My book on financial activism publishes next month. The timeliness is not lost on me
Trust the timing.
It’s a mantra I should just get tattooed on me at this point.
Sometimes the “timing” in question is literal clock time — couldn’t tell ya why my brain decided to type this on my phone at 1 AM on a Saturday night after watching hours of surrealist reality TV (Olympic breakdancing).
But it’s also timing in a much grander sense. I started on my book project back in 2020 with a blog post. Fast forward to 2024 — from international calls for divestment, to post-pandemic economic justice policy decisions — I could have never predicted the personal and collective timeliness of financial activist strategies in the moment.
Let’s contextualize.
The big picture
1. The “Great Wealth Transfer”
As Boomers age (and exit proverbial stage left), we’ve entered a historic period in which tens of trillions of dollars are expected to be inherited by their descendants over the coming decades — hello fellow, Millennials, Gen-Z, Zillenials. What this means is that the world's wealth holders may look a bit different than they do right now: namely, inheritors are expected to be primarily women instead of men.
This massive redistribution of wealth has the potential to reshape economic landscapes, influence markets, and alter the financial stability of younger generations. We’re talking about opportunities for big shifts in consumption patterns, investment strategies, and, potentially, the overall economy and racial wealth gap.
For better or worse. We get to decide.
2. Financialization
Financialization is the biggest trend that most people have never heard of, even though we experience it daily. It’s why, for example, it seems like everything from veterinarian practices to daycare centers are now owned by faceless private equity firms.
It’s the extractive economy’s way of engineering profit into virtually every industry, with the explicit goal of shifting wealth away from everyday people and giving it directly to the billionaire class. And it’s never been more extreme than this decade.
3. Millennial and Gen-Z money trends
Set against the backdrop of attacks on (and money pulled from) DEI, ESG, and meaningful racial justice initiatives, Millennials and Gen-Z continue to be more attuned to issues of social justice, climate change, and economic inequality than predecessors. Those among us who are accessing wealth have more options than ever to engage in impact investing, philanthropy, and supporting businesses that prioritize sustainability and social responsibility. And across class lines, demanding transparency — about who’s profiting from our spending, how much we’re being paid or not paid, why healthcare is so dang inaccessible — is no longer a fringe concept.
We want to know what our money, and other people’s money, is up to in the world.
The summer of 2024
1. Global uprisings and revolutions
[Cue protest chants in Bangla.]
As a Bangladeshi American, I’ve been watching with chills and tears as the students of my fatherland topple an oppressive government and take charge of their economic destiny.
So much violence has darkened this summer, in the name of profit for a few at the expense of the many. Not only in Bangladesh but in the US, in Palestine, in Sudan… the list goes on. But persistent resistance and international solidarity have also colored this summer with hope: shining light on what it means to be in the struggle of future-building and power-shifting, against the odds.
2. The Paris Olympics
[Cue Olympic theme music].
Say what you will, my heart NEEDED to see the women gymnasts do their thing on the world stage (and their thing, they did!)
Beyond that, I’m living for all the timely public conversations about wealth and well-being à la the timelessness of the Olympics.
It’s moments like Flava Flav realizing athletes can’t pay their bills and stepping in to do something about it.
It’s moments of free healthcare in the Olympic Village and discussions about mental health going viral.
It’s moments before the cameras change angles and we get glimpses of symbolic resistance (okay, Australian breakdancing lady aside, did anyone see the b-girl from the Refugee Olympic Team pull out a “Free Afghan Women” cape? Her name is Manizha Talash and I’m her new biggest fan).
Let us not forget, all these moments are part of movements.
3. US Presidential election
[Cue collective sighs].
That’s it. That’s all it’s getting from me today.
Getting personal
1. Planning a wedding
As in, my wedding. With my partner. And our families. And all the beautiful/complicated/wild money-related conversations this prompts.
Did you know 2025 is expected to be the busiest (and most expensive) wedding season in modern history? Ha ha. We’re just finding out.
2. Family and friend happenings
Maybe this is just being in your late 20s, but boy, the extremes are extreming. I’m often left speechless by the intimate happens I get to bear witness to: the giant wins, the heartbreaking crises, and everything in between that those closest to me are experiencing.
When I’m not in front of my computer, I can be found these days at baby showers and vigils; housewarmings and moving-away parties; celebrating one person’s promotion and another’s two-week notice. I’m cheerleading on friends who are trying to pay down debt today, and dream a better economic tomorrow into existence
To be a trusted friend, family member, neighbor, co-conspirator, and fellow human who loves other humans in these times has been deeply, unexplainably, humbling.
3. Coming into my own as a first-time author
WHEW I’m learning a lot, every day. Book publishing is indeed a pay-to-play industry. AND, there are ways to make it work with your values: like finding a mission-aligned publisher, publicist, booksellers, and collaborators in every capacity.
More reflections on this to come, but for now I want to name gratitude for being able to put into practice so much of what I write about. In my efforts to get The Financial Activist Playbook into people’s hands far and wide, I get to be in constant inquiry: How do I decenter capitalism in my business decisions?
Stacking it all up
I find it deeply grounding to put myself in context. Maybe you want to give it a try:
How does what’s happening at the macroeconomic level affect you and yours?
What’s specific to this season that might impact your financial activist decisions?
What’s the personal context of this moment, and how can you give yourself an ounce more grace?
For me, in the midst of all [*gestures wildly*] this, I know the universe had plans for me that I’m not supposed to fully understand.
I’m trusting that my book launch is right on time, and I hope it meets you and what you got going on — right on time.
