Investing in Collectibles: Intro to Downsizing, Why it is Necessary, and How Your Life Will Change!

** Welcome back to the best channel on KZbin that caters to the entire antiques and collectibles community. In this video, we start to take an in depth look at the five D's of investing in the antiques and collectibles trade. Today, we start with the topic of downsizing. Please note that this is just an introduction to the concept of downsizing and why it is vital. Future videos will dive further into this talking point and offer tips and advice from my own experience with this concept. **
Email for Antique/Collectible Consulting Services: [e-mail]
Patreon: / reservedinvestments

[@Cookiedon15]

Imagine a Hoarders x American Pickers crossover 😂

[@ReservedInvestments]

That would be incredible. Would they call it American Hoarders or…Hoarding Pickers? 🤔

[@MetalBum]

@@ReservedInvestments 😅😅😅

[@Cookiedon15]

@@ReservedInvestments AmeriHaorders 🤣

[@iamnobody2]

closest thing to that i know of is an antique dealer on youtube that buys hoarder houses to find stuff to flip in them among lots of other things, he does pretty well for himself i think, the channel name is curiosity incorporated iirc

[@ReservedInvestments]

@@iamnobody2 That's a good KZbin channel. It has some hype behind it, but overall it is not bad.

[@stevenewsome5306]

I’ve been downsizing for the past 2-3 years and still am. Reserved investments helped me feel confident in my choice. Invested every cent into stocks/index funds. Held through being down 38 % at my lowest. Now I’m finally back in the positive. I can handle the fluctuations and confident in my portfolio long term, still adding daily and learning. You will only regret downsizing if you blow the money and left with nothing. It’s stupid to have a house full of collectibles if you’re not financially established. Do not wait until you need the money. It’s harder than you think and you will make significantly less guaranteed. No one says you have to sell it all, just start with a few items then reevaluate. I couldn’t be happier with my decision. Just friendly advice.

[@TheMysteryDriver]

Desperate sellers are basically the only people I buy from. I'm not looking for an investment or to ever sell my stuff so I'm not in a hurry to buy and for me breaking even on a sale is fine. Patience is important in investing and if you're just trying to save money when speculators exist.

[@stevenewsome5306]

@@TheMysteryDriver I’m happy to buy from someone at a discount too, who isn’t lol? Many people hold items thinking they’ll sell when they need the money but don’t realize how hard it can be and how much time it can take, plus opportunity cost. If I can’t at least double my money now I usually don’t buy it and that’s worked out well. I’ve always flipped but started keeping way too much for myself. I never had the intentions of investing long term in collectibles.

[@surgery318]

To all the young collectors- listen to Shawn's words. He speaks truth.

[@Ghostontherun]

Oh man does he ever

[@MRW2276]

The same thing could be said about Amazon and Walmart today. Sears, Kmart, and Woolworth back in the eighties nobody would of thought such giants would fall, but they did. So even though it looks as if something will last forever. Things can turn very fast.

[@pessithemystic]

I enjoy the philosophical discussions from someone who has lived experience. This is true wisdom we’re listening to.

[@its_garcia]

My perspective has definitely changed from my mid 20s to today at 31. I had almost a third of my net worth invested in coins, Pokémon cards, and silver bullion. Thanks to the advice in your older videos, I downsized and sold off most of my lower end collectibles. Then I increased my 401k contributions from 10% to 25% in a low cost SP500 index fund. I still get to enjoy my favorite Morgan dollars but I will also be able to retire off my traditional investments instead of hoping for collectibles to 10x

[@kotto7877]

Atta boy. Good to see positive change coming out of these videos.

[@michaelroot1960]

Too many counterfeits in Morgans for my taste.

