News From the Control Tower - 2/15/2023
News from the Control Tower: Our weekly curated list of news stories affecting you and your finances.
Who doesn’t love Claire Danes? – Amanda Vaught
Many people this week were talking about the Fleischman Effect, referring to the 2019 book by Taffy Brodesser-Akner, and now a TV series, “Fleishman is in Trouble.” The Fleischman Effect describes a type of privileged angst experienced by those with significant affluence who still feel they don’t have “enough”. This is not a new feeling - just a new name. It all comes down to what does money mean to you and your life? Do you want to play keeping up with the Joneses or do you want to find a drive in your life beyond money? These are evergreen questions for us all.
A nice contrast to the Fleischman Effect milieu: two articles on people who have found a calling beyond money. One is John Jaso, a Major League Baseball player who walked away from the game to live a life he desired – on a sailboat. The other is Lhakpa Sherpa, the record-holder for most ascents of Mount Everest by a woman. She humbly works at a Whole Foods during the off-season.
Finally, what’s a financial news summary without an article about the Fed? The Fed-whisperer at The Wall Street Journal, Nick Timiraos features an economic alternative to the hard or soft landing debate – economic growth.
1. Hard or Soft Landing? Some Economists See Neither if Growth Accelerates
Upturn would require higher interest rates to tame inflation.
In a city of Rachels and Libbys, the FX show has some New York moms worried they’re the ones in trouble.
3. The Fleishman Effect explained [TikTok video]
4. The Queen of Everest Trains While Working at Whole Foods
Lhakpa Sherpa has climbed Mount Everest 10 times, the most ascents ever by a woman. She has no plans of slowing down.
John Jaso walked away from Major League Baseball at 34, potentially leaving millions of dollars on the table. The sea was calling.