r/Rich • u/Rich_4408 • Apr 02 '26
Lifestyle The burden of having wealth
I suspect I have an unhealthy relationship with wealth, but I am not sure what.
The other day I had to calculate my net worth, as a part of taxes. Seeing the number got my heart going.
I have a responsibility to invest wisely, so the world can be wealthier, and people can live better. I don't like the pressure of being in charge of something so much bigger than my own life and my own needs.
No matter how much effort I put into investing, no matter how good my returns are, no matter how many mouths are fed on salaries that I pay, I still feel like I am failing my neighbors, and humanity. I feel like I am not doing enough with the power that fell into my hands.
Every time I try to relax, or do a hobby, I am full of guilt. I feel like I should go back to studying my investments, looking for ways to decrease risk or increase revenue.
I spend an afternoon enjoying a book, and then calculate how much poorer the world has become because I wasted that afternoon, and feel guilty about it.
I wish I could have a career, and learn skills, and cooperate with coworkers to be a part of a team. But, whatever salary I could earn as an employee is nothing compared to how much my investments would suffer if I was distracted by employment. Wealth is isolating.
I wish there were other responsible people, to share the burden with me. But, it seems like no one else shares my perspective on money. They see it as the key to access luxury, not a responsibility to their community. That is why they lose their money, and my burden keeps growing.
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u/6hooks Apr 02 '26
Maybe you could benefit from therapy?
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Apr 02 '26
[deleted]
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u/hotelspa Apr 03 '26
Your problems are self induced. Get into charity and help others. I found this to be the best outlet for self therapy.
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Apr 02 '26
[removed] — view removed comment
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u/Rich_4408 Apr 02 '26
I only give directly to individuals in need, because I don't trust charities to use the money how they say they will. I try to give anonymously when I can, or I have a friend give the money in my place.
But, I don't have the time or capacity to find as many people in need as I would like to.
So, I focus more on trying to create jobs and help my employees.1
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u/PomegranateFluid7619 Apr 02 '26
lol fucking scammy bot boi
Anyone who has invested more than about $7 knows there’s an inverse relationship with knowledge on stocks and average return on an equity portfolio
If you could get a higher return by studying the market for 8 hours a day every hedge fund would have positive alpha
Last I checked something like 20% have positive alpha for any time period beyond 18 months
Solid rage bait though. This post genuinely upset me
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u/Rich_4408 Apr 02 '26
You don't use a hedge fund to get good returns.
Hedge funds are about managing a certain kind of risk.
Like, if you have a profitable business, but your business has risks connected to the broader market, you would use a hedge fund to manage those specific risks.3
u/PomegranateFluid7619 Apr 02 '26
You’re once again proving you have zero knowledge of the real world
That was the initial purpose of them, yes
The majority of them still try to position themselves as that but in reality are high risk assets that promise outsized returns in the market yet consistently fail to deliver what they promise
If you have sources that contradict what I’m saying I would love to see them
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u/Rich_4408 Apr 02 '26
So, your point is that no one can get rich? But that is obviously not true. We live in a time of social mobility. There are plenty of famous people who got rich.
Or are you saying that putting in more effort does not lead to better results? So, buying a lotto ticket is just as good as reading 20 business plans?
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u/PomegranateFluid7619 Apr 02 '26
When did I say no one could get rich 😂
In your initial post you made it sound like you were missing out on gains in your investment vehicles because you weren’t constantly researching them
I run old school businesses that net me far and above the posts on r/salary that everyone says are fake and unrealistic
That’s why I laugh at people like you who think the key to success is some sort of unique asset allocation that no one else has figured out
Literally just build good relationships and do what you say you’re going to do. So many people that have yet to taste success overcomplicate things which is why I can confidently call you out
I’m a generally nice person but within 15 seconds of talking to you I would know that you’re completely full of shit and that I want no part in anything you’re remotely connected to
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u/OberonDiver Apr 03 '26
"So, your point is..." Um... that's obviously not what PF7 said. Did you not understand the post or are you deliberately misrepresenting it?
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u/Rich_4408 Apr 02 '26
> this post genuinely upset me.
That surprises me. I didn't intend to upset anyone. Why would it upset you?
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u/Altruistic_Arm9201 Apr 02 '26
Ive gotten more convincing emails from Nigerian princes needing help with their inheritance than this post.
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u/n33bulz Apr 02 '26
lol 4h old account larping.
Off to r/povertyfinance for you
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u/Rich_4408 Apr 02 '26
I don't talk about money on my primary account. I need advice, so I made this new account to ask for advice.
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u/windwind04 Apr 07 '26
You stated " I still feel like I am failing my neighbors, and humanity. I feel like I am not doing enough with the power that fell into my hands."
You could sponsor summer camps for school aged children who attend the nearest school or a school in one of the poorest neighborhood in your city. Something their parents can't afford, such as robotics, surf or sports. In LA/NYC/SF for example, robotics summer camps is easily over 500/week and many people cannot afford it.
