Tesla’s Musk gets it wrong

Tesla’s Musk gets it wrong
It’s widely accepted, because it’s true, that retirement planning lags significantly for most American workers. Musk and Tesla chose the wrong history to buck.
FEB 15, 2021

“Tesla had a banner year in 2020 … but the company did not provide a 401(k) match to its employees.” 

“Tesla announced in an SEC filing Monday that it has bought $1.5 billion worth of bitcoin.” 

Source: CNBC, Feb. 8

Elon Musk has skills that deserve esteem. In Tesla Inc., he has guided a brand that has created numerous jobs and become synonymous with launching a company that has filled a void in space. He has done well, and he’s done so in the manner of an iconoclast, breaking norms and established precedents. 

This quality has served him well to date. Agree with it or not, his unique style has worked for his shareholders and supporters.  

However, the decisions represented in the two quotes above indicate he’s picked the wrong idol to smash. 

It’s widely accepted, because it’s true, that retirement planning lags significantly for most American workers. And it’s just as widely accepted, because it’s also true, that companies that commit to their employees engender long-term success. When a company has had the level of success Tesla has achieved, and it has the chance to commit $1.5 billion to an investment, the choice between an investment in bitcoin and in the staff ought to be easy. 

Alas, in this case, whether through hubris or a simple lack of care, Musk and Tesla chose the wrong history to buck. 

Latest News

Maryland bars advisor over charging excessive fees to clients
Maryland bars advisor over charging excessive fees to clients

Blue Anchor Capital Management and Pickett also purchased “highly aggressive and volatile” securities, according to the order.

Wave of SEC appointments signals regulatory shift with implications for financial advisors
Wave of SEC appointments signals regulatory shift with implications for financial advisors

Reshuffle provides strong indication of where the regulator's priorities now lie.

US insurers want to take a larger slice of the retirement market through the RIA channel
US insurers want to take a larger slice of the retirement market through the RIA channel

Goldman Sachs Asset Management report reveals sharpened focus on annuities.

Why DA Davidson's wealth vice chairman still follows his dad's investment advice
Why DA Davidson's wealth vice chairman still follows his dad's investment advice

Ahead of Father's Day, InvestmentNews speaks with Andrew Crowell.

401(k) participants seek advice, but few turn to financial advisors
401(k) participants seek advice, but few turn to financial advisors

Cerulli research finds nearly two-thirds of active retirement plan participants are unadvised, opening a potential engagement opportunity.

SPONSORED RILAs bring stability, growth during volatile markets

Barely a decade old, registered index-linked annuities have quickly surged in popularity, thanks to their unique blend of protection and growth potential—an appealing option for investors looking to chart a steadier course through today’s choppy market waters, says Myles Lambert, Brighthouse Financial.

SPONSORED Beyond the dashboard: Making wealth tech human

How intelliflo aims to solve advisors' top tech headaches—without sacrificing the personal touch clients crave