[@slimthumbtak]

I relate to this video a lot. I'm 40. Been a passionate collector my whole life. I love collecting things. Over the years I've dabbled in tons of things. Some that panned out well (Buying NES games for pennies in the late 90's). Some that didn't pan out so well (90's Star Wars figures). It's always been a hobby to me. I make sure to take care of my other financial needs before adding to collections and know when to take breaks from collecting. About two years ago as I was heading into my 40's I decided that I want to devote the rest of my collecting life to sports cards. That's my true collecting passion. I love cards. So, over the past two years I've been using my network of collecting friends to slowly downsize my collections. I'm keeping some favorites here and there, but by the time this project is done (it almost is) I will have liquidated about 98% of my non sports card collections. I've made a lot of money off of selling these things - especially the NES games. I'm, as you say, financially established. So, I'm putting most of it into getting some dream sports cards that I would never be willing to spend paycheck money on since I like to collect below my means. I am also putting some of the money into traditional investments. It has been a great experience and a liberating one. Freed up so much space. I have a few shelves in my home office reserved for the favorites that I'm keeping. And my card collection is small enough to fit in a closet with plenty of room left over. If you came to my home, but didn't enter the office you would never know I'm a collector. I love collecting and will collect until I physically cannot anymore. But my collection doesn't own me. I own it.

[@ReservedInvestments]

100%! Great comment, thanks for sharing!

[@dancalmpeaceful3903]

I agree....I"ve been dumping stuff for years and refining what I really want to collect. The early stuff that I no longer wanted, I used all the profits and sales to help pay off my house ....which I did. I"m like you.....I've been buying things that I've wanted for years now that I do have the money....but Yeah - I keep investing in mutual funds. I am NOT counting on my collection to fund my retirement....(and yes, I"m about to hit 59....).

[@Nephyyy]

I really enjoyed this discussion. I'm 27 and enjoy collecting but also find myself needing to de-clutter often. I would say I'm sort of a minimalist collector. I know the juxtaposition is strange but I find it helps me collect things I truly want without going overboard. It also helps me let go of things that I know I don't care as much about. I also like the peace that having a maintainable collection brings. I get to enjoy the things I collect without needing extra room for storage, etc.

[@tonk82]

"I know the juxtaposition is strange"

[@mrstumblezz]

@6:54 the passion you say the f bomb LOL! I love it.

[@scottl8450]

As many did during covid, I started taking stock of what I had and selectively organizing, grading, & selling off some of my comics. I am close to retiring (in three years) and I am trying to get ahead of the coming downsizing. I did keep my collections (comics, baseball cards) through my adult life so most of my stuff is 30+ years old. I have never had to liquidate for quick cash. An upside to slabbing comics was that not only did my wife have a newfound respect for my collection after seeing books sell for $1000+, but the slabs were reassuring in that she felt like she could understand what they were worth now by seeing the grading and price guides. So the best stuff stays in the safe deposit box and the grading has helped me get full value for the ones I have sold. Sales have paid for the grading, which I never did before because of the cost. The one thing that I wish I had done earlier was winnow out the bulk. Most of the value is in 10% of the books. Of course back in the day you bought comics to read and completing runs was a goal but now the value is all in key issues. I guess I have transitioned from a collector to an investor. So I am downsizing and trying to avoid the other Ds on your list!

[@ReservedInvestments]

💯

[@TheSportsCardDad]

Excellent life video, with a collectibles twist 👍

[@ReservedInvestments]

Thanks!

[@ayrasimmons1607]

Currently downsizing and getting rid of so much feels great.

[@Johndeplume.]

Well done, Ayra! 👍

[@jamesclukey7488]

Educational video !(as always). I'm 70 and I know my son is not looking forward to dealing with my collections ! My library alone gives him nightmares ! Right now I am content to live out my years with all of my treasures (I'm not a rich man) , most of my things have sentimental value. But there is a saying that goes: A man who is content with his portion is wealthy indeed. Right now I'm enjoying my things far too much to part with them. in another 10 years ( I should last that long) it may be a different story. Thank you so much for giving me something to think about !

[@Johndeplume.]

Words of wisdom there, James. Hard to put a price on sentimental value. I find that with the items I'm attatched to (but not of immense sentimental value), the hardest part is putting them up for sale. Once they're up for sale and sold, I don't often regret the decision (often, as I've put it up for more than what I think it's worth). If only I could come to terms with putting a lot more of my collection up for sale!

