So I'm only 100 days in after fooling around with this a little 20 years ago. A lot of the time, I don't mind the driving because I'd be driving anyway somewhere, it's one of my hobbies from way back in my pre-cell-phone graduate school days when I'd drive 300 miles while listening to the radio and thinking about how to fine tune one of the algorithms in my dissertation research.

To me, MS is part of a portfolio of retirement activities, along with finding areas of content creation such as travel/tourism, learning via podcasts, etc... all stuff to get me out of my recliner. If I can make $100 pre-tax net (heavily discounting "reimbursement" by 40-100%) for 3-4 hours worth of MS work per week, that's fine, and so far I have been hitting that mark.

In a perfect world, a couple of times a week I'd be able to do the 200 mile types of drives which @Morledzep does, create some tourism content along the way, listen to a bunch of podcasts or sporting events, and make $50+ in MS to defray expenses. And have fun.

Edited 1 time(s). Last edit at 10/06/2025 03:16PM by nc-retiree.

@sestrahelena wrote:

*shows hands* Me, I do! But I live cheaply. No mortagage/rent, loans, car notes, credit card balance - nada. My investments stay where they are, untouched. Rental income goes back into the property/insurance fund. I'm old and there's almost nothing that advertisers throw at me that I feel I need to buy. I can survive comfortably on a small MS income.

Well, you admitted to rental income, so you are not living full time on mystery shopping. Do you collect SS or a pension?

@SBP I think your message would have an even greater impact if more of us responded the way you did when we get the please help us out or do us a favor emails. The mystery shopping company might realize that their pay isn't sufficient. It also helps when no one does the task because I am sure some of these shops have to be shopped at least every so often during the period as opposed to every location needs to be shopped.

I forgot to mention in another post that I reached out to a scheduler that kept sending the same emails for a shop and told her they paid more the year pror and she said they couldn't pay that $10 extra. I explained that I made more doing other things whether it was other shops or my real job and her shop at its current price wasn't worth it. She claimed to understand, but here we are 5 years later with the same low ball offers for the same shop. My goal was to see how high they would go, but I wasn't going to do it since another company was offering to do a similar shop for more than double.

ArkLAMS is right, many of these shops only make sense if you are doing a route. The issue is not all of these shops are available in the same window. Recently I did a route and then a shop became available a few days after I passed the area and it doesn't make sense for me to go over there now to do that one shop.

@maverick1 You are wrong with the "I've only ever looked at mystery shopping as equivalent to using coupons. It's not a money making endeavor, just a cost reduction." There are plenty of shops that are money making endeavors where there is no exchange of money between the shopper and the client's site, but a fee is paid for producing a report. There are also financial shops where you open an account, but you aren't given anything as a cost reduction. Some of the food shops are a discount, but there are others in that category where you do receive a fee plus the full reimbursement for the food - you know this.

As a savvy investor you know that stock or index appreciation is not guaranteed and that 15% for the first 9 months of the year is on the high side of the historical norm. As mentioned on the other thread, it would take extreme discipline not to capitulate after seeing your investment in the QQQ down 80% in under three years after reaching the highs and subsequent crash and it took 14 years just to get back to break even. The thing you overlook is how would someone pay for things like a car note or have some extra funds for general expenses if all they have is their investment portfolio and they are trying to increase it as opposed to drawing down from.

People starting out go with a W2, 1099, or get paid under the table. They don't just start off with a portfolio. Even you started with a W2.

I think there are five main reasons why pay has stayed steady or decreased despite significant inflation and why there seem to be fewer opportunities available than in the past.

(1) In today's inflation and import tax (tariff) affected economy, some retail and restaurant businesses are struggling. They cannot afford a robust mystery shopping program. This leads to stopping their mystery shopping programs all together or reducing the number of shops and or pay negotiated with the MSC.

