ours goes beyond the mathematics of saving and investing to take into account human nature. Its success is not dependent on unrealistic expectations having to be met by the plannee, the way so many others are. I recognize that most people don't like to budget and that they don't enjoy constantly monitoring investments. I accept that most people enjoy blowing some money from time to time. I also understand that most people feel a great deal of stress when they are burdened with a high level of debt.
"The very simplicity of the plan troubles some people. 'How can anything so readily understood work so suc-cessfully?' It works because it is born of common sense. This plan allows us to move toward the attainment of all of our financial goals by taking advantage of unglamorous, but highly productive, concepts.
"Dave, when you first approached me, you said that you wanted to achieve the average American's goals of a nice home, a prosperous retirement, an education for your children, and at some point, you wanted to enjoy the finer things in life. You wanted to accomplish this without having to be a financial genius and without a substantial reduction in your current standard of living. Do you feel that you have learned how?"
"Mission accomplished," I acknowledged appreciatively.
"The bottom line is simply this," Roy concluded. "Lim-ited partnerships, straddle-option strategies, and future contracts on gold all make for great conversation at cocktail parties. Forced savings, dollar cost averaging, and compound interest simply make for great cocktail parties."
Roy's "bottom line," as he called it, was greeted with a standing ovation.
"Encore! Encore!" Tom shouted. "Teach us a family