Reflections is now Thinking Capital
New Year, New Look, New Financial You
Hi, remember me?
You likely subscribed to this newsletter out of interest in what I’m up to or complete charity. Either way, thank you and hello again.
Looking back on the irregular cadence of my notes, I realized that my reflecting is best done on long solo walks, so it’s only right to shift focus here.
Reflections launched in November 2019, and I distinctly remember drafting my post on digital & physical minimalism in the heart of Singapore during the early signs of the pandemic. Here we are almost two years later, still at home and still unsure when the next new normal will start.
I’m writing from a new comfortable desk chair in a warm apartment with a full belly. I say that to emphasize how lucky I am to not only be in a position of privilege, but also to have very little to no financial anxiety of how or if I can afford anything that I need. While my situation is not unique, the pandemic has brought financial anxiety to the forefront for many folks.
A study conducted by LendingTree found that 42% of Americans cried about money during the pandemic.
Growing up astutely aware of my households finances, I can sympathize with those who shed tears. Financial anxiety can be crippling to the point of inaction or sporadic and rash decisions we only come to regret later.
Through a beautiful mix of curiosity, hustle, and luck I’ve gone from subsidized housing in the lower third to investment across a multitude of asset classes and a net worth within the 1% of my age group. When I think about what I can offer back, I think about personal finance.
Reflections is now Thinking Capital and in 2022 I’ll be focusing on personal finance and investing across a series of weekly posts.
As I wrote in July 2020, all life is an experiment:
“Don't be too timid and squeamish about your actions. All life is an experiment. The more experiments you make the better.”
-Ralph Waldo Emerson
I hope you’ll join me on this experiment and help me achieve my goal of reaching 1,000 subscribers by this time next year.
Looking back at 2021, quite a bit happened:
Grew the Pinterest-internal investing community to almost 1/3rd of the company!
Continued angel investing and launched my own investing syndicate
Doubled-down in crypto allocation
Bought and sold a lot of NFTs
Brokered a metaverse architecture sale
Continued my HSA
Proposed and I’m engaged <3
Can’t wait to share more, until then here’s a preview of what’s to come in the form of a quick end of year checklist:
Taxable gains and losses
Check your brokerage accounts to get a preview of gains or losses. If you have gains, qualify for itemized deductions and want to offset some of those gains, consider donating stock and/or crypto that has appreciated. I like am an investor in Overflow for stock donations, and recommend FTX’s Crypto for Charity for digital assets.
Also remember that most Americans can take up to $3k in losses against their W2 income.
For those with crypto that has depreciated, you may want to consider Tax Loss Harvesting.
FSA balances
If you have an FSA make sure you spend any funds that would otherwise be lost, if you don’t need anything, congratulations — seriously, that’s amazing and take solace in it. That said, you can call a local shelter and ask them if they can use any items or simply stock up on standard first aid kit items and miniature toiletries to donate.
Flight vouchers, points and credit card benefits
Lastly, today is a good day check for flight/hotel vouchers that may be expiring, as well as a quick audit of your credit card benefits and ways to use any funds that may expire tomorrow. As an AMEX Platinum Card holder I realized that I have roughly $150 in unused airline fee credits, since these cannot be directly applied to a flight, I opted to purchase a few day passes to the airline lounge. Perhaps that’s a useful strategy for you too.
I’m looking forward to the year ahead and hope you all have a happy and healthy new year!
Talk soon,
Armand