Not really mailbag. More like replies to comments since I don’t have much to write about except really boring hockey stuff.
So here goes…
Reader kat asks:
I would never consider plastic surgery though. What’s this about it raising your salary? Are you nuts? Isn’t that like saying you’ll probably get more raises if you wear miniskirts and stiletto heels? I mean, surely that doesn’t happen anymore?
Whoa. HOLD ON THERE. There’s nothing in what I said about slutty clothing. I am only saying that if I am a little wrinkly at 55 and a face lift can make me look 45, then I would do it. It can make a difference in your salary negotiations. If a face lift costs $10K and it will mean the difference between making $60K vs $65K for 3-5 yrs, then it’s worth the money. The salary trajectory starts declining after a certain age, but I’d rather have that inflection point be 55 instead of 45. The longer I can make myself look younger, the better. (This stems from a study done and I cannot find the citation, but it was on CNN I think. Try this one regarding teeth as an example. Heck, I’d have surgery to be 3 inches taller if I could since height is correlated to salaries though when you grow seems to be a prevailing factor…Ah Statistics!)
For the record, I never wear stilettos. EVER. I have weak ankles and I rarely wear heels. (Stems from popping my ankle while ice skating.) I have fears of turning my ankles because I’ve done that so many times on dates.
Sistah Ant writes (which I might have deleted by accident):
Good posts, both parts so far. Do you think then, that as beginners get started, that they should just get professional advice up front? Are your advising sessions costing you money?
The advising sessions are free as a benefit from my company. I would get a lot more out of the sessions if I was a beginner. But I’ve read a few books on investing and asset allocation and I don’t need convincing that I need to save money which is the adviser makes me think is his usual coaching routine.
I think beginners should read up before they see an adviser. They reason why is so they can evaluate what kind of adviser they have based on information they’ve gathered. My favorite intro books are:
The 9 Steps to Financial Freedom
A Random Walk Down Wall Street
Millionaire Next Door
Debt is Slavery
Does that help?
Reader Ely writes:
As for your knitting, are you on Ravelry?
No. I know enough knitters in my life that I don’t need to seek them in a community online. (i.e. I know this crazy knitter in VA who trashes other knitters on Ravelry, so I just avoid the crazy.) Yarn Harlot is still one of my favorite knitbloggers, as well as my regular knitter peeps. Most other knitbloggers don’t really interest me for various catty reasons I won’t go write here.
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{ 3 comments… read them below or add one }
Wow, I had no idea that sort of thing actually made a significant difference in salaries. That’s kind of troublesome. Is it true for men as well? Is it different in different professions?
(BTW, out of context that bit of my comment looked much more like an attack than I meant it to… I hope you took “Are you nuts?” in the light-hearted way in which it was meant.)
The idea still squicks me, though. Why I’m okay with having blue hair and tattoos but weirded out by the idea of plastic surgery is a mystery for the ages.
Thanks for answering! I hate reading PF books, but I might finally just give in and read up!
Wow we’re both knitters and financiers. Though I read more money blogs than knitty blogs these days.