Welcome to Young and the Invested, a growing online community for young people looking to improve their financial literacy, and by extension, looking to learn how to become smarter about saving, spending, and investing their money.
I started this website because I find most advice about personal finance is generic, not tailored to younger generations in the early stages of life or their careers, and outdated. By developing sound financial habits at an early age, people make wiser money decisions throughout life. When done successfully and repetitively, this can empower people to start on the path to financial independence and have a chance to retire on their own terms.
Most of what you read in the media highlights the perpetual problems Millennials and Gen Zers face when it comes to establishing good financial habits, such as living within your means, saving money, or setting aside enough to fund your retirement. But why is that? What is driving this?
Riley Adams, CPA Young and the Invested Founder
I’m a Millennial, and l can tell you firsthand that it is not exciting to delay your gratification and instead perpetually save to reach some eventual goal many years from now. Many of as want a life of convenience and immediate fulfillment.
Blame long-term unpredictability, social media, and our on-demand culture.
But YOLO, right? We’re more inclined than older generations to live in the here and now. We’re not thinking about rewarding experiences in our 60s and 70s—we want them right now.
We also have to confront unique frictions that older generations didn’t have to face: ballooning student debt, stagnant wages, increasingly expensive homes, and impediments to career advancement.
So, for our financial lives to make sense, we often reject traditional retirement and savings advice that worked for Baby Boomers but doesn’t seem meant for us—after all, we don’t know what tomorrow will hold. And we’re not alone; any young generations feel this way too.
But if we want the financial security to live our lives how we want, right now and down the road, we need to take control of our financial lives. That means developing solid financial planning habits, managing our money wisely, and making savvy investments to get ahead.
Some experts advocate for saving 10% of our salary in perpetuity and relying on Social Security and Medicare to cover the rest in retirement. However, I’m not certain this will be enough for us to live comfortably.
As such, I advocate for planning, managing, and investing your money smartly, and aiming for a goal of true financial independence.
And because our efforts compound, I suggest seeking it sooner, rather than later. This requires developing unique, valuable skills and taking up side hustles, making income-generating investments that provide passive income to cover our costs of living; learning to live within our means; discovering how to build wealth through investing in index funds; and building our careers and small businesses to earn a living on our own terms. This is how I would redefine retirement and wealth creation for Millennials, Gen Zers, and younger generations; and most of that differs from conventional retirement advice.
Site Mission
My website will help you accomplish these goals with a wide variety of financial insights, which we share through data, story-telling, and my own personal perspective on how to plan, manage, and invest money with confidence. I discuss ways to make money, save money, and grow your money.
While Young and the Invested targets young readers who find themselves on this same guest (or will someday when they’re older), we also provide advice to readers from all generations.
About Me
In 2018, I was winding down a stint in investor relations and found myself newly equipped with a CPA, added insight on how investors behave in markets, and a load of free time.
As my rotation through the group came to an end, I couldn’t have been more grateful for working alongside some of the most competent people I’m likely to meet. I saw how hard they worked to build their body of work and the dedication exerted to perfect their craft. I also saw the toll a lifestyle like that could take long-term if you didn’t love what you do.
These folks thrived in this environment and they enjoyed the constant engagement. They were in their element and the sacrifice required didn’t phase them. Instead, my co-workers found what made them tick and took to it with a passion. Seeing this first hand sparked in me a desire to do the same toward reaching two of my major life goals: becoming financially independent and owning my own small business.
Ever since I was little, I wanted the financial freedom which came from having enough money to pursue what I wanted and not merely work a job to make ends meet. Having sound financial habits and a business were natural ends to make this happen. Fortunately, I’ve enjoyed my work and the colleagues I have around me. I’ve learned a great deal I know I wouldn’t have otherwise.
After making a career transition to Google as a Senior Financial Analyst, I was fortunate to work in a job which fulfilled me immensely—I even got awarded a European patent! But let me be clear: I might not want to go to the early retirement dance, but I would still like an invite.
I chose to start this personal finance website as my next step, recognizing both the challenge and opportunity.
I launched the site with encouragement from my wife as a means to lay out our financial independence journey and connect with and help others who share the same goals. Further, we want our children to have a financially secure future and believe by learning ourselves, we can help others accomplish this same goal as well. I hope it can help others learn to plan, manage, and invest their money with confidence.
If you find yourself drawn to these pursuits or have children you’d like to follow this path, please stick around and contribute. I enjoy a diversity of opinions because challenging my own thinking often leads to better outcomes. Please consider subscribing to the newsletter, and I hope to see you around the site and on social media.
Disclaimer
This website exists to encourage awareness and help formulate strategies so you can become financially independent through thoughtful actions and deliberate decision-making. The site aims to reach a large community by providing information, and it contains thoughts and ideas displayed through my lens; but ultimately, it is up to you to decide what is best for you and your financial situation.
Your decisions are yours alone, and we are in no way responsible for your actions. Strive to grow in all senses of the word and think long and hard before making any financial transaction! Be sure to check out the Privacy and Terms page for more information.