(2) There has been a significant rise in easy access and easy to market shop aggregators like Presto, Mobi-audit, and Isecretshop. This makes shops easier to Market to new shoppers. They may not stick with it long-term, but they might grab a few shops and do them because they think it's cool to be a mystery shopper. Some might stick with it and learn how to be more selective, but most probably don't. Despite that, this does reduce the number of shops available.

Mystery shopping companies have been better about using social media to market their opportunities. In today's society, it's extremely persuasive because people think that the things that they see on social media are hip and cool and new. And they've heard about mystery shopping and they think it must be amazing. So they give it a shot.

(3) Some people must just be really bored. When I see shops getting done at beginning pay, require a ton of work, don't pay much, and don't have a particularly valuable reimbursement, it's hard for me to think of any other reason why they would do it. (Aside from point number five below. I think these two can go together sometimes.) They must just really not have anything better to do with their life and have decided that working for less than minimum wage is something that they want to do.

(4) Some shoppers, through ignorance, lack of knowledge, or lack of seeing the big picture think they are making more money than they really are. Driving significant miles to get to shops can sometimes net quite a bit more gross pay. But shoppers don't realize how much mileage can depreciate the value of their car depending on how new it is. Also, they don't think about the fact that they're not only paying for gas, they're getting themselves closer to the time they're going to need another oil change, tire rotation, or tire replacement. Driving a car costs money, and many shoppers don't seem to take that into account when they consider how much money they're making. I've heard shoppers brag about driving 800 miles to net $1100 in gross pay over a 4 day period They think it's okay because most of their gas is paid for, but they're not taking into account the depreciation on their vehicle and how much closer they are to the services that their vehicle requires. Also, they don't take into account the fact that those hours on the road are hours that could be used for some other more productive task or simply leisure time.

(5) Finally, some shoppers are simply desperate for any dollar that can make. They might be behind on their bills or needing to pay their rent. They just need some money, and they don't know where else to turn. They will do anything, even if the pay is crappy and it's a lot of work. If they can get that money quickly, something that aggregators like Presto allow, they will do it.

There is talk in this thread about investing, and it can be very lucrative for some people. But you have to have money to invest, and many mystery shoppers do not. Considering that one of the main drivers for doing mystery shops at base pay is the need for quick money of any kind, the idea that we should be telling them to invest is probably something they would laugh at based on their situation.

Edited 2 time(s). Last edit at 10/06/2025 06:21PM by thunderdeacon.

@Morledzep wrote:

SBP, it was a long day. And I made mistakes the cost me money. I accidentally ordered a pizza in a vastly different part of GA. Because my tablet is stupid and doesn't volunteer my location in the apps. My phone does, but the tablet is stingy.

Ugh!
Sorry that happened…
Too far away for delivery to eat the proceeds?

Edited 1 time(s). Last edit at 10/06/2025 06:28PM by SBP.

@maverick1 wrote:

@sestrahelena wrote:

*shows hands* Me, I do! But I live cheaply. No mortagage/rent, loans, car notes, credit card balance - nada. My investments stay where they are, untouched. Rental income goes back into the property/insurance fund. I'm old and there's almost nothing that advertisers throw at me that I feel I need to buy. I can survive comfortably on a small MS income.

Well, you admitted to rental income, so you are not living full time on mystery shopping. Do you collect SS or a pension?

As stated, the rental income I do not use for myself. Not Ss or pension yet.

I work full time and my husband is retired and draws a state paid pension. He also works part time running his own business. .Our cars and home are paid off and we are completely debt free. I am fortunate enough to live in the largest city in my state and have access to a great variety of shops. I pick and choose what I want and wait until the price is right. I do not count on any of the proceeds or reimbursements to live on, but do use it to offset things that I would like to purchase (i.e. if there is an expensive pair of shoes that I want, I try to earn enough in shop pay to cover the cost). I also try to find different restaurants for date nights. The extra pay and reimbursement does help, but if it ended tomorrow, I could stll survive. I do not see how anyone lives off of shopping exclusively. We are headed on vacation soon and have fine dining shops lined up. Its nice to try a new restaurant and let someone else foot the bill (or part of it) for my time and effort to take pictures and write a report (just not a Coyle report....)

