Volatility works out for people who save (who park capital in liquid assets that aren't doing work in order to have wheat for the eventual famine). These guys. They save, short like heck when the market is falling, and swoop in to save the day. What a great time to be selling 0% loans.

Personal Savings Rate (PSR) stratified by greatest generation and not greatest generation is also relevant. Are relatively fixed living expenses higher now? Yes. Is my generation just blowing what they could invest into interest-bearing investments on unnecessary stuff from Amazon? Yes. And expensive meals and drinks.

How have corporate profits and wages changed?

In their day, you put you gosh-danged money aside. For later. So that you have money later.

And that is why you should buy my book, entitled: "Invest in things with long term returns: don't buy shtuff you don't f need, save for tomorrow; and other financial advice"

Which brings me to: the cost of college textbooks and a college education in terms of average hourly wages.

By the way, over the longer term, index funds are likely to outperform funds. Gold may be likely to outperform the stock market. And, over the recent term -- this is for all you suckers out there -- cryptocurrencies have outperformed all stock and commodities markets. How much total wealth is being created on an annual basis here?

Payday loans have something like 300% APY.

How does 2% inflation affect trade when other central banking cabals haven't chosen the same target? "Devaluation"! "Treachery"!