it looks like having enough control over your money so you're more than getting by, you're making plans. you're making the moves you want.

financial independence isn't about having more stuff. it's about having more choice.

it's that simple. 

→ understand how your money works 

→ access the tools to build wealth 

→ plan for the future you want 

→ own your future

whoever said money doesn't buy happiness was right → it buys you options. choice.

on the road to freedom town

here's what I'm seeing:

Gen Z's financial behavior is diverse. there's a serious group of Z’s investing earlier and more frequently than previous generations. 

these Z's aren't going full Gordon Gekko, they're looking for relevance and exercising their independence.

they want to invest in something that feels real, useful, or aligned with their values, but only when the experience and vision feel right.

they're not chasing status, they're using agency. taking ownership.

this means: 

→ assets they understand 

→ platforms that feature transparency and speed  

→ financial products designed for them, not just rebranded, repackaged, recycled 

→ opportunities that match their ethics, identity, and worldview

they want to build wealth in a way that fits their life, not from a persona-matching checklist in a financial products catalogue.

'yolo! crypto! bro!'

who loves yolo crypto bros?

the algos do. they're designed for them. they yell with urgency, they dance with urgency, they rent Lambos with urgency…

yes, they're noisy.

no, i'm not convinced this is what's driving Z’s to adopt, trade, and hodl decentralized assets.

i'm talking to Z's who are in the space because they really like the concepts behind DeFi.

they like:

→ the “outsiderness”

→ the frictionless, instant exchange

→ the technology

→ the minimal regulation (at least for now).

they also like how the old guard has distaste but begrudgingly ingest it. just like little bro and broccoli. 

there's so much more to DeFi than bitcoin and fartcoin.

the rest of the world is catching up.

about stablecoins

even the GQ TraFi squad are getting in the game. to me, this signals this market is no longer radical or emerging. it’s landed. stablecoins becoming a go-to, almost frictionless cross-border payment rail, (ie being used for large international transfers outside the traditional banking <s>cartel</s> system.)

fiat-backed stablecoins like usdc, and cadc (AKA "Loon") are stable enough, convertible enough, that big money players are using them to by-pass the slow, expensive SWIFT system (also now adding a blockchain layer). booya! → this could be why DeFi resonates so much with Z's.

but about investing → when the risk is properly assessed and accounted for, there's no reason not to explore them. (a real investment professional would walk you through that risk assessment, a crappy one would just read you the pre-packaged sell sheet. i am neither, i'm just seeing things.)

when stability and value link up, new assets are birthed

nothing creates faster than value and demand. so new DeFi asset classes are emerging to replace "boomer low-risk assets" like CDs, government bonds, and t-bills. they fill a need in a balanced investment strategy and don't have the ick of 'the system'. → can you imagine trying to convince gen z to "invest in the government"?

so what does this look like? interesting alternatives include high-yield savings accounts that track stablecoins (like Wellspring). these assets aren't necessarily made specifically for Gen Z, but when you add new technology to stability and value, it feels custom-designed for them. tech, innovation, establishment-defying, a classic Gen Z thrupple.

this is what financial inclusion looks like in the complex world of global finance. new entrants and ideas are mixing with the stale and pale. change is inevitable.

if you have the ability to make a choice, to participate in this or that or not at all, then you are in.

when you don't have a choice, when you are firmly cast as a market-taker and living on your allotment, you are out.

the shift is real

→ DeFi

→ consumer spending shifts

→ AI insanity

→ labour market identity crisis

→ real estate uncertainty

→ the generational wealth transfer.

all of this accelerates the mechanisms of economic change. 

TradFi is adapting. some are moving quickly by choice, some slower and reluctantly, and some are oblivious and just getting moved by the market. it’s a wide spectrum, but hard to see anybody not feeling the vibrations of change. If you don't believe this shift is real, tune into boomer TikTok (cable news) and count the number of times the old school influencers use terms like 'untethered', 'unprecedented', and 'uncharted territory.'

the global “value” system is a living entity. evolution is inevitable. assuming tomorrow will be like today is delusion. so it's a good time to have control and choices.

your ethos, your money

the only advice i give about financial advice is look at the person giving the advice. ask yourself one simple question, who benefits most if I follow their advice?

if you can answer that too quickly, it's a flag. if they're pushing one specific product or platform, flag. if there is time-pressure to their pitch, flag. if they say, "buy now!", "tell your friends!", "don't be the last one in!" → game misconduct.

be aware, be skeptical, get clarity, take a breath, take ownership. if someone is trying too hard to influence you, one way or the other, they're trying to make your choice.

there are enough tools, information, and trusted sources for almost anyone to take ownership over their finances. you just need to want it, be slightly organized, and have a small amount of discipline.

it all starts with trust. put in the time, you don't need much, and a bit of effort to build your system of trust.

real value comes when you can trust yourself. if you want it → you'll get there.

if you don't want your financial freedom, that's fine too. the whole point is you have a choice. if you choose not to take ownership, you'll probably just end up following uncle grandpa to a shoebox full of t-bills thinking you are investing in a very stable, competent, and fiscally responsible traditional institution.

that's a choice.