Edited 2 time(s). Last edit at 10/06/2025 09:45PM by gigishopper.

@gigishopper wrote:

I do not see how anyone lives off of shopping exclusively.

I mean...If someone decide to cap out on Panda (100 shops per round) on monthly basis, save them all up in the fridge, on top of that getting all those no reimbursement IHOP and 5 guys, and good old burger king and carl's jr shops, they probably don't really need to worry about their daily meals for the month. How healthy it is? I would not know, but it is do-able. Then using waiting on the monthly mobil for the gas, purchase couple extra 5 gal gas tank for extra gas tanks of gases, you have gas covered there right? And while you are at it. Can also work on some mobil lighting, Chevron First + Image + Star(Assuming you can find 2 SSN). Probably also hopping around for some cellphone stores and chicken fingers for snacks. Maybe? I dunno

My son and I did MS for the better part of 10 years as our only source of income. But like Ses, I have no mortgage, and my property taxes are less than $300 per year. So we really only needed money for gasoline, which we got very well discounted or reimbursed between Kroger and gas station shops.

Actually we still do, but now I splurge for a car wash at Buc-ee's once or twice per month because I also have a new car and payment that I didn't want.

I still need to buy a new stove, all of my efforts to buy a used one have been thwarted, and my son permanently broke the old one so it's not useable anymore at all. The last time he tried to use it, it exploded and put itself out, so it's disconnected.

I have the Blackstone, my gas grill, a webber kettle grill, a smoker, an 8 qt instant pot, a large air fryer, and of course, 6 qt. my crack pot (Hamilton Beach Crock Pot). So we can cook almost anything we want to, it just takes a little more effort and knowhow.

@SBP wrote:

@Morledzep wrote:

SBP, it was a long day. And I made mistakes the cost me money. I accidentally ordered a pizza in a vastly different part of GA. Because my tablet is stupid and doesn't volunteer my location in the apps. My phone does, but the tablet is stingy.

Ugh!
Sorry that happened…
Too far away for delivery to eat the proceeds?

SBP, both pizza huts were in GA, close to 70 miles apart. And I live in AL, about 100 miles from one, and 120 miles from the other, in different directions. They weren't the Presto delivery shops, they're the Presto pizza hut shops. This month they are medium thin and crispy pepperoni and sausage pizzas. My favorite kind, I was getting really sick of those pan pizzas the last round, I'm not a bread eater when I can avoid it.

A lot of tldr in this one

@PBS wrote:

A lot of tldr in this one

Thunderdeacon's post is worth the read though.

@thunderdeacon wrote:

I think there are five main reasons why pay has stayed steady or decreased despite significant inflation and why there seem to be fewer opportunities available than in the past.

1-5 (deleted so that it wasn't a page long quote)

There is talk in this thread about investing, and it can be very lucrative for some people. But you have to have money to invest, and many mystery shoppers do not. Considering that one of the main drivers for doing mystery shops at base pay is the need for quick money of any kind, the idea that we should be telling them to invest is probably something they would laugh at based on their situation.

Agree with 1-5. I think that you nailed it.

Sadly, there are a lot of shoppers who have no money. Ironically, they are not the target demographic of the marketing companies.They want to know how actual customers feel, think and buy. In reality, people over 50 years old are not of interest in marketing either. I am over 50 years old. I saw this right away when I was not longer chosen for any market research focus groups once I turned 50.

I only know one shopper who did this full time, and she died broke. Big talker, but she was never able to support herself truly.

@BayShopper22 wrote:

@thunderdeacon wrote:

I think there are five main reasons why pay has stayed steady or decreased despite significant inflation and why there seem to be fewer opportunities available than in the past.

