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Findependence Day
Findependence Day is a novel with a classic plotline spanning 22 years. It stars a couple deeply in debt in their late 20 s, humiliated on a TV talk show, and follows the twists and turns of their life together (and apart) through to the day when the hero, Jamie Morelli, achieves financial independence at 50, on the day he targets following the fateful show appearance.
In the background are two financial planners, each with a specific role in the plot, who help the couple through their trials and tribulations in the form of sage advice on personal financial management. While they make mistakes and encounter many pitfalls along the way, including separation, the couple always get back on track and end up successful and reunited.
The financial advice imparted is always timely and relevant to the couple s stage in life, in effect telling a story about the key elements of a long term plan to become financially independent, which the author clearly distinguishes from retirement. In context this story is engaging, witty and extremely helpful to readers of any age 16 or over.
18 years after The Wealthy Barber emerged as a must-read introduction to investing comes Findependence Day a timely, personal finance novel from Financial Post columnist Jonathan Chevreau. Findependence Day is one couples turbulent journey to financial independence. Under the watchful eye of Theo, a Certified Financial Planner, Jamie and Sheena Morelli encounter the full gamut of personal finance highs and lows, including successfully navigating through a stock market crash.
In the background are two financial planners, each with a specific role in the plot, who help the couple through their trials and tribulations in the form of sage advice on personal financial management. While they make mistakes and encounter many pitfalls along the way, including separation, the couple always get back on track and end up successful and reunited.
The financial advice imparted is always timely and relevant to the couple s stage in life, in effect telling a story about the key elements of a long term plan to become financially independent, which the author clearly distinguishes from retirement. In context this story is engaging, witty and extremely helpful to readers of any age 16 or over.
18 years after The Wealthy Barber emerged as a must-read introduction to investing comes Findependence Day a timely, personal finance novel from Financial Post columnist Jonathan Chevreau. Findependence Day is one couples turbulent journey to financial independence. Under the watchful eye of Theo, a Certified Financial Planner, Jamie and Sheena Morelli encounter the full gamut of personal finance highs and lows, including successfully navigating through a stock market crash.
186 pages, Paperback
Published August 26, 2008
31 people want to read
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Displaying 1 - 4 of 4 reviews
December 21, 2011
I've brought home a lot of personal finance books. You think my roommate would know that that's what I'm into. Instead, I brought this one home, and she's like: "Is that about a whale?"
Like Fin the whale, the Canucks mascot.
I guess that's a sign that it's been a while since I last posted a book review.
But Findependence Day isn't a Free Willy thing, it's a Financial Independence thing. And it's not a standard non-fiction approach to personal finance, either. It is, like The Wealthy Barber, a story about a couple and their journey to financial independence, or the day they don't have to work anymore.
Except, unlike The Wealthy Barber, there's some intrigue. More than just: "Will Dave and his wife have a girl or boy in the next chapter?".
Think: bad friends, divorce, job loss-- that kind of thing. All of the things that actually happen to people. It was refreshing: a personal finance book that takes into account the setbacks you'll encounter. So many of them look at damage control, and how to get back on track. So few come out and say it: Sh*tty things will happen to you, and they will throw your financial plan out the window. When they happen, don't get discouraged, move on. Get back on the horse. As Eddie from Finance Fox says: "Goals are just guidelines."
The book follows Jamie and his wife Sheena over about a 20 year period. They pay off credit card debt, take out a mortgage, have kids and talk about their finances with their financial advisor/family friend, Theo. (This is where most of the financial advice comes in: when Jamie is talking to Theo about how to approach investments and what to put money into first). Jamie wants to hit financial independence by his 50th birthday, so he can spend his days doing whatever he takes the most joy from.
For Jamie, this has to do with music. Jamie is a total music lover, and each chapter in the book has been given a song name. (Which I assume means that Jonathan Chevreau is a real music lover too-- who knew?) Jamie and Sheena both struggle with "guerilla frugality", which is the practice of being frugal in a consumerist society. At one point (one of my favourite scenes, actually), when they're having a fight, Sheena says something like: "I've scrimped and saved all of these years for this?"
Guerilla frugality is hard, and Jamie and Sheena don't pretend otherwise.
A quick, informative read, with characters you can relate to.
For more, check out the website and this review.
My review: http://www.moneychallenge.ca/blog/201...
Like Fin the whale, the Canucks mascot.
I guess that's a sign that it's been a while since I last posted a book review.
But Findependence Day isn't a Free Willy thing, it's a Financial Independence thing. And it's not a standard non-fiction approach to personal finance, either. It is, like The Wealthy Barber, a story about a couple and their journey to financial independence, or the day they don't have to work anymore.
Except, unlike The Wealthy Barber, there's some intrigue. More than just: "Will Dave and his wife have a girl or boy in the next chapter?".
Think: bad friends, divorce, job loss-- that kind of thing. All of the things that actually happen to people. It was refreshing: a personal finance book that takes into account the setbacks you'll encounter. So many of them look at damage control, and how to get back on track. So few come out and say it: Sh*tty things will happen to you, and they will throw your financial plan out the window. When they happen, don't get discouraged, move on. Get back on the horse. As Eddie from Finance Fox says: "Goals are just guidelines."
The book follows Jamie and his wife Sheena over about a 20 year period. They pay off credit card debt, take out a mortgage, have kids and talk about their finances with their financial advisor/family friend, Theo. (This is where most of the financial advice comes in: when Jamie is talking to Theo about how to approach investments and what to put money into first). Jamie wants to hit financial independence by his 50th birthday, so he can spend his days doing whatever he takes the most joy from.
For Jamie, this has to do with music. Jamie is a total music lover, and each chapter in the book has been given a song name. (Which I assume means that Jonathan Chevreau is a real music lover too-- who knew?) Jamie and Sheena both struggle with "guerilla frugality", which is the practice of being frugal in a consumerist society. At one point (one of my favourite scenes, actually), when they're having a fight, Sheena says something like: "I've scrimped and saved all of these years for this?"
Guerilla frugality is hard, and Jamie and Sheena don't pretend otherwise.
A quick, informative read, with characters you can relate to.
For more, check out the website and this review.
My review: http://www.moneychallenge.ca/blog/201...
December 10, 2009
Financial planning does not always create the most scintillating story. This novel, Findependence Day, however, has real, interesting characters who engage in real, every day activities.
Just when you think it is about to get a little preachy on the financial planning side, zap, something happens to one of the characters and you are saved. A nice light read - I would call it a 'personal finance' Harlequin. Beats the 'Wealthy Barber' for story, plot and general application to most people's lives.
Just when you think it is about to get a little preachy on the financial planning side, zap, something happens to one of the characters and you are saved. A nice light read - I would call it a 'personal finance' Harlequin. Beats the 'Wealthy Barber' for story, plot and general application to most people's lives.
December 10, 2009
Financial planning does not always create the most scintillating story. This novel, Findependence Day, has real, interesting characters who engage in real, every day activities.
Just when you think it is about to get a little preachy on the financial planning side, zap, something happens to one of the characters and you are saved. A nice light read - I would call it a 'personal finance' Harlequin. Beats the 'Wealthy Barber' for story, plot and general application to most people's lives.
Just when you think it is about to get a little preachy on the financial planning side, zap, something happens to one of the characters and you are saved. A nice light read - I would call it a 'personal finance' Harlequin. Beats the 'Wealthy Barber' for story, plot and general application to most people's lives.
February 8, 2009
excellent personal financial lessons book. read it for an overview, now need to re-read it for the specific lessons
Displaying 1 - 4 of 4 reviews