Inflation devalues cash, and bad investments can wipe out your principal. The real purpose of investing is to help someone gradually break free from complete reliance on earned income. When you rely solely on earned income, your wealth growth is limited by time and energy. But when you start owning equity in great companies, you gain the opportunity to benefit from others' labor, technological advancements, and improvements in productivity. At the end of the day, the wealth each of us can personally create is limited, but capital allows ordinary people to participate in value creation far beyond their individual capabilities. That’s why investment choices matter. Over the past few years, many have learned this lesson through real estate and altcoins. The assets truly worth holding long-term aren’t just those whose prices can rise, but those capable of continuously increasing profits and cash flow.