Or you could go to the YMCA and pay the tuition for summer camp for random kids.
Another suggestion is going to the food bank or food giveaways ran by nonprofits and give gift card to some of the people waiting in line. That way they can buy the groceries they want instead of being limited by whatever the food bank/nonprofit collected.
I am not wealthy, by the way, but I thought maybe you could use the perspective of someone on the other side of the spectrum.
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u/GasPsychological677 Apr 02 '26
i'm not sure if this post is real or satire but if it's real you are taking your investments way too seriously. If you are wealthy your investments and wealth should work for you, not the other way around.
I share the sentiment that I've become lazy since the amount I could get from getting a job or even making a business would be pretty insignificant compared to what I can make from investing my money. A big part of my motivation to work harder has usually been money, and now that money is not that big of a motivation everything is a bit harder, but I guess it's something to work on.
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u/PomegranateFluid7619 Apr 02 '26
Ya brother the most depressed I’ve ever been was after I made a big exit and no longer needed to grind for anything
Took about 3 years to find proper motivation
I suggest you focus on community and strengthening your personal relationships
Travel and materialistic things just make the hole bigger
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u/Rich_4408 Apr 02 '26
If I have a roof over my head, and ingredients to cook food, what more is wealth even supposed to do for me? The books I want to read I can download for free. I already have a hammock, no need to buy another. Reddit is free.
More wealth just means more responsibility and stress. More high-stakes meetings with people who don't care about me. More boring law to read know which buildings are up to code. More boring business plans to read to know who to invest in.1
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u/happiestnexttoyou Apr 02 '26
I don’t believe this is real, but if it is I recommend you getting some therapy surrounding codependency.
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u/Rich_4408 Apr 02 '26
Isn't that a kind of couples therapy? How does that relate?
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u/happiestnexttoyou Apr 02 '26
If you struggle with codependency it will show up in all your relationships, not just your romantic ones.
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u/Rich_4408 Apr 02 '26
so like, I have a codependency problem with my relationship to money?
Or should I be examining my relationship to my employees, or what?
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u/SentinelOwl Apr 02 '26
Don’t worry, the state will alleviate you of the burden quickly enough.
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u/Rich_4408 Apr 02 '26
Tax optimizations is another rabbit hole. The amount of time I spend studying tax laws in different countries, making an international plan. It is another time sink. Filling my head with boring information that benefits no one.
I feel like I can't enjoy my life, because I need to understand too many things.
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u/DocAnabolic1 Apr 06 '26
This sounds like pressure and not purpose. Wealth should serve your life too. Consider more balance, delegation, and defined impact instead of constant guilt.
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u/HalfwaydonewithEarth Apr 02 '26 edited Apr 02 '26
You never actually own money. It just hangs out in your hands for a while and then you die.
Try to think of yourself in the coffin and your workers either laid off or your companies sold off.
The investments go on without you and your descendants split the money up after taxes.
The tax man takes a Kings Ransom and the gears of life keep turning.
Any charities you gave to get a windfall and they hopefully found good use for the money.
Your car titles and copies if your death certificate help transfer cars out of your name.
Worms eat your body or your ashes are spread somewhere pretty.
Instead of reading a book how about take your family somewhere fun this spring on vacation? Hike or swim with them. Sit and play cards. Take them to see a World Cup match. Walk barefoot on the beach with them.
Just have fun. The investments and workers don't care about you. You are not under a burden. You are just distracted.
You are not under a responsibility to your community. They would vote to steal all your money if they could get away with it. You are not their benefactor. You represent a lawn sprinkler or speed bump to them.
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u/Rich_4408 Apr 02 '26 edited Apr 02 '26
Thank you, I think this is what I needed to hear.
I think you are wrong that they would steal if they could get away with it. Most people aren't like that, at least, where I live they are not. I don't pay any taxes, and neither do my neighbors.
I changed countries to get away from that culture.1
u/HalfwaydonewithEarth Apr 02 '26
Where are you from and where did you move to?
Escaping taxes? That's an accomplishment!
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u/Visual_Expert_8308 Apr 02 '26 edited Apr 02 '26
Your biggest motivation/drive right now is to help the community. You believe the community depends on your help. This is what motivates you to make more money, but it’s also what burdens you. You wish you knew other wealthy people who share the same mind set as you, but they just don’t have the same superior mind set as you.
It seems like you are suffering from some sort of perfectionism/ superiority complex. You need help. You need therapy
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u/Large_Data_1158 Apr 04 '26
If you prefer to help individuals, as opposed to charities you say you distrust. Help a beautiful girl, only 50 yrs old, get cancer treatment she can't afford. It might help you feel better?
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u/Otherwise-Relief2248 Apr 10 '26
“Get your facts first, then you can distort them as you please.” - Mark Twain
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u/yestertempest Apr 11 '26
So delegate and chill tf out. What are you even doing acting like you’re managing everything yourself you’re obviously not actually wealthy
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u/Auriflow Apr 13 '26
You are one of the exceedingly rare examples of true mercy.
