Sparta!! Our Favourite Movies and How They Relate to Our Business
Who doesn't love a good movie? This week I took my Top 3 favourite films and found a way to relate them to our business. After you read about my choices, I'd love to hear from you and see if your favourite movies relate to our business (or your job or business!)
Here we go:
Ghostbusters – https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=N5C8C1WAywU
When the Ghostbusters decide to go into business, Ray sells his parent’s house to get a mortgage on the old fire hall that the Ghostbusters will use as office headquarters. The mortgage rate on the fire hall when this movie was made? 19%!! As a GenY who didn’t have financial worries in the 80s and 90s, I can’t even fathom having to pay 19% on a mortgage. Mortgage interest rates are currently at all-time lows (in the 2% ballpark). But what happens if interest rates start to increase again? We’re not too concerned with them shooting up to 19% any time soon, but what if interest rates went to 4%? Do you have an idea what the impact would be on your mortgage? For example, if interest rates increase from 2% to 4% on a $300,000 mortgage, you’ll be paying an additional $6,000/year in interest, which is an additional $500/month on your mortgage. Could you handle that? Now imagine 19% …scary thought.
Love Actually - Opening Scene
“Whenever I get gloomy with the state of the world,
I think about the arrivals gate at Heathrow Airport.
General opinion's starting to make out that we live in a world of hatred and greed,
but I don't see that. It seems to me that love is everywhere.
Often, it's not particularly dignified or newsworthy,
but it's always there - fathers and sons,
mothers and daughters, husbands and wives, boyfriends, girlfriends, old friends.
When the planes hit the Twin Towers, as far as I know,
none of the phone calls from the people on board were messages of hate or revenge - they were all messages of love.
If you look for it, I've got a sneaking suspicion that you’ll fine...love actually… is all around...”
I really enjoy this movie and its message. How does it relate to our business? When someone asks “Why do we need life insurance?”, the industry’s response is “to protect the ones you love”. Insurance is not a sexy product, it’s not a ‘want’, it’s a product that is based on love for another. I have a child and wife at home, both of whom I love very much. If I were to die in a car accident on the way home, no doubt they would grieve. But through insurance, I can ensure that our mortgage is fully paid off, that our son’s tuition is fully paid for, and to provide an income to financially protect them when I am no longer here. That’s what we mean when we say it’s a product of love.
The Book of Eli – https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=idJklVyn5PE
This movie is based in post-apocalyptic times, where suddenly everyday items become more valuable due to their scarcity. In this scene, a lighter, Chap Stick, and a wet nap are discussed as barter. How does this relate to today? Most of us have collected something over the years – cards, memorabilia, collector spoons, coins, stamps, et cetera. At one point in time, they were very valuable to us, likely both in monetary and sentimental terms. But do they still carry that same value today? Do you have things sitting around your home that you no longer appreciate or use? Is it time to sell? You could use the proceeds to boost your emergency fund, help pay for your next vacation, or be put towards future planned spending like a child’s education or even retirement. Just food for thought.
What’s your favourite movie? Does it relate to money or insurance somehow? We'd love to hear from you! Tell us here or on our Facebook page www.facebook.com/McEachernFinancial