1-5 (deleted so that it wasn't a page long quote)

There is talk in this thread about investing, and it can be very lucrative for some people. But you have to have money to invest, and many mystery shoppers do not. Considering that one of the main drivers for doing mystery shops at base pay is the need for quick money of any kind, the idea that we should be telling them to invest is probably something they would laugh at based on their situation.

Agree with 1-5. I think that you nailed it.

Sadly, there are a lot of shoppers who have no money. Ironically, they are not the target demographic of the marketing companies.They want to know how actual customers feel, think and buy. In reality, people over 50 years old are not of interest in marketing either. I am over 50 years old. I saw this right away when I was not longer chosen for any market research focus groups once I turned 50.

I only know one shopper who did this full time, and she died broke. Big talker, but she was never able to support herself truly.

...and here is closer to the truth;
"I only know one shopper who did this full time, and she died broke. Big talker, but she was never able to support herself truly."

People are inherently bad with math and therefore, money. It's been shown time and time again in posts here. This is why the talk of socialism is prevalent in places like NYC in the US and it's invoked in places like Europe.

For example, you can see comments of how citizens believe healthcare is FREE in European countries. It is not. It's funded through taxes. Taxes that are higher than in the US.

Citizens so desperately want things for free. Rent controlled. Groceries at no cost. Subsidies. Rebates. Checks in the mail.

A shortcut. Anything to address the..."The high cost of...working."

You know what will tackle the high cost of working? Working hard in school, working in a career to earn, save, and invest. There is no shortcut. Many people don't want to hear that.

As I am unsure which poster shared the following, I agree:

You know what will tackle the high cost of working? Working hard in school, working in a career to earn, save, and invest. There is no shortcut. Many people don't want to hear that.

The below is from a post on the Volition forum. The poster stated she would not be repeating this manner of earning money. The specifics I recall are below.

A female shared she had grossed, as a shopper, slightly over 100K the prior yr. To achieve those results, she was on the road 28 days a month AND she had a companion who entered all reports. They each netted approx. 40K. In my opinion, that is an unacceptable amount of sacrifice and work for their income.

A final comment: shopping is an excellent endeavor IF, I repeat IF you have not the slightest need for the work:pay ratio* the Arab/camel MSCs are offering. I. personally, have only completed a single category #1-money shop this yr., but have logged 157 cat. #3s-travel defrayment, jobs to date.

*I am not criticizing the MSCs, as we are all ICs and it is our responsibility to accept or decline work. This IS still business.

Let's face the facts- this is low skill/unskilled work so that means low or very low compensation, depending on requirements and/or competition. Some can earn a better return on their time by doubling their efforts with creative timing/scheduling, but it's not always under their control.

If a person wants higher level compensation, often they will need to undertake some kind of specialized training where they can command a higher wage.

It's really not that complicated. IMO, what makes it more complicated for either side, is when the market (any aspect of it) starts to move away from them.

Edited 2 time(s). Last edit at 10/07/2025 07:37PM by BarefootBliss.

@BarefootBliss wrote:

Let's face the facts- this is low skill/unskilled work so that means low or very low compensation, depending on requirements and/or competition. Some can earn a better return on their time by doubling their efforts with creative timing/scheduling, but it's not always under their control.

If a person wants higher level compensation, often they will need to undertake some kind of specialized training where they can command a higher wage.

It's really not that complicated. IMO, what makes it more complicated for either side, is when the market (any aspect of it) starts move away from them.

Problem is...Many people thinks that pressing a button on their cellphone is skilled job and deserve high compensation

@kisekinecro wrote:

@BarefootBliss wrote:

Let's face the facts- this is low skill/unskilled work so that means low or very low compensation, depending on requirements and/or competition. Some can earn a better return on their time by doubling their efforts with creative timing/scheduling, but it's not always under their control.

If a person wants higher level compensation, often they will need to undertake some kind of specialized training where they can command a higher wage.

