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I’M NOT MUCH OF a bartender. But when my wife and I hosted an art show in Missoula for a friend, I got the chance to serve wine while meeting a whole new group of people. Bankers—my usual social circle—tend to be strait-laced analytical types, so it was entertaining to spend an evening meeting creative folks from our thriving arts community.
One young couple, who sported an array of tattoos and piercings, had a story that caught my attention. I’ll call them Louise and Leonardo. They had recently moved to Missoula from Asheville, North Carolina, another cool mountain town with a lot of similarities to Missoula.
Not too far into the conversation, it became apparent that they’d moved to Montana on a whim, didn’t have jobs, had little money and held to a philosophy that emphasized living in the moment. The concept of deferred gratification wasn’t part of their thinking. They believed that they had many years ahead of them when they could work, but right now they wanted to pursue their passion for travel and new experiences.
Do you have a Leonardo or Louise in your life? I don’t want to minimize the challenges of discussing bourgeois values with 20-somethings infatuated with the pursuit of their passion at all costs. Are there ways to pass along financial advice without crushing their dreams of a life full of meaning and purpose? Here are my four suggestions:
Face-aging apps can help open up a discussion with the Leonardos and Louises of the world—and do so in a fun way. When we’re young, it’s easy to find just about everything interesting and think that’s your life’s passion. But in truth, it can take years to discover what you’re truly passionate about. At that juncture, you’ll want to be in a financial position to do what you love. Perhaps using an aging app can help spark a discussion about purpose later in life and the wisdom of doing a little financial preparation today.
Joe Kesler is the author of Smart Money with Purpose and the founder of a website with the same name, which is where a version of this article first appeared. He spent 40 years in community banking, assisting small businesses and consumers. Joe served as chief executive of banks in Illinois and Montana. He currently lives with his wife in Missoula, Montana, spending his time writing on personal finance, serving on two bank boards and hiking in the Rocky Mountains. Joe’s previous articles include Prepare for Pain, Doing Good and True Wealth.
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HaHa! Yes, you have to wait for your openings with this generation and take them when and wherever they come. Thanks for the observation Dave!
i don’t know…. it sounds too simple. A person’s personality, disposition, tendencies, outlook etc seemed unlikely changed by a talk on those points. Nobody spoke to me, but I did all the right things. Something deep inside drove me to invest and live simply. Academics did some studies on kids regarding delayed gratification. Some people just can’t see the future. When my son got a job, I created a power point presentation about the why, how, when of investing, but I also cornered him and had him setup all his investments on auto pilot. I hope in a few years, his investment balance will speak for itself.
Well-written. And good ideas, too. Thanks. The face-aging app idea is genius; let’s see if it works.
Good luck Will! Hope it works.
Nice article with great suggestions. Thank you.
Thanks SCao!
So you meet two interesting people at an art show and you discuss with them the benefits of compound interest? Do you really think you’re the first person to offer them unsolicited financial advice? May I recommend that next time you meet an interesting looking couple at an art show you flip the script? Start by asking them what they’re up to, then if you’re lucky you’ll end up on a double date at this funky dive bar, while planning a zip-line camping adventure.
Thanks for the idea Mjflack! I had to smile at your suggestion as I did have a great double date this past summer with some millennials which included a great time zip lining at a ski hill here in Missoula. I also do a lot of camping in Montana and you are correct that it is a great way to have an adventure with another generation. I think conversation is better when it takes place away from so many technology distractions. I think I’m on the same track as you are suggesting of finding a setting where the generations can learn from each other. Appreciate the comment!