Many of us in the United States are here because someone in our family (or perhaps even you yourself) had an American Dream.
My great-grandfather traveled from Europe around the turn of the 20th century because, like many, he’d heard that the streets in America were paved with gold. It was a place to get rich.
He didn’t. He found work as a cigar-roller, but his family was poor. All of his kids worked when they were young (they got younger each time my grandfather told us the story), and the ones who went to high school and college did so at night so they could work during the day and contribute to the family.
Yet at the time of my great-grandfather’s death in the 1960s, my grandfather – along with his brother – owned a seat on the New York Stock Exchange.
From being crammed into a tiny tenement apartment to a seat on the NYSE… in just one generation.
The American Dream.
Today, an increasing number of people believe the American Dream is not attainable. In fact, according to recent polls, 70% believe the American Dream is dead. It makes sense. Through social and mainstream media, we are fed an endless loop of terrible news, bickering, and finger-pointing.
When we’re seeing that day after day, why would we believe that we live in a prosperous place where nearly anything is attainable?
However, in his new bestselling book, The American Dream: Why It’s Still Alive… And How to Achieve It, Chief Investment Strategist Alexander Green pulls back the curtain to prove that there has never been a better time to go after the American Dream.
Alex is no Pollyanna. He recognizes we have real problems that need to be dealt with. But, using hard data, he shows that the economy is still on solid footing, violent crime is down, opportunities for women and minorities are up – and a host of other facts that you’ll rarely hear on the news or on your Facebook feed.
As I was reading it, I kept highlighting passages, thinking, “I want my two young adult children to read this.” I found the chapter titled “Things Aren’t What They Used to Be… and That’s a Good Thing” particularly inspiring.
Most importantly, after proving that the American Dream is still attainable, Alex shows you how to do it.
Not everyone is going to start the next Microsoft and be a billionaire. But that’s OK. That’s not everyone’s dream. For most, the dream is simple: Own a home, have enough to retire on, visit the kids or grandkids, donate to a favorite cause, and not stress about money.
The nice thing about that dream is that it is not terribly difficult to attain. If you follow the advice in the book, it’s almost hard not to achieve it. It may not always be easy, but it’s not supposed to be. It requires some work, which has always been the foundation of the American Dream.
Nothing is handed to us in this country. That’s what makes it so great. (If you think free or government-subsidized stuff is so wonderful, ask anyone who lived in a socialist country.) It’s why – despite increasing hurdles – people from other countries continue to try to move to the United States. They’re willing to work hard in order to chase their version of the American Dream.
Alex’s book is a great reminder that despite the avalanche of negativity bombarding us from all sides, things are actually still pretty darn good. Could they be better? Of course – and you can be sure there are millions of Americans trying to make them better in their pursuit of their own American Dream.
I encourage everyone to read The American Dream: Why It’s Still Alive… And How to Achieve It. You’ll be inspired and armed with strategies that will help you or your loved ones reach your own version of the dream.
Good investing,
Marc
P.S. Today is the book’s official release date, so don’t waste any time ordering your copy. You can do so on Amazon right here.