It's really not that complicated. IMO, what makes it more complicated for either side, is when the market (any aspect of it) starts move away from them.

Problem is...Many people thinks that pressing a button on their cellphone is skilled job and deserve high compensation

Yes, I've known people who claim they possess computer skills when they have basic skills knowledge.

As a former program manager / senior staff member, I've had the privilege of working with team members who can possess Microsoft Excel skills include mastering Power Query and Power Pivot for data import and modeling, using advanced functions like INDEX MATCH for complex lookups, creating dynamic PivotTables and dashboards for data analysis, and automating tasks with VBA Macros.

The latter are the employees I wanted on my team as we would fly past other teams in completing data analysis projects on time and within budget.

@BayShopper22 wrote:

@PBS wrote:

A lot of tldr in this one

Thunderdeacon's post is worth the read though.

I want to believe most already know all of the above

@BarefootBliss wrote:

Let's face the facts- this is low skill/unskilled work so that means low or very low compensation, depending on requirements and/or competition. Some can earn a better return on their time by doubling their efforts with creative timing/scheduling, but it's not always under their control.

If a person wants higher level compensation, often they will need to undertake some kind of specialized training where they can command a higher wage.

It's really not that complicated. IMO, what makes it more complicated for either side, is when the market (any aspect of it) starts to move away from them.

There are a few of us who command higher wages in the shopping world.

Friend 1: late 50's now, but drop dead gorgeous. I think she's a size 2. She's done lots of tv work. She loves doing the high end shops and looks the part. They often pay her travel. She gets to buy and keep, not return.

Friend 2: college educated, rich, well traveled. Gets lots of paid travel, high end hotels with good fees, etc. Does some gaming shops too.

Friend 3: college educated, rich, well traveled. Gets lots of paid travel, high end hotels with good fees, etc. Works on lots of special projects (never on the board - invite only).

Me: I'm not giving my demographics, but I pretty much fall in line with 2 & 3. I haven't been a size 2 for 25 years now. I am the only one of us who speaks multiple languages fluently, so that opens up a lot of good work too.

All of us have "regular" jobs, with lots of flexibility.

I have to laugh when shoppers argue, "Pay me like a professional." Most of these shops (and I do plenty of them) are just data gathering tools. They don't take any special skills. If you can learn to do the job in 30 minutes, it isn't special.

@BayShopper22 wrote:

@BarefootBliss wrote:

Let's face the facts- this is low skill/unskilled work so that means low or very low compensation, depending on requirements and/or competition. Some can earn a better return on their time by doubling their efforts with creative timing/scheduling, but it's not always under their control.

If a person wants higher level compensation, often they will need to undertake some kind of specialized training where they can command a higher wage.

It's really not that complicated. IMO, what makes it more complicated for either side, is when the market (any aspect of it) starts to move away from them.

There are a few of us who command higher wages in the shopping world.

Friend 1: late 50's now, but drop dead gorgeous. I think she's a size 2. She's done lots of tv work. She loves doing the high end shops and looks the part. They often pay her travel. She gets to buy and keep, not return.

Friend 2: college educated, rich, well traveled. Gets lots of paid travel, high end hotels with good fees, etc. Does some gaming shops too.

Friend 3: college educated, rich, well traveled. Gets lots of paid travel, high end hotels with good fees, etc. Works on lots of special projects (never on the board - invite only).

Me: I'm not giving my demographics, but I pretty much fall in line with 2 & 3. I haven't been a size 2 for 25 years now. I am the only one of us who speaks multiple languages fluently, so that opens up a lot of good work too.

All of us have "regular" jobs, with lots of flexibility.

I have to laugh when shoppers argue, "Pay me like a professional." Most of these shops (and I do plenty of them) are just data gathering tools. They don't take any special skills. If you can learn to do the job in 30 minutes, it isn't special.

Someone is asking in the PM (not me):

"So by "regular" job, do you mean with Kid Rock at the top of Four Seasons?"

