The Declaration of Financial Independence

When in the Course of financial independence, it becomes necessary for one person to dissolve the political bands which have connected them with another, and to assume among the powers of the earth, the separate and equal station to which the laws of economics and of the federal trade commission entitle them, a decent respect to the opinions of the financial advisor requires that they should declare the causes which impel them to the separation.

We hold these truths to be self-evident, that all investors are not created equal, that they are endowed by their Creator with certain unalienable Rights, that among these are Life, Liberty and the pursuit of Wealth.

That to secure these rights,

Financial advisors are instituted among Men, deriving their just powers from the consent of the investor. That whenever any Form of assets under management becomes destructive of these ends, it is the Right of the Investor to alter or to abolish such agreements, and to institute a new financial plan, laying its foundation on such principles and organizing its powers in such form, as to them shall seem most likely to effect their Safety and guard against sequence of returns. Prudence, indeed, will dictate that asset classes long established should not be changed for light and transient causes; and accordingly, all experience hath shewn, that mankind are more disposed to suffer, while evils are sufferable, than to right themselves by abolishing the forms to which they are accustomed. But when a long train of financial abuses and economic usurpations, pursuing invariably the same Object evinces a design to reduce wealth under absolute conflicts of interest, it is their right, it is their duty, to throw off such financial advisors, and to provide new Guards for their future security

Such has been the patient sufferance of these investors;

and such is now the necessity which constrains them to alter their former Systems of financial guidance. The history of the present financial advisor is a history of repeated injuries and usurpations, all having in direct object the establishment of an absolute Tyranny over these investors financial instruments. To prove this, let Facts be submitted to a candid world.

He has refused his fiduciary responsibilities, the most wholesome and necessary for the economic good.

He has forbidden his clients to invest in index funds.

He has refused to consider non-paper assets such as multiunit buildings for the accommodation of large districts of people.

He has lobbied legislative bodies at places unusual, uncomfortable, and distant from the depository of their Public Records, for the sole purpose of manipulating them into compliance with his measures.

He has erected a multitude of New complex financial instruments and sent hither swarms of expenses and fees to harass our people and eat away at our profits.

He has kept among us, in times of prosperity, large allocations of bonds without the Consent of our common sense.

For cutting off our Trade with other forms of investment options,

For asset under management fees without our Consent:

He has abdicated his fiduciary responsibility

by declaring us out of his Protection and waging War against us.

He has plundered our investment accounts, ravaged our emergency fund, and destroyed our plans for financial independence.

He has constrained our capital on the high Stakes investments with high expense ratios.

In every stage of these Oppressions, We have Petitioned for Redress in the most humble terms: Our repeated Petitions have been answered only by repeated injurious asset allocations. A Prince, whose character is thus marked by every act which may define a Tyrant, is unfit to be the ruler of our extra money.

We, therefore, the Representatives of this family, Assembled, appealing to the Supreme Judge of the world for the rectitude of our intentions, do, in the Name, and by Authority of the good People of the financial independence community, solemnly publish and declare, That this family, and of Right ought to be Free and Independent. that they are Absolved from all Allegiance to said financial advisor, and that all economic connection between them and the financial institution they represent, is and ought to be totally dissolved; and that as Free and Independent people, We have full Power to buy index funds, invest in real estate, contract Alliances, establish Commerce, and to do all other Acts and Things which Independent people may of right do to accumulate wealth. And for the support of this Declaration, with a firm reliance on the protection of divine Providence, we mutually pledge to each other our Lives, our Fortunes and our sacred Honor.

I hope you had a Happy Fourth Everyone!