[@jamesclukey7488]

@@Johndeplume. Sounds familiar, In at least two cases I've bought back items that I had sold (years later). Big mistake, but glad to have them back. Not something I recommend . It cost me !

[@Johndeplume.]

@@jamesclukey7488: Yeah, that's annoying! Think of it another way though... if you sold the items for say $100 (using a nominal figure), but you turned that $100 into $1000 over the time you were apart from the items, and then bought those items back for $300 - or significantly less than what you generated from the sale over the years - you're still significantly in the black, and turning an emotional negative, into a financial and emotional positive. Either way, glad you got your items back. 👍

[@jamesclukey7488]

@@Johndeplume. That is a good way to look at it. And the market value has continued to go thru the roof (these things can't last forever), but like you said, I'm just glad I got them back. A little inside baseball, one of the items is the Muppets Swedish Chef Kitchen Playset. Who knew?

[@monkeh86]

I’m in the process of downsizing right now, selling most of my CIB/Factory sealed video games. Very surprising how much a lot of them are going for (and how much interest there still is out there). However I’m more than happy to get rid of them, been dragging 8 huge boxes of these games to 3 different houses I’ve lived in over the last 10 years and never doing anything with them except just storing them for the most part. Kind of ridiculous really! Very liberating to see my collection getting smaller and smaller, hopefully I won’t have any to drag with me whenever I move house next time whenever that is!

[@FooPanda]

I'm doing the same, actually. Selling less sentimental video games in my collection towards a Series X :)

[@mattstrott753]

Great discussion. I'm 52 and had to down size when I started a family and again when moved to a better neighborhood. I'm a collector more than and investor and downsizing can be tough but I think it's healthy. Left unchecked I can easily seem collecting turning into hording. In another 15 years I'll have to look into liquidation so I'm glad you brought that up.

[@FooPanda]

There is no greater feeling than shrinking a collection/hoard to put the proceeds into your hobbies, rather than just spending new money :)

[@SupThomas]

I cover the speculation and resale of “limited edition” sneakers and clothing on my channel and do my best to convey this type of knowledge. Really crazy how covid made people think they could make a full time living flipping Shoes/GPUs/Cards etc indefinitely! Thanks for all the insight Shawn.

[@Dinnye01]

2:20 - A real, honest explanation. I am about 15 years younger than you, but I am taking your advice to heart.

[@boondockgames8805]

Shawn was my motivation for really dialing up my selling/downsizing efforts this year and I can’t be more thankful. Keep up the great content RI!

[@teetoo3790]

Great quote by Muhammed Ali to begin this video!

[@katielowen]

Literally the best and realest collectible channel on KZbin. Thanks for all your videos and insight Shawn 💪

[@eunit599]

a lot of people need to see this episode

[@patiencezero-xc9zl]

The other famous quote or idiom that is gold...."youth is wasted on the young". When I was 23 I started saving/investing 10 cents of every dollar I earned and NEVER wavered! In 20 years THAT ALONE made me a multimillionaire. This is something everyone can do regardless of sex, race, creed, or social standing!!! No excuses.....even if poor you can do this. The U.S. market and capitalism, properly regulated, allows us all this opportunity.

[@xvenymx]

Indeed, some heavy topics...but absolutely necessary topics for anyone who collects/invests. Looking forward to the upcoming information!

[@hipsterisonfire]

Shawn, I hope to see you one day compile all this knowledge and write a book for us. You fill a void in the collectibles market that we have long needed. A no-hype, straight shooter a blend of life wisdom. You're a breath of fresh air and, as I've seen others basically say, the foundation of a confident collection. I thought I was learning pretty well before but you've sped up the process 100x fold. Thanks for everything!

[@ReservedInvestments]

Welcome!

[@charizard_baller69]

I'm really a simple man, Reserved investments drops a new video, i instantly click

[@crocomirehuntah3000]

Thank you for making this channel - I discovered it about 2 weeks ago and I feel like I’ve learned more in a few hours watching your vids about collecting than I have the past four years that I’ve called myself a “collector” - it’s mostly “lucky” collecting for me - e.g. just so happened to receive a Santa Fe super chief Lego set for Christmas of 2002 and now it’s worth 1500 bucks or so.