I don’t think anyone pointed this out yet, but one thing I don’t see factored in when people evaluate their take home pay is the amount of time they spend each day searching for shops and the admin time that comes along with that. It can easily add up to 1-2 hours a day - even on days you don’t complete any shops. That’s the time stealer that most people ignore or write it off as time they spend watching tv or surfing the net etc. it’s another form of ‘chasing the MS dragon’ that people don’t realize they’re doing in search of a high paying gig.

I’m old enough to have seen certain industries fall by the wayside with the advancement of technology. It’s best to get out before it dries up entirely. The time spent searching could be put towards looking for a different type of gig work. I find that most people here are not looking for part-time. 20+ hr a week work. In that case maybe a small business start up where YOU are in control.

I set certain standards for myself with how I’m treated by MSCs. I’ve been guilty of chasing the dragon, with Ipsos being the biggest temptation. There’s a reason for their high paying last minute shops though. They treat people like crap and most jump ship with them, so they have no choice but to pay. Over time if you maintain your standards, the relationships dry up b/c they can’t resist cheating people in order to pay themselves more. It’s not worth the time, upset and crap pay. I find I’m happier with very limited involvement and am fortunate I can manage that financially. For people who don’t live near big cities it just doesn’t seem like a viable way to live above the poverty level.

Also, factor in the time spent on this forum

@maverick1 wrote:

Someone is asking in the PM (not me):

"So by "regular" job, do you mean with Kid Rock at the top of Four Seasons?"

I had to look that up.
Gross.

@PBS wrote:

Also, factor in the time spent on this forum

Coming here is my coffee break.

Bless your heart

@maverick1 wrote:

Of course, if you work hard in school, work hard in your career, earn, save, and invest, you can retire early like we did.

Then, there is no cost of working. No commuting cost, no work attire cost, and no associated waste of time.

But of course, you have to have something to retire to. It's surprising to me that so many people have no interests. They are better off working and staying busy.

That’s an interesting post, Maverick.

It was also a different world then, Mav, in between the big stock market crash of the last century that had grown men committing suicide (literally) on Wall St, and now.

There have been several more crashes since then in the last 30 years, and just as many bailouts for those who contributed to thier occurrence.

How lovely that your retirement stayed intact through all that, unlike so many others who did all the right things per your advice, paid all the premiums, and trusted what they were told about retirement planning…only to lose much of all of it.

Our children and grandchildren (and perhaps even some of us here) do/did all the “right things,” and even in the tech and other successful industries, after working crazy overtime and sacrificing thier personal lives, get laid off, cheated out of thier retirement investments, and pay through the nose for required insurance while big corporate reports record profits…and more than half will never know what it is to own their own home.

May your legacy of wise investing leave your children and grandchildren well protected.

Edited 2 time(s). Last edit at 10/09/2025 05:10PM by SBP.

@SBP wrote:

@maverick1 wrote:

Of course, if you work hard in school, work hard in your career, earn, save, and invest, you can retire early like we did.

Then, there is no cost of working. No commuting cost, no work attire cost, and no associated waste of time.

But of course, you have to have something to retire to. It's surprising to me that so many people have no interests. They are better off working and staying busy.

That’s an interesting post, Maverick.

It was also a different world then, Mav, in between the big stock market crash of the last century that had grown men committing suicide (literally) on Wall St, and now.

There have been several more crashes since then in the last 30 years, and just as many bailouts for those who contributed to thier occurrence.

How lovely that your retirement stayed intact through all that, unlike so many others who did all the right things per your advice, paid all the premiums, and trusted what they were told about retirement planning…only to lose much of all of it.

Our children and grandchildren (and perhaps even some of us here) do/did all the “right things,” and even in the tech and other successful industries, after working crazy overtime and sacrificing thier personal lives, get laid off, cheated out of thier retirement investments, and pay through the nose for required insurance while big corporate reports record profits…and more than half will never know what it is to own their own home.

