[t-3]

Financial policy is very specifically against people saving their money though - that's why a certain level of inflation is considered desirable to mainstream economists. Spending and borrowing is heavily encouraged at all levels, while investment opportunities are gated based on wealth and income to prevent the poor from being able to "work smarter".

[WalterBright]

> investment opportunities are gated based on wealth and income

Anyone can install robinhood on their phone and trade using their credit card.

> Financial policy is very specifically against people saving their money

No, it isn't. People who save money are terrified of risk. There's nothing stopping anyone from investing the money.

> that's why a certain level of inflation is considered desirable to mainstream economists

That's the excuse the government makes to inflate the money. You'll never see a politician point out the real reason for inflation. It's so they can spend it without raising taxes, but it does cause inflation, and inflation has to be blamed on something else. Anything but the truth.

[t-3]

> Anyone can install robinhood on their phone and trade using their credit card.

Buying a few stocks on an app is not anywhere near the same thing as being an accredited investor. Access to the most lucrative investment opportunities are not available to the average person, and that's almost entirely due to rules intentionally created to block anyone but the already wealthy.

[corimaith]

The methods that institutional investors have, like market making or delta one strategies, aren't available because of the rules, it's because individual investors literally don't have the scale, flow and networks to do it.

Second of all, at the end of the day it's other people money's they're using, and are entrusted to manage. You can't demand people to just lend money to anyone, any sort of free market of loans will quickly coalesce into a few capital allocators.

[rtp4me]

Please, this thread is about the average wage-grade worker (money earned via the "sweat of one's brow"), not an "accredited investor". In this example, almost anyone in the US can open up a Robin Hood, Vanguard, Schwab, Fidelity, etc account with probably $25. You don't need access to the most lucrative investment opportunities to make money; simply buy a standard S&P 500 ETF and call it a day. Over time, the chances of you making money with your investments are high, and the tax burden is lower, meaning you get to make and keep more money in your pocket. That is a win for everyone - not just the magical "billionaire".

The average worker in the US needs these sorts of opportunities to be self reliant. You don't need to be a billionaire to make money on the market, you just need a few dollars, some time, and the will to take a little risk. Stop hating on the average worker...

[ringeryless]

To say nothing of insider trading for those connected to folks setting policies that affect the economy

[rtp4me]

Right, because the average worker has insider connections that set policies that affect the economy. /s

[high_na_euv]

What are the examples?

[rtp4me]

Sorry, nothing prevents the poor from working smarter. Just because you are poor does not mean you are uneducated. And, investment opportunities are NOT gated based on wealth and income. Literally anyone in the US can open an investment account and get started. The lack of desire is the real issue.

[FireBeyond]

> And, investment opportunities are NOT gated based on wealth and income.

What? There is literally a class of people considered accredited or sophisticated investors.

To be considered an accredited investor by the SEC you must have a net worth of over $1M -not including- your primary residence, and you must have an annual household income of over $300K.

It is quite literally a wealth and income gate.