[@ScotsToys]

Live listening / watching your content. I’m an avid collector / hoarder and really enjoy hearing your perspectives on everything. Thanks for sharing your knowledge in the collectible space!

[@ReservedInvestments]

Thank you for the comment. 🙏

[@Longtermalwayswins]

Been selling off my collectibles since 3 years ago. In my early 40s. I figured that i do not want to burden my family, deal with unforeseen future alongside a huge pile of collectibles as well as the most important thing- selling off at desirable prices requires you to have a long horizon to ensure you have holding power to reject desperate sales offers.

[@Johndeplume.]

Hear, hear! I'm of a similar age to yourself, and of the same mindset on this. With the items I collect and sell, selling off at desirable prices definitely requires time and patience to get the price I want. There's always a risk that prices can (and sometimes do) come down in value and desirability, if you don't sell when the item is 'hot'. I try to mitigate this by collecting unique items which, hopefully, others find as desirable as I do.

[@pmera]

I think this is the first thing I got out of your videos a couple of years ago. I was buying games I had no interest to play, just for collecting's sake (and because I found them for cheap). I started selling off the games I didn't really care about. Still making some good money off of them with pandemic prices and decluttering feels really nice!

[@GardenerEarthGuy]

The only thing constant in this life is change.... Embrace it!

[@lpandy21]

This was definitely a good use of my time. thank you.

[@DarthGojiraComics]

Love your channel, always great advice from years of experience. I've collected comics well over 40 years now, and learned long ago to only keep what you like and you can trade or sell off the rest

[@bestbry1]

I’m young, 27. But I was grown in the 2000s and used to see the internet as a place where I could connect to wiser people and learn incredible life changing things. As the years passed, fake news, hate and just bad content changed my perspective, but your channel and others over time made me feel in that era of the internet again. Thanks for all the advice!

[@Johndeplume.]

Born in the 2000s... but are 27 in 2023? 🤔 😄 I agree with you there though... there's a lot of great content on the internet; equally, there's a lot of BS. It's a case of sifting through the BS, reading through the people with agendas (the pumpers), and uncovering nuggets of gold. Shawn's content is of great value for those who want to learn and are just starting out. For those already with the knowledge of the markets, it's also worth-while, as we can become complacent. 👍

[@bestbry1]

@@Johndeplume. dude, I suck at math hahahaha edited the “born” part 😝

[@Johndeplume.]

@@bestbry1 : Haha, sorry, I couldn't resist! Have a top day, mate. 👍

[@daveassanowicz186]

Thanks man. I'm a back issue comic books guy. I'm currently in SWFL but am originally from Bucks County PA, right outside far northeast Philly

[@hartspot009]

Life truths! Thank you for presenting this Shawn

[@miguelh4750]

Love this series Shaun ''the five D's''

[@boxwi]

I've heard that if you've been collecting several different categories, one of the most practical and emotionally efficient way to downsize is by eliminating a particular category (or franchise/brand/character item) completely. For example, taking any and all Star Wars items and liquidating them. As opposed to cherry picking from a large assortment of things.

[@user-pp3dl8id7r]

Excellent content. Thanks

[@kokorospirit5006]

Another good video!

[@MetalBum]

How lucky we are more videos🎉- love Timmy Poindexter Kim.

[@holycrapitsking]

Look forward to the rest of this series. I know I have a tough time downsizing collectibles that are down significantly off the highs and realizing the loss. I know its a sunk cost fallacy, but it's still painful lol

[@snoopanoop7705]

I have more space now since I got rid of some clutter. I don't play as much video games like how I used to as well 😅

[@dancalmpeaceful3903]

Outstanding vid......people need to consider what is being said here....

[@elgordo9525]

7:39 is the best advice you'll ever hear. Tell'em as many times as they need to hear it homme.

