Since July 4th is coming up, this series of videos will explore why you should be proud to be an American investor.
So, July 4th is one of my favorite days of the year. I celebrate the day with fervor. After a large slice of apple pie for breakfast, I don my American flag emblazoned hat, shirt, bathing suit, and flip flops and head to the beach. In the afternoon, I sip an American beer as I BBQ for dinner and eagerly wait to watch the fireworks. This celebratory spirit is not only because it’s my brother’s birthday (Happy Birthday, Dovi!), it’s because I am proud to be an American.
The blessing of living in this country has been instilled in me since I was young. I remember my grandparents telling me how much they loved the United States. My European grandparents arrived from war-torn Europe, where most of their family members had perished, and were grateful for a place where they could openly express their Jewishness and raise a family with Torah values. My American-born grandparents, whose immigrant parents fled pogroms in Russia, grew up with little money and few material possessions. With hard work and perseverance, they built a business, gave generously to Jewish causes, and took unbelievable pride in their very American rags to riches story.
The blessing of living in the U.S. comes in many different forms, one of which is the privilege of being an American based investor. On this July 4th, I thought it would be fitting to highlight just a few reasons why it is so wonderful to be an investor based in the United States.
Banking: There are literally thousands of banks in the United States. This competition promotes good service, low fees, and various innovative products. Opening an account is effortless. The last time I opened a checking account, I did it in five minutes from the couch while watching Netflix in my pjs. If you don’t appreciate the seamlessness of our banking system, just try opening a checking account in a foreign country.
Investments: There are a myriad of investment options available to investors. You can easily buy individual stocks, bonds, mutual funds, ETFs, and closed end funds. Even more exotic and esoteric investments can also be purchased with relative ease.