging about some of the concepts that Gunderson addresses early in his book on my own personal finance blog. I also follow several personal finance blogs that focus on frugality. Frugality at the expense of living. One personal finance blogger tested some recipes from NPR designed to provide frugal meals for a family of four. The recipe he tested fed his family for about $1.40 per serving. He decided he could do "better", taking out the natural and whole food ingredients and replacing them with processed ingredients, he lowered the cost to 60 cents per serving! This same blogger has written that he and his family don't worry about money! The scenario that I just described is exactly what this book is about: That current financial planning strategies support a scarcity mindset that robs one of the ability to live in the here and now. This is not a book about how to be a spendthrift, this is a book about taking personal responsibility for one's financial future by considering strategies that allow greater fulfillment in the here and now. Current financial planning does not do that. Despite the fact that there is growing evidence to the contrary, current financial planning strategies say buy this product and adopt this asset allocation and you will be okay in 30 years. I have a friend who is a millionaire but is afraid to buy a plasma TV, although he would enjoy it, because it would deplete his financial reserves. So he spends his valuable time going to electronics stores, talking with sales people, waiting for each year's new models, although in his heart of hearts he knows he will never buy. About 6 months ago I replaced my old refrigerator. I had gone about as far as I could with repairs yet agonized over consumer reviews and sales until I finally made my purchase. While I was doing my "due diligence" I continually had to dispose of food going bad in my fridge. These sad illustrations are exactly the mindset fostered by our current approach to financial planning. Mr. Gunderson offers several illustrations of "broke millionaires", people with the net worth but not the cashflow to live. Gunderson simply says that our current emphasis on having a number in the bank rather than living is problematic at best. This book is not for everyone. If the current financial meltdown has you looking at your portfolio and thinking, "I smell a rat" then this book is for you. If the current financial meltdown has you thinking, "No worries, I'm in it for the long haul" even if that long haul is 30 + years, this book isn't for you.
Summary of Killing Sacred Cows: Overcoming the Financial Myths That Are Destroying Your ProsperityOur culture is riddled with destructive myths about money and prosperity that are severely limiting the power, creativity, and financial potential of individuals. In Killing Sacred Cows, Garrett B. Gunderson boldly exposes ingrained fallacies and misguided traditions in the world of personal finance. He presents a revolutionary perspective that can create unprecedented opportunity and wealth for thoughtful, mission-driven individuals. Our financial lives are intimately connected to our societal contributions, and we must be financially free in order to achieve our fullest potential. Sadly, however, most people are held captive in their financial lives by misinformation, propaganda, and limited knowledge. Through well-reasoned arguments, unflinching logic, and revelatory insight, Gunderson defeats common clichés and faulty retirement planning advice to plainly demonstrate the following and much more: - 401(k)s and the stock market are the most risky investments for most people and the gambling mindset they induce creates disastrous consequences.
- Conventional retirement planning advice, products, strategies, and techniques expose you to significant danger of being unable to retire, or of running out of money prematurely if you do.
- Building net worth is a recipe for creating a life of fear and poverty and how to escape that common trap.
- Debt may not be what you think it is and why that matters to your prosperity.
- 'High risk equals high returns' is destructive dogma and how reducing risk can increase your returns.
Killing Sacred Cows is a must-read for brave individuals willing to question common assumptions and teachings, overcome the herd mentality, break through financial myths, and live a purposeful, passionate, and prosperous life.
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