This Is Not Financial Advice

Let’s face it, money seems to make the world go round. There are so many “get rich quick” schemes and insider trading tips…anything to make money grow. But we live in the 2020’s and times have changed, especially when it comes to the financial market. Amateur trading has become a trend and cryptocurrency the potential future…or is it? Directed by Zach Ingrasci and Chris Temple, the documentary This Is Not Financial Advice follows four individuals varying from dabbling to all-in with their money and how those decisions give way to a more glaring issue at hand – the volatility of their financial decisions. 

For Glauber “Pro” Contessoto the prospect of investing in Dogecoin appears to be the way forward to financial stability. The child of two immigrants with practically no money or social security number to his name, Pro is a hustler who wants his own slice of the American Dream. After investing all his money into cryptocurrency Dogecoin, he becomes a millionaire seemingly overnight. He documents his crypto journey for his YouTube channel and seems to follow a similar hot trend on social media – posting about financial freedom through digital currency. But Pro is not alone in this journey. Along with other crypto enthusiasts such as Mana investor Rayz Rayl and @GirlsTalkStocks TikToker Kayla Kilbride, each documents a different tactic to bring some form of monetary success or educate those around them on how to achieve that success. As a counterpoint of sorts, investor Senay Kenfe teaches financial education in addition to running his own business….and trying to invest his money in boring, stable funds that will grow steadily over time. Through the rises and subsequent fall of Dogecoin and cryptocurrency each story documents just how fickle the market can be…especially when you are holding the reins. 

Ingrasci and Temple have managed to break down finance in a way that makes it understandable and relatable in This Is Not Financial Advice. One moment you’re up, the next you’re down and the rollercoaster ride to try and cash out when you peak is a guessing game. For people like Pro and Rayz, they remain hopeful that their dedication to putting money into the market will help give them that big pay-day of their dreams. And even when their life savings seems to dwindle they remain hopeful that their day of success will come. Maybe it will, maybe it won’t, but the blind faith placed in the market leaves you feeling a little on edge. Yet for Pro living on that edge doesn’t matter as much as succeeding in the market. One of the most jarring scenes is when Pro’s bank account begins to shrink and he finds a need to get creative with how to save money. From a grocery cart of nothing but celery to sharing stories of poverty with his mother, Pro continues to wait for his big pay-off.  

While the hustle seems to be the way for most amateur investors such as Pro, it is not always the answer. Sure, Pro does end up finding his way out of the Dogecoin quagmire by generating income through his YouTube channel, but not everyone can achieve that level of success. However, the best advice for success comes from Senay Kenfe, especially since his unwavering drive to educate and continue the 9-5 hustle at his job are important to him and guarantee better stability than just relying on his investments. As Senay teaches people in the community about proper financial education, he leaves them with this advice: “Everything worth having is not obtained fast….real success is boring.” Because just like the tortoise and the hare, This is Not Fianncial Advice reminds us that in the world of finance…slow and steady wins the race.