ML> Somehow I get the feeling you're in your early 20s, because only someone 
 ML> in their 20s would adopt a naive "love work" attitude 
 ML> because they haven't quite grasped the idea that time 

You're almost right. I'm in my mid-20's. Maybe you are right about only
people in their 20's love their job.  At least I don't hate getting up in
the morning because I hate my job, like some people I know. I think loving
your job is important to keeping stress down, and happyness. If you have to
do anything 40+ hours a week you better enjoy it or you'll always be
miserable.

You can't be much older than me if your big plan is to retire at 35. How
old are you? between 25-30? Maybe your age will explain why you are such an
unhappy sinister old fart. hehe jk :)


 ML> doesn't necessarily make it a belief or part of your 
 ML> identity. It's not the type of stress you're familiar 
 ML> with as an employee. If you've run a business before 
 ML> let me know :)

I haven't had the financial responsibility of running a business but am the
#2 man at this small software company, and have taken the reigns of the
business for a few months when the owner was ill.  I was quite shocked with
how much he does every single day, I didn't realize until I was in charge
for a while.  

One challenge I have been facing over the last couple of years is deciding
whether or not to go freelance. I've got a long term stable job, or I could
venture into the unknown to pursue my childhood dream.  I decided to wait
an other couple years before considering it again.


 ML> It's easy to say do it whether it 'crashes and burns' I 
 ML> assure you it is no emotional, psychological or 
 ML> spiritual trivial matter. It can deplete and wreck your 
 ML> life. Change your core beliefs and scar and fill you 
 ML> with permanent msitrust, hatred and dispair. Brother 
 ML> against brother. All gone.

Are you speaking from experience?


 ML> I think aspiring money-makers fall in 4 types of categeories
 ML> (1) The employee
 ML> (2) The small business owner
 ML> (3) The big business owners
 ML> (4) The investors

 ML> Everybody aims for #4 which ultimately leads to 
 ML> financial freedom. But of all those 4, the ones I feel 
 ML> most sorry for are the small business owners :)

Interesting opinion. I'm sure many would disagree with you.

 ML> Hmm. 20%. Retirement plans/funds are a bit too passive 
 ML> for me. I'm a bit more greedy than that :) I don't care 
 ML> how much incentive a government offers in tax 
 ML> deductions etc., the reason they provide the incentive 
 ML> is so they can lure you into a trap and lock your money 
 ML> away preventing you from using -your- money while they 
 ML> theivingly freeload off it.
 ML> You can't access your money until your "eligible" age. 

No. The RRSP I'm talking about does not lock you in for any amount of time.
 I can take it all out tomorrow if I want to. If I did, I would be paying
income tax on that money. When I put the money in, I get every penny of
income taxes I paid on those dollars back.  I can buy any stock or mutual
funds I want inside of the RRSP.  It grows and grows and grows (if I chose
the right funds and stocks).  When it's time to use that money, I will take
a bit out of a time when to avoid paying larger taxes.  The tax money I got
back when putting money into RRSP's is paid back as you take the money out.
 The larger amount of money you take out per year, the more taxes you pay.


 ML> I'm an active trader and I average 100% pa portfolio 
 ML> growth. When I trade sometimes I make 20% per -week-.

Impressive, now I understand how you plan to retire at 35.  My dad is an
active trader too and he does well.  How much time do you spend researching
and trading to be so successful?  Or per week.  I always thought you had to
have your finger on the pulse of the stock market, always researching
everything to stay on top of it which is just as much WORK as what I do to
stay on top of programming topics for work.  However that just keeps me
employed, doesn't make 100% return on my investment like you do. 
Congradulations!  


Thanks,
Ryan
 

--- Maximus 3.01