Every year is the year of the Linux Phone because Android exists :)

How so? Aren't they more difficult to ride and maybe more dangerous?

I was able to amass ~$500k+ in liquid assets before 27 with a combination of attending a top college, not having any college loans when I graduated (worked hard all through college to make sure this was the case - parents are not wealthy), working at a startup that grew significantly for several years (significant equity upside), and investing everything I possibly could into the stock market over the past few years (greatest bull run in the country's history).

I also paid <$1500 a month for rent in SF for many years by living in converted rooms or having room-mates to keep costs low (relative to market rates). Many of my peers were paying >$2.5k-$3k to have their own spot. I was keeping expenses low and aggressively investing the difference in companies whose trajectories were all but inevitable in my opinion (+ some broad market index funds which have also done extremely well).

The weird thing about money is that once you get the flywheel turning (not easy), it compounds like magic given that you've made some good decisions.

My intent here isn't to boast. I figured you might appreciate a specific example of circumstances leading to building a modest level of wealth as a 20-something software engineer.

Involved was a lot of hard work, luck, timing, right place (SF), right company, good decisions, help from others, sacrifice, obsession, and a bunch of other things but I'll spare you the boring details. You could boil it _all_ down to luck if you'd like - but that's a bit too cynical for my tastes.

I appreciate it - I think I would like the boring details as those tend to be the things that I find super important. Similar to the "the yada yada" episode from Seinfeld.

My story isn't far different from you. It just lacks the happier parts. Just want to show how similar we are and how much those happier parts matter. Which some could perceive as luck. I attended a "top college" (by program at least). I worked through college on top of having a full ride (government). After college, I slept on an air mattress to save $$$ (don't do it) and then a 25 year old one because I got it for free. I chose the cheapest possible everything forever. Drove my $4000 car into the ground until it was crashed into. Never paid more than $50 for a piece of furniture. I spent maybe $100/month on food. I lived very cheaply for 8+ years with minor splurges on things. (I still live in a 400sqft in-law unit that used to be a workshop ffs - I definitely don't live lavishly) But - in the end, I can't save enough because my income isn't high enough. I gave up on penny pinching because I realized it was futile for this area. No one is buying the <=$1m homes that I could afford with years of penny pinching and saving and then living in them. (It's all investment property) Therefore, the neighborhoods never gentrify and are crap. My SO says even if I buy one - she won't move into it because we'll get stabbed, robbed, or, worse, have to live there without it gentrifying. So, homes that are actually gentrifying or nice are closer to $1.5m+. Therefore - I'd have to save about $700k+ in order to be able to qualify for the mortgage (decade+ of penny pinching saving then). It doesn't take a rocket scientist to realize that's a terrible move financially. (Putting basically all of your money into a house - not a very diversified portfolio...)

But ya know what - I see my peers who are living lavishly (buying brand new Porsches - living in luxury 2-bedroom apartments by themselves - buying all the new things - going on ski trips and whatever vacations)... It doesn't affect them. They're still buying the damn house! It's cause they're at $400-500-600k+ and not the <$200k I'm making.

Gotta join FAANG or some startup that's about to go public. The income disparity is just massive.

I've heard it's not uncommon to separate low-multiple assets and high-multiple assets into different structures.

In this case, the builds are the low-multiple assets and they're being separated out from the high-multiple asset which is the management company.

Imagine a huge conglomerate who has the ability to take revenues in more than one division - you claim the revenues in whatever the market treats as having a higher multiple, thus inflating your “growth” story and your stock price. To financial folks it looks like you’re shedding old businesses and making a new hit, but in reality it’s a finance trick.

Wouldn't the buildings usually be owned by, like, a subsidiary of WeWork, or a holding company that also owned WeWork, or something?

WeWork is the junk company that only exists to funnel investor money to the founder via his other company.

+1 to this suggestion, Nextdoor's marketplace is great for this. People give away stuff all the time. I'm sure there's some nearby parent with lightly used baby clothes packed away. At least in my neighborhood, I see them offered from time to time.

The world is going to leave you behind fast if you're using a landline because you're too scared of mobile phones...

In fact, most of my payments these days are with Apple Pay. My interactions with my bank and the stock market are all through my phone.

My bank protects me from fraud. It's really not that big of a deal - especially not to a point where using a landline makes any sense.

Just wanted to say that I think you did a pretty good job with the explanation.

I'm not sure where you're working but where I work, being a developer is awesome.

Fresh, healthy, high quality, free food catered for 3 meals a day? Check.

Best healthcare possible provided at no cost? Check.

Stocked kitchen with all kinds of snacks, high end coffee, kombucha etc with ability to make requests? Check.

Freedom to come in when I want and leave when I want? Check.

Work remotely when I want? Check.

Any equipment I want at any cost? Check.

Top of market pay for size of company? Check.

Beautiful office with natural sunlight, plants everywhere, and fresh air? Check.

Autonomy and creativity in my role? Check.

Top percentile talent as coworkers who are genuinely amazing collaborators, interesting people and great to work with? Check.

Like with all professions, there are depressing jobs and great jobs. If you're a dev working at a paper mill in the midwest with draconian dinosaurs as management, yeah it might not be the best gig. But if you work at a company that values software and understands the leverage of great developers, then I can't think of a job that's more cushy and fulfilling.

What you say is that for you all those benefits outweigh the actual fact of sitting in front of computer all day. It's hard to give them all up, that's true.

Could you imagine working retail where you have to be on your feet hours a day with no break? You have no choice.

I get to sit or stand when I want (I have a motorized, adjustable standing desk). I can go for a run mid-day if I want. I can hit the gym if I want. I have any number of options. If I choose to sit in front of the computer all day, that's usually MY fault (but to be fair sometimes there's a launch date looming that results in me working extra).

It's all about choice. I have that. Many professions don't.

When I was younger with no profession I tried painting houses and waiting tables. Now *those^ are hard. Programming is paradise compared. Fun, challenging and comfortable.