Howard Whiteson – Financial Literacy Was a Pathway out of Pain

Howard Whiteson’s economist father made him familiar with financial principles from a very young age. As a teenager, however, Howard rebelled and suffered deep debt and economic chaos. Having journeyed from that low point to master his finances, Howard has spent some 20 years as an expat, the last six in Shanghai, China. He uses a proven 5-part process to empower executive expats at such corporations as Apple, Coca-Cola, and Gucci to create, transfer, and protect their wealth internationally. To find out more, visit Wealth Without Borders.   “Rather than trying to conquer the entire world of finance, gently take small steps into that world.” Howard Whiteson   Worst investment ever Driving his way into debt It’s a bright summer’s day in Rolling English countryside, and Howard is in his hybrid sports car, with the sunroof down the music going, feeling like a million bucks. He’d just recently bought that car. It was one of the first hybrid cars made by Honda. He was very proud of all the gadgets and gizmos. Howard had spent 28,000 pounds on it, about 40,000 dollars. Riding on a promise Howard had just had two CEOs tell him that they wanted to work with him on a retainer basis. He was proud, confident, and dashing. What better way to celebrate than to spend all his money on the car of his dreams. He was going to be rich soon, anyway. His dreams turn to dust So in his sports car, Howard drove to one of the CEO’s offices in a farmhouse in the middle of Essex countryside, got out of the car, and walked in to see the CEO. The CEO told Howard that the company was letting him go. He’d worked for the company for about 12 years. The news was a huge shocker. As if that was not a blow huge enough, within a few weeks, the second CEO had the same story to tell Howard. He also let him go. So Howard went from being very comfortable and very well off into deep debt and a lot of darkness. He was now tens of thousands of pounds in debt. Letting rebellion rule over him Howard’s father was an economist, and so he grew up learning all about the stock markets, about bull and bear markets. But as an adult, he chose to rebel and ignore all the knowledge he had gained. Howard’s attitude towards money was that it was the root of all evil. It was all a capitalist plot. He believed one should live for today and forget about tomorrow. This kind of attitude led him directly into that dark abyss of financial chaos, debt, and struggling to make ends meet. Hitting a brick wall and making a turnaround Howard was now scrambling for a job. Luckily he had some close friends who managed to connect him to a job soon enough. He enjoyed the new job, but it was tough work and unrewarding. Howard was still struggling to pay off his massive debt. This remains...