Devil’s Advocate Posts

In 2007, I’m going to start a series I call Devil’s Advocate, where I will take the opposite side of common personal finance advice and argue why you shouldn’t be doing that. Why you shouldn’t take your employer’s 401k match, why you shouldn’t have an emergency fund, or why you shouldn’t save for retirement. They won’t be humorous or sarcastic, they’ll be legitimate posts where I argue the other side, the side that never gets much exposure in the personal finance blogosphere (or mainstream media).

Why play the Devil’s Advocate?
When everyone recommends one thing (and we all recommend things like ‘get that 401(k) company match’), it’s too easy to just do it without considering the other side. With a lot of personal finance issues, the other side really doesn’t have much weight (at least not enough to make the decision at least marginally difficult) and so you often don’t hear about it. These series of posts seeks to fill that void, to play the Devil’s Advocate on a lot of the personal finance issues you’re familiar with.

So, I hope you enjoy the new series and if anyone does feel passionately about the devil’s side, the opposite side of conventional wisdom, shoot me an email and we can set up a guest post.

12/26/06, Read more in Devil's Advocate | 3,826 views

22 responses to “Devil’s Advocate Posts”

The Sarcasticynic responds:
Posted: December 26th, 2006 at 8:05 pm

Great idea! I have always felt that one of the best ways to develop one’s own opinions are to research an opposing view. Just as sometimes the best way to determine what an object is is to learn what it is not.

Ruben responds:
Posted: December 26th, 2006 at 10:56 pm

I am quite interested in your new Devil’s Advocate series. The best and the finest corporation uses this method to make effective management decision. If you will do it here then difinitely, It will give your readers some sort of ideas to better arrive in any financial decision. Good luck.

Lazy Man and Money responds:
Posted: December 26th, 2006 at 11:56 pm

Excellent, I had just done this in a series of posts with Get Rich Slick. It’s an odd feeling making an argument for something you don’t truly believe in. I find it a lot of fun, especially if you can partner with another site to have a point-counterpoint.

mbhunter responds:
Posted: December 27th, 2006 at 1:12 am

This will be fun. Look forward to it! I’m contrarian on a number of things.

Luke responds:
Posted: December 27th, 2006 at 3:36 pm

I think its a great idea….I would love for you to tackle the topic of saving and from the Devil’s advocate role, what are the benefits of NOT saving money…I always hear how important and necessary it is…

donna jean responds:
Posted: December 27th, 2006 at 10:16 pm

I’m also interested in the devil’s advocate approach. Right now, my own personal battle deals with the paying off debt before savings argument. Yes, I know that it is better for us financially, but that argument can’t sway all the support I put behind my approach. I look forward to see which topics you tackle and how.

» Rent Forever, Don’t Buy A Home on Blueprint for Financial Prosperity responds:
Posted: January 2nd, 2007 at 12:48 pm

[...] With the new year comes the inaugural post for my new series, the Devil’s Advocate posts, where I try to argue the other side of common sense personal finance advice (read the Devil’s Advocate series introduction post). This post will tackle one of the cornerstones of well-accepted advice: rent as little as possible and buy a home as soon as you can, renting is just like throwing your money away. I think that, like all one-size fits all advice, is completely wrong and here’s why. [...]

» Invest In Your Company on Blueprint for Financial Prosperity responds:
Posted: March 12th, 2007 at 7:06 am