[@tomneijnens4048]

Thank you very much

[@xminus1657]

Downsizing is not a bad thing. I wished that my grandparent did this while they were still alive. They were a hoarder and it took three week ends to box up and move all the stuff in the apartment. I hated boxing up and sorting all the stuff and most of it was worthless. We sold some of it but most of it went into the trash. I do not want to have to suffer through this again.

[@ReservedInvestments]

Thank you for the comment. Excellent point.

[@dawnmichelle2017]

Yes! Downsize your stuff before you die... Speaking from experience... Had to help cleanup my Aunt and Uncle's mess... Two houses full of stuff... A lot had to be trashed... Didn't have time to go through, because houses were being sold in two weeks by the executor of the estate. So strangers got to rummage and buy stuff by the box at a two weekend estate sale... It was insane! Only 2 of us were dealing with this!

[@teetoo3790]

One thing I still like is modern sports as we can bet on them legally now like DraftKings. At least can give a chance with making money quicker than hoarding old pop culture collectibles for decades. Lol

[@ReservedInvestments]

Don’t bet on anything. Gambling is a tax no one needs to pay, as the ‘house’ always wins.

[@pliskin901]

Out of topic but I’ll love a channel of you sharing life and relationships advice

[@ReservedInvestments]

Interesting you said that: If I didn’t do collectible finance, that was actually another idea I had for a KZbin channel to counteract all the toxic, misogynistic crap out there…so I was seriously considering it, but thought it would actually be more controversial than this. 😳🤔 I was proven wrong by all my haters…lol

[@miguelh4750]

Great suggestion of an idea !

[@alfredocamba1995]

I just dropped too much at the D&A 23rd anniversary sales. Deals were too good to be true. Hoarding is real I can't stop it usually happens if people close to you died when you were young. Life is chaos people like to find security & certainty in objects

[@dancalmpeaceful3903]

It's always best to disposition your collection .....yourself......rather than leave it to others....

[@MetalBum]

Always evolve

[@KeyKiller74]

About 12 years ago I lost my job & had to downsize my entire "key" comic book collection. Life comes at you fast & if you don't have a back up plan it will knock you down on your ass.

[@davidallen4026]

At least you had them to sell. That's what happened to my first two comic collections - important bills took precedence. I'm working on my third one now.

[@jamesb.6177]

This is important even from a non-investment standpoint. The more stuff you accumulate, the more dust and dirt you deal with. It’s a fact and I can vouch for that personally. You owe it to your health to ask yourself the question “Do I really need this?”

[@mattelder]

I once saw that peak consumption for people is about 46 years old. Does that seem right and the tipping point for people who start downsizing ie things get thrown out / sold/ not replaced when they break and kids leave the nest (and have to pay their college bills)

[@LukeDodge916]

Well I'm 45 and I'm currently collecting retro games (Genesis thru N64 mostly), hardcover and omnibus comic books and single issues, and DVD/bluray/4K. Id have to agree with you there. Though as I get older I constantly consider stopping. I find it hard to imagine collecting all of this in my 50s. (Seriously, my 50s?!) But I guess we'll see. Right now I love having this stuff on my shelves to pick up whenever I am in the mood. It makes me feel good. So I'll continue this hobby for a few more years yet...

[@LukeDodge916]

Oh and its just me and my girlfriend and our dog. We own a home and we love a simple life. So I'm not taking away from my family or anything like that. But my better half is definitely tired of the clutter in my office space.

[@mattelder]

@@LukeDodge916 as with all averages it is a middle point. I think the idea is more you usually have a house, fill it out with everything (tvs, sofas, beds etc) and then as kids go to college, don't need the space and have income directed as funding them.

[@LukeDodge916]

@@mattelder No, I agree with you. Im just curious if I follow your idea and start downsizing soon. I am without those structures you've mentioned. It would allow me and my SO to perhaps have more to enjoy to ourselves, so it's an idea. You may be right...

[@mattelder]

@@LukeDodge916 less "stuff" and do things, travel and enjoy 😉

[@firecrest3325]

As a 43 year old, I am focusing more on end of life investments, and collecting quality and nicer things then quantity. I have CIB Nintendo games but I don't buy and keep every Nintendo games.

