Sunday 13 September 2009

If the Indians wanted to buy back Manhattan

There's the story that, if the Indians wanted to buy back Manhattan, they would have had to pay more than $2.5 trillion by January 1, 2000. That's what the $24 sale price in 1626 would have compounded into at 7 percent annual rates. And the clock keeps ticking.

Next year, Manhattan's theoretical value jumps by $175 billion (7 percent of $2.5 trillion). The following year, another $187 billion is added. The year after that, $200 billion, and so on.

Letting wealth accumulate and compound unfettered and, if possible, untaxed is a potent formula individuals should use to increase their standard of living.

It goes without saying that to an investor, the power of compounding is paramount.

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