Ben Carlson

And I don't think that that amount exists for any individual person or household because I think the goalposts can move, and they probably should move for most people.

If you make more money, like, you shouldn't introduce lifestyle creep.

Most personal finance experts tell you, no, don't ever spend any more money, never enjoy anything.

But I think you should have some lifestyle creep.

And it's funny because it's probably bad at the individual level, but better for society that no one is ever really content with what they have.

It's like what pushes us towards progress and innovation in these things.

But it also is what makes people never satisfied.

And I think once people reach their goals, if they have a goal in mind,

Right?

They get there and then they realize like, oh man, I feel the same.

I don't feel any different at all.

I said, if I make half a million dollars, my life is going to be easy.

I'm never going to have to worry again.

But I still have all the same worries and nothing changed.

So in the wealth management industry, the biggest question everyone wants answered, regardless of how much money they have saved, how big their portfolio is, am I going to be okay?

If I make this decision, am I going to be okay?

If I buy this second home, if I buy this new convertible, if I take my family on a trip around the world, whatever it is, am I going to be okay?

And that's the one that's hardest to answer.

Because everyone's dealing with the same unknown future.

All the variables, what's going to happen in the stock market, what's going to happen with the next election and inflation and all these things, no one knows.