Satan's Lie

Retirement has to be a 401k or some other tax deferred account invested in mutual funds or bonds. I'm 42 and no longer have a 401k (cashed out, paid penalty, well worth it). 

The 401k or taxed deferred retirement benefits the financial industry and no one else, or at least that is how I see it.  Why do people save money their whole life only to die with hundreds of thousands of dollars to their name... now the account owner does not get to witness the joy that money brings from helping people, the joy of making a difference or changing a life. 

My kids are now my 401k. I tell them they are my retirement. My wife and I invest heavily in our children. Always have. We teach them to think. To listen. To observe. Ask questions. To form an educated opinion. We teach them to take risks. To lead an interesting life choosing the experience because money follows experience. Chasing money leads to a boring life. We teach them to lead an interesting life.

My community is my 401k. We teach our kids to value their community. To invest in their community. We teach them our family is their most important community. We teach them to give to their community because when disaster strikes, it will be your local community who will come to help, not your government officials.