Savings

[NotHardUp1]

Indeed.

It's good to be born to the landed gentry, handsome, and intelligent, but few of us get to choose that.

 

[catboy]

I just started being able to invest and honestly I have no intention of investing. I know it sounds stupid and probably is but because of my "morals" (I can't think of a better word ) I just cant justify being living life and VOTING with the financial interests of a company in mind. I probably will own stock once I get a 401k or something but I just don't want that voice in the back of my head saying "this policy would lower the value of your investment" etc.

Obviously i'm not trying to shame anyone's choices or try to act better than anyone else and I am so sorry if it came off that way, I'm just sharing my opinion on saving accounts and investments . I am in the minority as most americans own stock.

 

[TickTockMan]

I am in the minority as most americans own stock.

Not true at all. Very few do.

 

[catboy]

Not true at all. Very few do.

Oh really? My bad! I thought I heard somewhere over half of americans own some form of stock

 

[TickTockMan]

Oh really? My bad! I thought I heard somewhere over half of americans own some form of stock

Not really your bad. It is biased reporting. Usually polls that ask about stock ownership is counting households, not individuals. It is misleading so people think they are in the game. Children usually don't have stocks, but are counted. Married couples are both counted even if both names are not on the stock account, though local and state laws may make them owners. Boyfriends and girlfriends that live together again are counted within the household count, but unless local or state laws make it community property or the other term I can't think of, which few state do, then only the named person actually own the stock shares.

 

[Kahaih]

I can buy and sell all of you!

I can buy and sell pieces of you. Today.

 

[NotHardUp1]

I just started being able to invest and honestly I have no intention of investing. I know it sounds stupid and probably is but because of my "morals" (I can't think of a better word ) I just cant justify being living life and VOTING with the financial interests of a company in mind. I probably will own stock once I get a 401k or something but I just don't want that voice in the back of my head saying "this policy would lower the value of your investment" etc.

Obviously i'm not trying to shame anyone's choices or try to act better than anyone else and I am so sorry if it came off that way, I'm just sharing my opinion on saving accounts and investments . I am in the minority as most americans own stock.

If you mean stock options in your company, a couple of things apply.

First, many times a company may vest options in employees, but they don't have the option to sell at will. It's a type of ensnarement, and puts an employee at increased risk, as the company may have a setback (like Boeing) and the result can directly impact the workforce as well as harm their retirement savings.

Second, lots and lots of people own stocks through mutual funds, so don't even know what stocks they indirectly own. Even more vote without regard to corporate interests, as they vote on the basis of other issues, like environment, equal rights, anti-abortion, gun rights, gun control, etc. I've lived six decades and never heard anyone ever refer to their company as the reason for their votes. Sure, I've seen the influence on local elections. It used to be true that GOP members considered their party pro-business, but the Democrats are hardly strangers to grift and porkbelly politics, so it really doesn't matter, as both are paid for by the rich.

 

[rareboy]

Oh really? My bad! I thought I heard somewhere over half of americans own some form of stock

No. You are right. It is just that most Americans hold stocks and bonds indirectly through pensions and 401 K's.