May your legacy of wise investing leave your children and grandchildren well protected.

Look @SBP, we didn't do anything special. Just like I've been posting, a diversified portfolio, years and years of earning, saving, investing and compounding. Just like Warren Buffet, Peter Lynch, John Bogle, and others have noted.

We've lost 15% in 2022. It was a substantial chunk of change. But did we sell when the market was down? Nope. Held on and it came roaring back. On average, our portfolio has increased 10.3% per year.

Nobody who is properly diversified loses like you are inferring. There are "investors", I prefer to call them gamblers, who "invested" in a small group of stocks like Tesla, or Game Stop, or choose the meme stock of the moment. Yep, at times those portfolios went belly up. Same with crypto. It's not a get rich quick method when you are diversified.

Please go read this: [awealthofcommonsense.com]

Go read the blogs of Mr. Money Mustache, Financial Samurai, or any of the following Financial Independence, Early retirement (FIRE) and high-savings blogs

Afford Anything: Paula Pant explores how to make smarter decisions about money, time, and life by examining the trade-offs involved in reaching financial independence.
Frugalwoods: This blog chronicles a couple's journey to extreme frugality and early retirement on a homestead in rural Vermont. It emphasizes mindful spending and achieving a simpler life.
Mad Fientist: Focusing on optimizing the path to financial independence, this blog uses a data-heavy, numbers-driven approach to cover topics like tax optimization, investment strategies, and location independence.
Physician on FIRE: Aimed at high-income professionals, this blog and its resources provide strategies for reaching financial independence and early retirement (FIRE).
JL Collins NH: Best known for the book The Simple Path to Wealth, this blog offers straightforward investing advice, primarily for those interested in using index funds to build wealth.
Early Retirement Extreme: Author Jacob Lund Fisker details a minimalist approach to financial independence by focusing on increasing savings, living simply, and reducing dependence on consumer goods.
Millennial Revolution: This blog follows the story of a couple who retired in their 30s. It offers a fresh, modern take on the FIRE movement, with advice geared toward younger generations.

Broader personal finance blogs

A Wealth of Common Sense: Written by Ben Carlson, a wealth manager, this blog offers market insights and explores investor psychology in a straightforward, easy-to-understand way.
Get Rich Slowly: As one of the original personal finance blogs, it offers extensive content on mastering money through a thoughtful, long-term approach to building wealth.
The White Coat Investor: Similar to Financial Samurai, this site is tailored toward high-income professionals—specifically doctors, dentists, and other high-earners—with advice on managing student debt, saving, and investing.

Edited 2 time(s). Last edit at 10/09/2025 07:46PM by maverick1.

All great reference sources. Virtually anyone who's been in the market over the * long term * has been rewarded.

Conventional wisdom holds that a person shouldn't put any money in the market that he/she may need in five years or less.

If one has to pull money out for any reason during a downturn, that could be disastrous.

Equally disastrous, IMO, are the people who panic and flee to all cash like what we saw during the pandemic.

But why does this topic keep coming up over and over and over in a forum about mystery shopping?

People who love to talk investing have all those referenced sources to discuss with, most of those have their own forums.
For some reason, it pops up here every other day or so.

@SBP wrote:

How lovely that your retirement stayed intact through all that, unlike so many others who did all the right things per your advice, paid all the premiums, and trusted what they were told about retirement planning…only to lose much of all of it.

Our children and grandchildren (and perhaps even some of us here) do/did all the “right things,” and even in the tech and other successful industries, after working crazy overtime and sacrificing thier personal lives, get laid off, cheated out of thier retirement investments, and pay through the nose for required insurance while big corporate reports record profits…and more than half will never know what it is to own their own home.

May your legacy of wise investing leave your children and grandchildren well protected.

Can you explain the areas that I have highlighted? I honestly don't know what you are talking about.

What premiums?
What required insurance?
Cheated out of their retirement investments?