By Joshua Ehlers
Is the American Dream dead? What is your American Dream? Has the American Dream changed? Close your eyes for a second and picture a massive steam boat coming over the horizon. A steam boat that has made a long journey filled with Europeans who all have a different dream—a different American Dream. As they get closer, they can make out Miss Liberty and know that they have made it to the land where all of their dreams can come true.
We would all like to believe the United States of America is the land of opportunity. Hopefully, it still is. I believe that it still is! It is not a place where you must live your life enslaved and shackled to a creditor, a boss, or even our superficial society. It is not a place where you must work an 8-5 that you hate or where the student loans you have today will follow you for the rest of your life. It is not the land of the never-ending car payments or credit card bills. It is not even home to the 60th birthday of the 30-year mortgage. It Is the land of opportunity! This is why I have fallen in love with the topic of personal finance.
My name is Joshua Ehlers, and I am a senior double major in accounting and business administration with a minor in economics. Who am I? A future financial advisor if it is God’s plan. Why? I worked at a bank for a year and a half, and it was a heartache watching people coming in living paycheck to paycheck. The smallest emergency could rock their world and there I stood, behind a teller line, watching it all unfold before me. As I stood there thinking about what they might be going through, it brought more heartache and solidified my decision to become a financial advisor someday.
Here is what I believe in. I believe all of you reading this can become everyday millionaires. I don’t believe in those never-ending car payments. I don’t believe in those student loans that live in your spare bedroom. I will never celebrate the 60th birthday of the 30-year mortgage. I do not believe being enslaved and shackled to a creditor, a boss or even our superficial society.
I want everyone to reach their American Dream. I want to see people with financial peace that are able to live and give like no one else. I am tired of people telling me that there is only one way to do things. I’m here to tell you that there is a new way to do things—a SMART way to do things.
If you’re interested in what I’ve described, tune in live to SMART Money on 96.1 The Wit at 7 p.m. on Thursdays. My co-host, Jayden Groppi, and I will take you through steps that will help you find financial peace beyond your wildest dreams, even as a college student. You can also catch us on Facebook Live (@SMART Money), Twitter (@TheWit_SMARTMoney), and our website: http://ehljra.wixsite.com/smartmoney. You can rewatch episodes as well as join the conversation live. We hope that the Bluffton community will join us and pass us on to all of your friends and family. Remember to live SMART!
Editor’s note: The opinions expressed in this article do not necessarily represent the views of The Witmarsum or Bluffton University.
