News for hackers. Stuff that matters.

A comment on People no longer believe working hard will lead to a better life, survey shows. Parent comment

Re:People no longer believe working hard will lead to a bett... by foogazi on Monday January 20, 2020 @12:27PM (#22100410)
This is a bit disingenuous.

If you haven’t sold you have not made anything - it’s just that the market values the asset you hold higher than what you paid for it.

If you did sell you made 25k for storing your previous savings in the stock market

It is a choice you made about what to do with your money

[ Parent | on HN ]
Re:People no longer believe working hard will lead to a bett... by tempsy on Monday January 20, 2020 @12:31PM (#22100434)
Would you say the same to someone who has been holding Amazon stock for 10 years? Or Apple? Or has a home in SF?

Unrealized gains are gains. Of course it can go down but no one should subtract that number from their wealth. Appreciating assets are what make most people wealthy.

[ Parent | on HN ]
Re:People no longer believe working hard will lead to a bett... by foogazi on Monday January 20, 2020 @07:38PM (#22103289)
It can go up or down - OP is taking a risk and being rewarded for it
[ Parent | on HN ]
Re:People no longer believe working hard will lead to a bett... by skookum on Monday January 20, 2020 @01:20PM (#22100877)
Why is it disingenuous?

What if the OP sold and immediately bought another asset that had similarly appreciated? What if they sold, changed their mind, and immediately re-bought the same asset? In both these cases the "made" 25K (or somewhat less if we factor in cap gains tax) is in a similarly precarious position to the just-keep-holding case.

Is it the case that to have "made money" you need to take that money permanently out of play? Does that in turn mean then when you invest money that money shouldn't count toward your net worth because it might lose value in the future?

[ Parent | on HN ]
Re:People no longer believe working hard will lead to a bett... by sdinsn on Monday January 20, 2020 @02:52PM (#22101618)
Unrealized gains are still wealth.
[ Parent | on HN ]