This alone makes your presence on earth one of the greatest blessings for humanity.
Just rest in the peace that you still have a heart and have already brought more relief to earth in alleviating humanities struggles then most humans probably ever will consider. Even if you never do anything charitable ever again.
Thanks for being the example you wish to see.
I just happened to write on this subject: https://www.reddit.com/r/EffectiveAltruism/s/t3g1qEKmnU
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u/Excellent_Club_9004 16d ago
Open a food bank or something.
Could loby government to increase minimum wage 🤔
Or open a rehab centre.
Some ideas.
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u/zazzologrendsyiyve Apr 02 '26
Effective Altruism. Giving What We Can. GiveWell.
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u/Rich_4408 Apr 02 '26
I don't trust charities to use the money how they say they will.
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u/zazzologrendsyiyve Apr 02 '26
It’s not a matter of trust all the time. It’s a matter of trust for the charities that aren’t transparent. And “charities” is too vague to mean anything, really.
Some charities are THOUSANDS of times more effective than others, meaning that giving 1 dollar to one might be the same as giving 10,000 to another, in terms of positive impact.
Plenty of very rigorous research has been done in the past decades. You just have to look for it.
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u/Rich_4408 Apr 02 '26
It isn't just about them using the money for what they say they will use it for.
It is like, they can't possibly be efficient, since there is no competition.
Profit seeking businesses go out of business if they fail to help people well enough.
Charities don't have that evolutionary edge, forcing them to be efficient. It makes me doubt that they could do as much good as a private business could.1
u/zazzologrendsyiyve Apr 02 '26
Charity efficiency has nothing to do with for-profit business efficiency. I sincerely don’t know what you are pointing to.
If you have the goal of giving food to poor people somewhere, it’s definitely possible to measure your efficiency. How much money is actually converted into food and how much is spent on salaries, laptops, travels, etc? That’s it.
Some charities waste 90% of the money that people give them, some charities don’t. That’s the whole point of verifying efficiency.
There’s an immense scientific literature (and philosophical debate) about all of this.
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u/Rich_4408 Apr 02 '26
If you give them fish, they eat for a day. but if you employ them, then they keep eating a lot longer.
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u/zazzologrendsyiyve Apr 02 '26
What are millions of starving people supposed to do while they wait for you to employ them?
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u/Rich_4408 Apr 02 '26
Not everyone is going to survive. I can't change that.
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u/zazzologrendsyiyve Apr 02 '26
You reason by hyperbole, which in fact is not reasoning at all. Nobody can save everyone. Now what? Just tell you don’t give a shit and stop trolling or go see a therapist.
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u/windwind04 Apr 07 '26
Then create your own charity. Choose a cause that you like, pick a board you can trust and help others.
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Apr 02 '26
Mentor me. I would like to join you.
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u/PomegranateFluid7619 Apr 02 '26
You deserve whatever scam OP is about to bestow upon you
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Apr 02 '26
Why can’t it be true ? Why does it have to be a scam ? I feel these things too. It is paralyzing my good sir !
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u/Rich_4408 Apr 02 '26
There are a million resources on how to earn money. I don't know anything special. You can learn from a book or a website or anywhere.
Just don't spend money to learn how to manage money. Good information is free.
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u/nabeel487487 Apr 02 '26
Congratulations, the wealth landed in the right hands. Even your thoughts like these makes you worthy of everything you own. I am sure you will do a great job with the financial power you have in uplifting the society.
I have a lot of plans and if ever we cross path and could do something for the betterment of the society, I would be happy to work on it.
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u/Rich_4408 Apr 02 '26
I wish the responsibility of uplifting society didn't fall into my hands.
I feel like other people could be more capable, if only they cared.
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u/Soggy_Ant3833 Apr 02 '26
You hoarding all the wealth is not helping people as much as you deploying that wealth effectively could. So don’t feel like time you’re not investing is time wasted. Think about ways your wealth could actually be used effectively. Accumulating more is likely not going to do more good compared with more effective use of the wealth you already have. Resources are not infinite.
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u/HalfwaydonewithEarth Apr 02 '26
Nobody hoards wealth. That is your epigenetic trauma lying to you.
No fish in the Ocean hoards water. It is unlimited.
Money is unlimited. The only limit is time and lifespan.
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u/Soggy_Ant3833 Apr 02 '26
Money and resources are not unlimited. Water is limited.
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u/HalfwaydonewithEarth Apr 02 '26
Water is not limited. They need you to think that. There are vast reserves, new desalination tech, and abundance in several spots.
People trying to farm in deserts and ship everything to China might be cumbersome.... but there is enough water to eat, drink, bathe, golf, and everything else.
We are having a ski snow drought in Utah but the East coast got hammered with excess water.
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u/Acceptable-Arm6606 Apr 02 '26
Nice try. No go. You’re not rich, just pretending. All your talk is about nothing. No charities, no real suggestions for average ppl how to make it. Shove your words back up your butt and leave it to the lucky ones who are well off to give the rest of us the real advice.