Search
Close this search box.
Blog » Personal Finance » Why Politics Matters For Millennial Money

Why Politics Matters For Millennial Money

Politics and Money

Politics will always be a relevant issue.  Millennials are no exception to this rule.  While they came of age at a time when markets were crashing, the right mix of laws may jump-start this economy back to the good ol’ days of the 80s and 90s.  Though your general worldview will influence what side you root for, I believe most ultimately vote for what is best for their pocket.

That being said, it’s important to stay current with your country and state laws, as they can directly affect your particular situation.  People and families have escaped oppressive and brutal regimes because of their anticipation of what is to come.  Applying this frame of mind to your life will go a long way, especially for millennial money.  Whether politics is your interest or not, here is a list of reasons why you SHOULD pay attention if you’re looking to line your pockets in consideration for the future.

Education

The issue of education directly affects Millennial money.  Staying informed as to who is getting elected to local positions in education can give you a sense of where it is going.  This type of knowledge can aid in figuring out where to settle with you and your family.  Is your town pro-Common Core?  Do they have a financial literacy initiative?  Summer programs and the curriculums offered are all things that are influenced by politics.  Find out what the agenda is for your local office and understand their intended path for your child’s future.

Health

Healthcare has been in the news for the last few years, I’m sure you have noticed!  Are you for government-run healthcare or do you believe in more of a free-market solution for the many who are left uninsured within our great country?  There is no concrete answer to this question, only you know what you believe is best for you and your loved ones.  In my experience servicing tax clients, I have some families that have chosen not to buy health insurance (for whatever reason) and have incurred a penalty in recent years.  The passage of Obamacare has directly affected their bank account due to this penalty.  Politics matters!

Taxes

Taxes are always a hot topic in any election, small or big.  Can you think of a political issue more directly linked to your bank account?  Do you believe in tax cuts for the wealthy and businesses or do you believe is redistributing wealth?  Do you believe doing so will fuel economic growth or add to the growing national debt?  It seems the USA is divided on this issue, possibly a driving factor to the relatively close popular vote in the recent election.  This is not just a national issue in relation to income tax, as property taxes are mixed into most monthly mortgage payments.

Having a Governor who is committed to cutting property taxes can increase your free cash flow on a monthly basis.  This is where ideology and money interests interchange frequently.  It can be comical to watch someone change their tune based on a couple of extra bucks at the end of the year.

National Security 

National security may not be obvious as to how this affects your pockets.  Don’t be mistaken, as this topic is very influential in global economics.  The behavior of the stock market after national events such as 9-11 or even a plane crash is telling enough.  Events that influence national interests at home OR abroad can directly impact our retirement accounts through our 401k investments.  Hopefully, you have a diversified portfolio filled with a healthy dose of international and domestic companies.

National Security has become more of a cyber warfare issue.  One domestic instance is how some Chinese hackers are hacking the accounts of some Amazon sellers.  The wars of the current and future are being fought in cyberspace, rather than on the front lines holding a fully automatic machine gun.  While it’s government vs government, it can also affect businesses and individuals in the case of Amazon.

Note: Some of those who run an Amazon FBA (fulfilled by Amazon) business have faced increased hacking of their listing by Chinese hackers.  This can cost thousands of dollars!

After laying out these four areas of the ever-intriguing political arena, it’s clear why staying in the know is important.  Make sure you are doing your best to get unbiased information.  It’s becoming harder to do so nowadays.  The solution to that is to read both sides.  Don’t just focus on what you believe, focus on what you don’t.  This approach will make your belief system well-rounded.  At the very least it will help you gain an understanding of those who don’t agree.  Coming from a family who escaped Communist Cuba, I can tell you that the concept of this article is important.  Freedom is never more than one generation away from losing it, so cherish what you have.

[Related: Understanding the power of informed voting]

About Due’s Editorial Process

We uphold a strict editorial policy that focuses on factual accuracy, relevance, and impartiality. Our content, created by leading finance and industry experts, is reviewed by a team of seasoned editors to ensure compliance with the highest standards in reporting and publishing.

TAGS
Life Insurance Expert
Eric Estevez is a licensed Insurance producer. He is an expert at life insurance, whole Life or Indexed Universal Life Insurance. On his off time, he has been training in the grappling art of Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu since 2010, currently holding the rank of Purple Belt. Eric loves to write about financial literacy, helping people understand finance.

About Due

Due makes it easier to retire on your terms. We give you a realistic view on exactly where you’re at financially so when you retire you know how much money you’ll get each month. Get started today.

Categories

Top Trending Posts

Due Fact-Checking Standards and Processes

To ensure we’re putting out the highest content standards, we sought out the help of certified financial experts and accredited individuals to verify our advice. We also rely on them for the most up to date information and data to make sure our in-depth research has the facts right, for today… Not yesterday. Our financial expert review board allows our readers to not only trust the information they are reading but to act on it as well. Most of our authors are CFP (Certified Financial Planners) or CRPC (Chartered Retirement Planning Counselor) certified and all have college degrees. Learn more about annuities, retirement advice and take the correct steps towards financial freedom and knowing exactly where you stand today. Learn everything about our top-notch financial expert reviews below… Learn More