Upper-middle class issues as well

[bondsman]

First off, I've enjoyed exploring the site and wish you well with things.

I was glad to see "The Great Risk Shift" on your reading list. I thought this was a very good book. Particularly in describing the change over time in the relationship between employee & employer and government & citizen, where in turn the average person is much more on their own. The book seems to emphasize the significant struggles of the middle-class. I have to say though I am thankfully solid upper-middle class and yet a I experience much of the same kind of anxiety and stress. With a wife and two teenage daughters, making sure we are okay now and planning for the future leaves me at the least with low grade anxiety all the time, often its much more than "low-grade". Most of my friends experience the same thing. The reality is I'm not sure if anything can be done about it. I'd be interested to hear what other peoples experiences are.

Thanks
bondsman

[dellaone2]

I certainly have sympathy for your position bondsman. I know it's valid and the experience of many individuals and families. However...

I'd like to share my experiences as a small business owner. Certainly the relationship between employee and employer has changed. The implication here seems to be that the employee has borne the brunt of any negative results. Let me tell you this door swings both ways. It is incredibly difficult to maintain a viable business in today's environment. Much of the difficulty relates to employees. I make concerted efforts to offer attractive retirement and health care plans and to treat employees well. But I have found it all but impossible to retain employees and foster some allegiance to the company. It seems I spend more time on personel matters than customer and sales issues.

These are significant issues from both employee and and employer points of view. They definitely my business and other business owners I know.

[bdow]

In this day of constant media ("breaking news, the jury just broke deliberations for lunch") it's hard not to feel anxious, especially about a topic as sensitive as money. Most people would rather talk about their sex lives than their money...it's a very sensitive issue. And know that this applies to all classes and not just the upper middle class (whatever that is....). For the record, I am a fee-only financial planner and just today, I worked with a client who is buying their first home in the SF Bay area. Indeed, they are very anxious as they should be with a first home price of $800K. But, they have been planning this for years, saving for a substantial down payment, getting their budget in line, researching the market, and learning about closing on a property. I told her just today that being scared is part of any change. But she and her husband have crossed their t's and dotted their i's. So my assignment now is to leave all the worrying at their doorstep. It simply serves no useful purpose from here on.

Bottom line - Plan your future, do the things you need to do, understand you can't protect against everything, seek professional help (I mean financial here but in truth, this applies to almost any area) when indicated, and then sleep well at night.

[z350]

I feel for all of you. For me, I pass my anxieties by saving more. It makes my life a lot easier.