On interest rates and investments

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I have always been interested in learning about personal finance and how to make my money work for me. In fact, I have been listening to various podcasts on investing and financial management, such as: 

The interest stems from dinner discussions with my parents since childhood. Daddy would read an article from the Philippine Daily Inquirer or Manila Bulletin and discuss market trends with us as we ate dinner. Also, both Mommy and Daddy brought me, Anna, and Biboy to Divisoria every weekend for shopping and scouting suppliers for the family business. This was where I learned the fundamentals of economics from a business perspective: the law of supply and demand.

Since moving to California, we have resumed these business discussions during dinner. Donan has been a passive participant in these discussions because he doesn't understand the concepts of interest rates and investment instruments just yet. However, I learned that he was a sponge for information because when Daddy and I talked about the latest news about interest rates, Donan piped in and asked, "Are you talking about Jerome Powell?"

Taken aback, Daddy responded, "How do you know Jerome Powell?!?"

Donan said, "You two talk about him all the time."

It is true, Daddy and I often mention him when we talk about the latest developments from the Federal Reserve.


(Jerome Powell's official portrait)

Jerome Powell, by the way, currently serves as the Chair of the Board of Governors of the Federal Reserve System. It implements the monetary policies of the USA by overseeing the operations of the banking system. He is featured in the financial news items these days because of the public's interest in interest rate cuts. 

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