28 Comments

I think looking at human capital over a lifetime is the best way to really compare differences in income. The differences in levels or types of education become very clear when looking at the overall human capital. It's a great indication that can drastically show the differences in order to make financial decisions for now and for the future.

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I like how this post teaches people to consider their worth over a lifetime of working and their personal needs. I was surprised by how much employer contributions could affect a 401 k outcome in the long run. This post definitely gave me a lot to consider when looking at my future benefits when applying for jobs.

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I found this post's focus on human capital to be interesting. The comparison between Kate and Jamie highlights how education impacts human capital, Kate’s $1.8M in today’s dollars compared to Jamie’s $1.45M shows how a degree can significantly raise earning potential. It’s also a helpful reminder that human capital isn’t just about income but also about managing risks like job changes, emergencies, or other unexpected life events. I liked the ‘cocktail napkin approach’ as it makes these complex ideas easy to understand and apply.

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This article made me see how important human capital is to our financial lives. Viewing future earnings as an asset highlights how education and career choices shape financial security. It also reminded me how vulnerable earning ability is to risks like unemployment or injury, making it crucial to plan ahead. How do differences in human capital between individuals, like Kate and Jamie, impact their long-term living standards and financial relationships with friends or family?

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Didn’t we answer that question in this post?

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How would an entrepreneur or someone looking to build a business in their 20/30s look at this? Is the stability of human capital and a salary something you forgo for the potential upside of being a business owner?

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It sure is.....Huge income uncertainty in the near-term, though.....

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I like how this article explains the concept of human capital and how it helps estimate someone's financial worth over their lifetime. It brings the idea to life with relatable examples, showing how education and career choices can impact future earnings. The comparison between Kate and Jamie clearly highlights the benefits of further education and how it influences financial outcomes.

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I think it's interesting how Kate and Jamie have different retirement outcomes. Even though Jamie started working 2 years prior to Kate and was able to jump-start her 401K earnings she does not have the same employer contributions from her job. Since Kate went to college and was able to have a higher paying job she is able to earn more in her 401K

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Over the long-run, small differences in salary matter, don't they?

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Education is the way forward for most Americans.

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It sure is….evidence is clear. Appreciate you taking your time to comment.

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I really enjoyed this article; it provides useful insight into how education and career choices affect our future earning potential. It’s interesting to see how things like job changes and life events impact our financial stability over time. The comparison between Kate and Jamie really made it clear how valuable human capital is and why planning for the future is so important.

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Little differences matter.....If I am Kate, I'll recognize my income potential is limited and if I am not okay with it, then doing my best, being attuned to the job market, negotiating a better raise, and thinking about additional schooling are ways to raise human capital.

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Analyzing and comparing both of the situations emphasizes the importance of understanding one’s human capital. Being able to recognize the factors that contribute to future income allows individuals to be more informed and make better financial decisions. Overall, this story highlights the value and significance of developing income-generating abilities throughout one's lifetime.

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A little more annual income implies higher retirement contributions to a benefit plan and maybe higher Social Security retirement benefits. Higher lifetime taxes follow, but doesn't erase the value of a higher income.

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This is a great reminder of how much value we bring through our ability to earn over time. The comparison between Kate and Jamie really shows how different educational paths lead to significantly different financial outcomes.

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This story highlighted how being able to attend a D1 university will result in the long run compared to getting a full time job and starting to work while most of your friends are in college. It shows the value behind different career paths and how we can use our human capital to our advantage. How can we protect our human capital in the future as AI is rapidly growing to make sure our D1 degrees are not put to waste?

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It’s interesting to see how different career paths can lead to such different financial outcomes.  Kate and Jamie's stories show how important education and future planning are. What do you consider to be the main challenges that today's youth must overcome in order to create a stable financial future?

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Finding a good job, and making financial choices knowing that the risk to economic net worth is different from the risk to a stock portfolio.

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It is shown in this example between Kate and Jamie that understanding the value of a person's human capital is very important as it can alter a persons life if they do not understand their overall human capital. Even though people can have similar jobs or work in similar industries, there can be a vast difference in their human capital which is very interesting.

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Great point. It really is true that large lifetime differences in a household living standard is attributable to small differences in an annual income.

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I enjoyed how it showed how different career paths can lead to differences in lifetime earnings. How your education and career can contribute to your long-term financial security.

Is it more important to find a job in something that pays well now or in something that is more "recession proof"? Something that might not pay as much but you have good job security.

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Great question Sal and much about your preference and interest in risk.

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This story did a great job of highlighting the value in understanding one's human capital. Something I hadn't considered prior to reading this article was out of control variance in human capital (i.e. the example of unemployment.)

What are some of the best ways that we can protect ourselves from these negative variabilities?

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We can insure human capital when others depend on it. That is life insurance. We can insure human capital for our disability, too. Unemployment is tricky. Job choice can help with that since many jobs are more stable, e.g., a career working at McDonalds. Professional jobs likely require risk. Pro tip: in a job, bust your butt. Love your job! Help others on your team. Respect your direct report. All within your control.

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