[@mikestyer3909]

The trend is your friend until it ends around the bend

[@darknightofthescarecrow3551]

i would go back and buy a few basquiats paintings matey. lol

[@CMRetroGaming]

They used to say some of those same things about the star wars power of the force figures that came out in 1995/96. "The originals are valuable, these new figure need to be hoarded because Star Wars figure will always hold their value." (Or something similar) How did that work out? LOL, there are probably more sealed star wars figure from 1995/96 than were ever opened and played with.

[@ReservedInvestments]

💯

[@sp123]

10:00 there was a condo in the Philly area that sold for $250k with several graves in the back yard.

[@ReservedInvestments]

It wasn’t in the best location either…

[@MonotoneCards]

I've begun to start downsizing because greater fools don't come along everyday. I've decided to just PC PSA 8 Pokemon cards that I like, and just move all the PSA 10s to someone else that is willing to pay that premium so I can fund my PC that way. PSA 10s do fetch the premium but it's not everyday you can just find someone willing to plop down a significant amount for a label that says 10 on it so why not start early and then I can use that money to fund my PC and other things in life

[@lowrollerscratcher3563]

Unless Pokémon became super Mario in 20-30 years from now. Since super Mario still popular because the person was born 1980. He tell his kids to play super Mario today to play super Mario. Will today kids tell his future about collecting Pokémon in 2040 or later.

[@kelvincjliow]

Well said. The collectors themselves must wake up and self realise that 1. U gonna run out of space and or money 2. U aint gonna take all your crap with you when u r gone 3. Your heirs aint gonna deal with your crap as they rather have cold hard cash

[@69mankini]

My friend Jenny took 5 Ds in one night. She was arrested in college for hazing but went on to become an attorney.

[@PaulRockey]

I am an immortal, so I’m never selling my videogame collection.

[@ReservedInvestments]

Immortal Kombat? LOL.

[@PaulRockey]

@@ReservedInvestments actually, I am 40, but I hoping to live until 120! My wife is 41, and we don’t have kids. I’m not sure who I will leave my videogame collection to when 120 comes.

[@mikekz4489]

I wish I had kept my G.I. Joe ARAH collection. I got rid of it for the wrong reason. I think I’d be content to never buy anything else now. At least I still have my G1 Transformers.

[@johndoe_-]

I just started downsizing funny coincidence

[@Guy5505]

The bigger fear, is having your assets stolen, and homeowner insurance not covering it. I have purchased more financial assets, than antiques/collectibles lately. Does homeowner insurance cover collectable assets? Is it difficult to prove you have the assets, if they arent somehow documented?

[@ReservedInvestments]

I have done videos on proper storage and insurance.

[@nexiamania]

1st!!

[@richterbelmont5506]

Do you think capitalism will still be around in 20 years? I can understand it being around for luxury items but will it be around for necessities in a high-tech and at very least highly liberal future?

[@le_med]

Lol at that thumbnail

[@wowster-so8sx]

If I could go back to the 80s I would have NOT bought so many baseball cards.

[@romainhugon7052]

But shaun you don't understand, pokemon cards are going to the moon, elon musk told me he's going to put a pokemon card, a bitcoin and a beanie baby in every spacex ship 🎉

[@MetalBum]

Agreed. “But but but Shawn you don’t understand” Cryptos aren’t the future. BUT bitcoin and some Ethereum are. There’s real building and finance there. But yeah I only invest 5% of net worth in it.

[@ReservedInvestments]

I disagree. In 20 years no one will care about Bitcoin.

[@goombajenkins4317]

Talk about your debbie downers 😅

[@dancalmpeaceful3903]

American Pickers makes my ass laugh. You got guys as old as dirt not willing to sell 1/2 that rusty shit and they got BARNS full. I feel bad for the families who have to figure out a way to get rid of that shit. Amazing.... I personally am slowly getting rid of my least desirable stuff...but I"m still picking up things. I'm quite particular now...that's for sure. For me...if you offer me crazy money...it's yours....I"m not going to pass up a great opportunity.

