[Spring Hillian]

I would think a lot of wealthy folks inhabit FL because of weather and available amenities like beach front housing, excellent marinas, tax consequences including estate taxes and others. If you are wealthy and can afford as multi-location lifestyle, then you would just have to have a place in FL, maybe in different parts of the state for maximum enjoyment. Overall a poll would likely place FL as the most desirable location in the nation. The data shows it.

***MOD CUT***

[StreetSmarts]

I'd say FL top 5 . I gues it depends on where you live, and how old you are. Someone from up north hating winter will say FL #1. But someone in Asheville NC or San Diego CA will probably not. So i think it depends on where the ppl are being asked. But i'd say FL in top 5.

[chopchop0]

Originally Posted by Not_liking_FL

I guess if you're trying to save your house from a lawsuit FL is a great place to call home. I don't know about the state income tax though. I guess if someone is coming from a state with a high tax rate it might make sense, but the are a lot of thing to consider. Having no state income tax is not always cheaper.

It is if you actually earn money for a living

But yeah, if you want to be a welfare queen, go look to cali where there are plenty of taxes to go around

Is California the welfare capital? | UTSanDiego.com
EconomicPolicyJournal.com: 11 States That Have More People On Welfare Than Working

[runswithscissors]

Originally Posted by UKWildcat1981

I made a lot of money just on Apple and Microsoft over the years, enough to pay for all of my undergrad college, graduate school, a few cars, a to buy a house. I did get lucky thou because some of my family helped me out with stocks and which stocks to buy.

Hilarious.

Everyone ELSE who did what you did is a filthy ponzi schemer white collar criminal.

AND, apparently your family was not like some other Florida "families" who thought cranking out kids they couldn't afford with no income or resources was a good idea.

[Not_liking_FL]

Originally Posted by chopchop0

It is if you actually earn money for a living

But yeah, if you want to be a welfare queen, go look to cali where there are plenty of taxes to go around

Is California the welfare capital? | UTSanDiego.com
EconomicPolicyJournal.com: 11 States That Have More People On Welfare Than Working

Huh? Florida was less expensive for me, but not by a huge margin when you factor in property taxes and HOI. The QOL difference is worth the the extra cost for me.

And why do you always have to use such extreme examples like California? I wouldn't be surprised if this welfare queen earns more than you.

[hindsight2020]

can somebody expand on what they mean by FL QOL? Do people really place that much of a premium on weather? As someone who grew up in the Caribbean, a place with pathetic lack of economic opportunities but incredibly enviable weather qualities, I don't get the logic for placing oneself at an economic disadvantage just to have 75 deg weather. retirees I get, but 30-54 yo heads of households?...

[Not_liking_FL]

Originally Posted by hindsight2020

can somebody expand on what they mean by FL QOL? Do people really place that much of a premium on weather? As someone who grew up in the Caribbean, a place with pathetic lack of economic opportunities but incredibly enviable weather qualities, I don't get the logic for placing oneself at an economic disadvantage just to have 75 deg weather. retirees I get, but 30-54 yo heads of households?...

If you're referring to my post I should have worded it better. I was trying to say my QOL is better in NC and I don't mind paying a little extra for the privilege. A lot of people do consider FL to have a high QOL and I think that has a lot to do with the weather. Personally, I prefer having 4 seasons and dealing with some cold over the long summers of Florida. I think a lot of it also has to do with where people are moving from.

[perry335654]

Originally Posted by bmw335xi

I'm glad to hear that! Yeah, there are tons of ways to make money. Investing is one of the best avenues for the average person. I always cringe when I hear someone say, we need to tear down Wall Street. I know so many average Joe's that are on their way to a comfortable retirement and life because of Wall Street, myself included. It's just important for people to be real with themselves and educate themselves.

One of my friends who never invested before, opened an account when Facebook was coming out with their IPO. She was so excited and dumped all her money into it the day it went public. If anyone remembers, Facebook's stock dumped for awhile. After 2 weeks, she posted a long rant blasting Wall Street, stocks and Facebook. She continued by saying, it's impossible for the little guy to benefit from Wall Street.

I replied to her post by saying something like, if you had any clue about investing, you would have known Facebook was completely over-valued. Its P/E ratio was over 800 for crying out loud! All this is public information. You should have known you were being greedy buying this over-valued pig right when it IPO'd. In addition, you held a stock for 2 weeks and then dumped it! An investment for most people should be multiple YEARS, not days or weeks. If she would have held it as an investment, she would have more than doubled her money today. People blame their failures on the system, when it fact, they should be blaming their ignorance and greed.

She made another mistake she dumped it all in to one investment, one has to diversify their portfolio not dump all their eggs in to one basket.

[AES328]

Originally Posted by hindsight2020

can somebody expand on what they mean by FL QOL? Do people really place that much of a premium on weather? As someone who grew up in the Caribbean, a place with pathetic lack of economic opportunities but incredibly enviable weather qualities, I don't get the logic for placing oneself at an economic disadvantage just to have 75 deg weather. retirees I get, but 30-54 yo heads of households?...

Better weather, a metric ton less stress, less traffic, much nicer people, much more affordable real estate, just as good outdoor activities and opportunities to stay fit, no economic "disadvantage" for myself or my wife, as I am gainfully employed and make a bit more than I made in DC, the wife makes a lot more. I'm sure I can come up with others but that's just off the top of my head.

[StreetSmarts]

Originally Posted by Not_liking_FL

If you're referring to my post I should have worded it better. I was trying to say my QOL is better in NC and I don't mind paying a little extra for the privilege. A lot of people do consider FL to have a high QOL and I think that has a lot to do with the weather. Personally, I prefer having 4 seasons and dealing with some cold over the long summers of Florida. I think a lot of it also has to do with where people are moving from.

very good points