[Scorpion Man]

Yeah, I realize the age thing. It's precisely why I posted in the first place. Youth is good for many things, but perspective and forethought are not top of that list.

Good2CU...your response about "negative EV" is way way way way off. I made more money with my investing skills last year than you did with your poker skills...I promise. I am not saying you could have done that, because it takes capital to accomplish that. But almost all of the rich people in the world made it through starting a company or investing...not playing poker. Your view of what "rich" is will also change as you get older. People do not realize that a couple million bucks is not "retiring money" when you get older, particularly if you live in a metro area.

I think of pro poker players a bit like pro athletes, but with smaller bank rolls. You are good at something. You earn more than many of your peers young because of it. You have no family and whatever you are making seems like all the money in the world.

You have to understand that long term, understanding investing is CRUCIAL and highly positive EV. I am sure Degen understands this because his posts are intelligent and demonstrate this longer term perspective. Many people blow their hard earned money because they don't understand investing. So, there is really a dual path here...at the least, find someone you can trust to steward your money so that it is wisely invested over time. This avoids the problem I see often (not poker specific) of people who get misled by idiot brokers and piss away their hard earned money.

As a side benefit, you will start to be curious about money and ask questions...and it is key to have someone who is good to answer those questions. ETrade can't do that for you. 80% or more of brokers can't do that for you (and won't be interested in you because you are young and haven't amassed significant assets yet)...

Investing is how to make money without being on the hourly clock. It's also interesting to many people.

The one thing that I find poker players do not understand is that, while they are making good money....in the the long run the vast vast vast majority of them are not going to be making the really big money. They have a lack of respect for what it takes to make 10 figures a year, not 6 or 7. They have a lack of understanding that there is a whole other level out there of financial success, and that they might learn something from those people.

Sadly, I assume most people on these boards will make bad financial decisions with their earnings...buy expensive cars and other depreciating assets, for example. The reason I thought to post here was that I see a parallel to pro athletes, and poker players could use "coaches" -- both for investing and also for spending decisions. The guys who have maturity will understand that this is the path to long term prosperity and will wake up when they are 30 with big bankrolls and portfolios.

I hope to get more replies to this...I know for sure that people need it. My interest in making money was always rooted in a search for security, not a quest to accumulate material things. Investing is a core competence necessary to creating a secure financial future.