What I could bring to the table in a financial conversation with a billionaire is my own experience of life and money. That might include things like the sacrifices I have, or haven't made, to get to where I am today, and a comparison of the sacrifices he or she did or didn't make. Or a discussion of our values about and attitudes to money.
That goes for any two people on earth. You can always have those discussions.
But those are more about life values and life experiences than financial nuts and bolts. I don't think the billionaire and I would have much in common when it comes to financial goals, investing plans, investing methods or financial advice. And what works for the billionaire isn't going to work for me, and vice versa.
Now you are the one moving the goal posts.
You seem to be defining "frank conversations about money" to mean sharing specific advice about the nuts and bolts of managing your finances.
That's an extremely narrow definition of "frank conversation" and wildly different than mine. No wonder we're talking past each other.
That said, even if I were to constrain my definition to the specific nuts and bolts of personal financial planning, I would *still* be able to have that conversation with anyone, rich or poor, because I would *still* be interested. However, my goal wouldn't just be to share tips and give/get advice. I'm just genuinely interested in people and the details of their lives.
I'm getting the impression that you aren't, but I'm fascinated that you seem to think that it's impossible or illogical that others are?
I've had many of these nuts and bolts investing discussions with people whom I have NOTHING in common with investing wise. For example, I have friends who are primarily or exclusively invested in real estate. That's so not my thing, but I chat with them about it extensively and find it fascinating specifically because real estate is *not* my thing.
I personally prefer conversations about things that I *don't* have in common with people. To me it's much more interesting.
Sure, I can have interesting talks with like minded and similarly invested people comparing the details of our investment strategies and perhaps get or give some useful details. However, that's nowhere near as interesting as talking to my friends who own shopping malls. That shit is fascinating, and I can talk to them for hours about the nittiest and grittiest of details.
So yeah, if a billionaire wants to talk nuts and bolts of their money management, I'm thoroughly interested even if it's not at all personally relevant to me, because that's just not why I talk to people.
That's cool, we're very very different people. I'm just flummoxed why you seem to think the kind of conversations I have on a day to day basis aren't possible when I keep flat out telling you that I have them.