TLDR: Remember the freedom you felt when you got your license at 16 , your first time with a girl and your parents weren't downstairs at 18, your first time going to a bar and not worry about if the shitty fake your fraternity brother got you was gonna work at 21? What is the analogous wealth of that increasing freedom
Age 16 (US-only, not relatable if from NYC): You finally can drive and don't have to sit on the musty bus to and from school. You no longer need to make awkward small talk from the back seat of the car as your girlfriend's Dad takes you guys to the movies. Your friends age 15 think you're hot shit and are always trynna bum rides off of you. Importantly, you can't imagine how you survived a pre-license time.
What is the analogous wealth level? First job? 100K+ in MCOL? Own a home?
Age 18: Wow, its a whole new world, can't believe you thought 16 was cool. You can smoke pot in your college dorm without your parents finding out, blackout and stumble home without the look of disappointment on your mom's face. You can go buy cigs and can do shit that is "adult" and 18+. Importantly, however, you are still worried about going to bars and 21+ places in case you are caught. Sometimes you will venture out with your half-peeled off Florida fake from ID God and get into the trashier 21+ places that you tried to look your best and older for, but you're too afraid to go to a class establishment
What is the analogous wealth level? Top 1-2%? 1M+? One or two vacation homes?
Age 21 (US-only): You can pretty much do anything you want socially, age-wise, unless you want to run for president.. When you just turned 21, you wanted to get ID, wanted to get asked for your credentials at the places you couldn't get into before. You can dress like a bum and still get into most bars and clubs. You don't stress out if a convenience store cashier is going to ask for your zipcode. You don't worry about going somewhere. If a bouncer snatches your ID, you tell them to call the cops over to verify. However, you don't really like going to places anymore that is populated with 18 year-olds. Interestingly enough, there will be some 18/19 year olds who will ask you to buy alcohol for them. Importantly, past this age, there's not much more marginal benefit of social access the older you get past 21.
What is the analogous "don't care" wealth level? $XXXm? 1b+?
16yo Freedom Equivalent - Debt Free. Like driving and getting your first job, it doesn't mean much, but it opens up a ton of opportunities. Start driving up to the lookout point with Suzy Q. and investing in speculative assets for fun. You could be making $150K/yr but won't mean shit if you're bogged down by overprotective parents.
18yo Freedom Equivalent - Fully-funded safety net or retirement, could retire today and be content with the average lifestyle. 1980's most people hit that $1-3MM mark and hit the road to a Florida beach. Getting out of town on your own, nothing holding you back, you just get to do whatever you want. Get to about $500K/yr, live like you are making 200 and sock the rest away so that when the 10yr reunion hits, you can say "it ain't much, but its stress-free."
21yo Freedom Equivalent - $30MM cash, not liquid, CASH, is the consensus "Fuck you" money. It's easy to look at Millionaires and Billionaires and think, "I need $300MM before I'll be happy." You'll totally gloss over the fact that you could have called it a day much earlier and been equally as happy and "fucking rich!"
This is all null and void if you plan to live your entire life in Manhattan.
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