Peter Ortiz

Imagine a world where everyone is financially free.   Imagine walking out of your front door with a complete bank account, no debt, and no worries. Financial freedom means having enough capital to live comfortably without stress about bills or money woes. It's the ultimate goal in life, a feeling of peace and tranquility, and something that everyone should strive for. A financially free world is a world that is no longer competing but rather a world where everyone is actively living a life of purpose – a life full of compassion. So, how do we accomplish this and allow everyone, not just those in first-world countries, to achieve financial freedom?  To start, we need to start talking about money. Financial illiteracy is a significant driver of the wealth gap among classes. To reduce inequality, we must be transparent in our financial conversations. Let's eliminate the communication silos between the privileged and unprivileged and teach everyone how to invest and grow weal...

I recently read an article covering the war in Europe; the report lists the similarities between the start of WW2 and today, suggesting that we are following the same patterns. The article also covers perspectives from both sides. In reading the article, I found it challenging to comprehend how some people can justify the actions of Russia toward Ukraine. It got me thinking about how our varying perspective shapes our views on events, people, and the world. For example, war is a complex and challenging topic – there are many varied perspectives on war, and no one view is necessarily correct. Some people feel that war is a necessary evil, while others believe it is a horrific and destructive force that should be avoided at all costs. Many believe that war is the best method to resolve disputes between countries. But, regarding the current war in Europe, how you frame the issue determines how people will. It makes it interesting to think about every other issue we have and whether we wer...

To reiterate, Chuck Collins was born into a wealthy and privileged family – and, at 26, gave up his trust fund due to the immense guilt he felt, seeing that he was the beneficiary of the wealth of no efforts of his own. He felt free, but over time, Collins recognized that giving away his wealth did not make him less privileged. He already had an excellent education and the assurance that he was the beneficiary of other privileges. Using his experience during a vacation, Colins describes privilege quite well. During a road biking session, Collins was doing 25 mph effortlessly, and when he passed the 10-mile marker, he decided to go to the next. At 20 miles, he turned around and found himself facing a headwind. After a few hard miles, he gave up, exhausted, and called for others to come to rescue him. He says, "the subtle wind has probably been constant, but I had not noticed it before….Privilege is like a wind at my back, propelling me forward. Of course, I am pedaling so I can c...

Date: 10/20/2022   To: Clark Hansen, CEO   From: Peter Ortiz, R&D Analyst   Subject: Investment Proposal: General Motors (GM) You might consider investing in General Motors for a few reasons. To begin with, GM is a well-known and well-funded U.S. legacy company with a wide range of products and services. This means that GM has multiple revenue streams with a vast interconnected network across various industries and countries. Second, GM is a leader in many critical automotive, industrial, and finance sectors ( 2 ). This means that GM has countless competitive advantages in numerous industries and can leverage its resources to compete against any potential threat.   Finally, General Motors is a leader in the auto industry's environmental, social, and governance (ESG) practices. ESG factors such as environmental protection, social responsibility, and anti-corruption are integral to GM's business strategy. Also, GM is a three-time honoree as one of the most ethic...

I was capt ivated by the author – Chuck Collins – statement , " The agony of being a trust fund kid ." The quote caught my attention immediately . I wanted to learn more – why would someone financially free seem so dissatisfied with life? I found Collins to be inspiring , but I also found him to be a little preach y . He gave away his inherited wealth in favor of working his way to a successful career . I thought his ideas were interesting, for example, i n his opinion , saying some people are wealthy because they get up early and work hard is simply incorrect and is a justification for inequality . Additionally , he discusses the numerous advantages affluent white males in the US born into the 1 % enjoy . Though his ideas are somewhat rational and expected , it 's interesting to see them come from someone who has put his money where his ...