Tuesday, April 16, 2019

Financial Freedom?

The way that Amway is often presented as some kind of dream come true opportunity is by talking about the 40/40 plan. Work 40 hours per week for 40 years and then still winding up broke is how people's jobs are portrayed with of course, Amway being the solution. It can sound appealing and it might make sense on the surface but once you peel away the half truths and myths about Amway, you are putting lipstick on a pig.

First of all, I know of people who are retired fire fighters, retired government workers and retired people of many professions. I'm sure this is true for most people. But where are there any Amway retirees? Diamonds are still working and while they claim to be financially free, they don't disclose their finances. We know that main stream retirees generally have enough income to live comfortably because there are real life examples that we can see. But as a contrast, diamonds live a life of alleged luxury and excess. The diamond lifestyle certainly appears to be an expensive one. Is your diamond really living in luxury or are they like the rest of society living in debt but having the newest toys?

Do the math. Amway says a Q12 Diamond averages around $600k but a Q12 Diamond is rare. The average non Q12 Diamond earns about $150k before taxes and business expenses. Yes, that income might be augmented by tool and function income but after taxes and business expenses, you are looking at a middle class lifestyle, not one where you are living in first class and enjoying only the finest things in life. It is for this reason that the are reports of diamonds and emeralds living in average neighborhoods or sometimes in dives.

There was also some documentation of diamonds who had foreclosures and bankruptcies. It is for that reason that I believe that's diamond is not much different than someone with a job. The diamonds basically run functions and meetings for a living while promoting Amway. Is that the kind of freedom you seek? So where is this financial freedom that diamonds speak of? Where are the Amway retirees? Do they exist at all?

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