Futurist Q&A

Bob Treadway responds to the most frequent questions he’s received at presentations.

Q: What field should I advise my child to major in and move into after college?

A: Bear in mind that your children will work and live in an era of even more rapid career change. The odds are good that they will go through 5 or 6 different career changes in their lives. I’d advise getting an undergraduate liberal arts education. Followed with or accompanied by (in the form of a minor) a broad skill application. Business, a basic science, or a discipline that interests the young person. is best.

Q: You talk a lot about the "haves" in our society and how to track them, sell to them, use them as an early indicator. What about the "have-nots?"

A: I do talk about the "have-nots," but the future is not rosy. Most people who do not or will not have access to computers, information, education in the future will have a difficult time for the next two decades. There is a deepening "bifurcation" in the income levels of Americans. It seems most related to profound problems with basic education that seem to have nothing to do with government spending, and a groundswell of crime, drug abuse, and poor physical and mental nutrition.

Q: Can you give me some good tips for the stock market?

A: Since I'm not a licensed securities dealer I can't give you stock market advice. What I can say is that any investments my wife and I are making in the market (and she's the real financial brains in the family) are keyed to long term growth. I personally think that day traders are people who probably belong in Vegas or Atlantic City instead of passing themselves off as legitimate investors.

My biggest point of nervousness about the market is whether my fellow investors in the market have real "staying power." When riding on a plane next to a fellow who managed a rather large mutual fund I asked, "What keeps you awake at night?" He didn't hesitate. "The staying power of the non-professional investor." He said. Many people are in the market with money they can't afford to lose. Although I don't see huge potential for a 3,000 point downturn in the Dow I do fear for what a drop like that might do to panic the investor who has placed too much of their net worth in stocks expecting relatively short term gains.