[@richterbelmont5506]

Didn't watch the video out of respect to my collection lol. But in my opinion if you have to downsize your collection you probably should not have got those things in the first place. I've only gotten rid of some games after playing them and deciding they weren't for me.

[@ReservedInvestments]

Wait, until you age...your perspective will change. If it doesn't you are wasting your life...

[@DeltaFH]

Cautions about people thinking this is the way things are, this is the way they're always going to be, and this is the way the markets are always going to operate. But, then recommends investing in index funds based off the very same logic.

[@ReservedInvestments]

You are comparing apples to oranges here. Collectibles are inherently risky and speculative. An index based mutual fund is prudent and life long. You are echoing the same mantra that poor bitter men in their 50's repeat because they did not invest in financial markets in their younger years.

[@DeltaFH]

@@ReservedInvestments Excellent moving of the goalpost. I especially like that you think investing in the stock market isn't inherently risky or speculative as well. Index based mutual funds for retail investors have only been around since 1975, they have not even been around for a lifetime. You continue to preach that if everyone is talking about something or investing in something then you are in a bubble. Index funds, in particular Vanguard's low-cost index ETFs are frequently hyped across all platforms on social media, including even TikTok. You may ignore it, but index funds check almost all your boxes for a bad investment. They require holding them for a significant time before they are expected to make their returns, which are still not guaranteed. You're basing their performance on past results, but not even enough time has passed for you to do a thorough enough analysis. Likewise, past results do not equal future results. The past few decades have had record low interest rates and have heavily skewed the market and many asset classes as a result, particularly real estate. The probability of seeing near 0% interest rates again for such a long duration are incredibly low. In addition, I am not sure how many people will be able to stomach seeing their investment continue to decline as we approach an economic depression. What is going to offer more value, a fund tracking a crashed market and a declining currency, or a physical resource that has over a thousand year track record and can be easily converted into any currency? Please keep leading people to slaughter advising index funds over gold in this upcoming economic time. Leave gold to those with low net worths like me, the Central Banks around the world and China.

[@ReservedInvestments]

I’m a living example of being wealthy as a result of index funds. You don’t know what you are talking about. Go check out the Forbes richest list. All their money is invested in the stock market.

[@DeltaFH]

@@ReservedInvestments Yet another impressive deflection. You say that you are an example, but have yet to provide any proof. You say that I do not know what I am talking about, but once again you make a statement with no evidence to support your claim. Those on the Forbes richest list obtained that mainly through creating something of value. Even those who are invested in the stock market do not have index funds, at least disclosed as a significant part of their portfolio. Please let me know if there is evidence to the contrary. Even Warren Buffet, who actively promotes index funds advises them only for the undereducated new investor. The fact you do not want to face is that any investment in the past 20 years that you have done or anyone has done had a significantly higher chance of success due to abnormal market conditions. These same conditions that are going to lead to the inevitable crash that is coming in the not too distant future. A crash that will greatly impact anyone in the real estate market and the stock market. There were plenty of wealthy individuals and individuals who thought they were wealthy that lost everything in market corrections like these. But, by all means defy history and prove that having majority of your money in the whole or at least significant part of the market with index funds will be the winning decision. I look forward to seeing the results of your decisions and the results of my decisions in the next couple of years.

[@DJ239]

You don't have to get married.

[@ReservedInvestments]

To be fair, you are 100% correct. I am pro-marriage though. You are more than welcome to disagree and/or live your live any way you see fit as long as you are not hurting anyone. That is your right, so I do see your point. Cool profile pic by the way...

[@vgrepairs]

Stop playing video games fellas! Do something productive!

[@kokorospirit5006]

They can still play 5% of their productive time :)

[@treewisps4085]

Wasn't Muhammad Ali brain dead by 50 though? lol

[@richterbelmont5506]

Hahaha yeah that quote did not age well for him! Love boxing but you will be brain damaged. Have done american collegiate and Olympic style wrestling my whole life always at the highest levels. A million times less dangerous. Even the man who was almost impossible to hit fried his brain. But yeah great response about where to get your sources on thinking from lmao