I’ve been thinking a lot about investing lately. I talked to my dad about it over Christmas vacation, and I just finished reading “Rich Dad, Poor Dad“. Talking with my dad was very inspiring. At that time I made the decision to learn more about the process and actually invest some money. The “Rich Dad, Poor Dad” book was also very inspiring, although I doubt I’ll be putting into practice too many of the ideas Kiyosaki uses for himself. Rather, what the book impressed on me was that knowledge of the domain is key to being able to invest successfully. That and that the middle class tends to invest in liabilities and thinks of them as assets (e.g. their homes). So, yet another reason to avoid buying a car, which is nothing but a liability.

Even though I’ve done the finances for Johannes and myself pretty much since we’ve been married, I’ve never really been interested in money–especially not stuff like investing and stocks. Johannes’s experience with his Systek stock and my experience with the Opera stock really turned me off that kind of thing. Kiyosaki’s book has made me think about those experiences in a new light, however, and Dad’s input has convinced me of the importance and value of investing. I was always put off by the amount of time he used to spend in the library or at home poring over prospectuses, though. Hmmm. I don’t know how involved I want to get in this yet, but I do know I want to learn more about the process itself. Next I’m going to read Peter Lynch’s “Beating the Street“.