On August 31, 1908, The Model T Rolls Out—Driving Innovation Into the Mainstream

On August 31, 1908, the world of transportation changed forever with the quiet debut of the first Ford Model T from Henry Ford’s Piquette Avenue plant in Detroit. But that iconic black machine—the “Tin Lizzie”—was the result of years spent battling skepticism and defying conventional wisdom. Automobiles had been luxury playthings for the wealthy, expensive and finicky contraptions that broke down as often as they ran. Roads were mostly rutted tracks, and the idea of the average person buying and operating a “horseless carriage” was somewhere between impractical and laughable. Yet Ford obsessed over one question: What would it take to put America on wheels? He pored over every bolt and bracket, insisting the car be durable, simple to fix, and cheap enough for a schoolteacher or a farmer to own. Meanwhile, Ford’s team, including the crucial input of people like Childe Harold Wills and Charles Sorensen, worked relentlessly to refine the design and the process. In the Model T, Ford fused vision with pragmatism—a car light enough for muddy farm roads, fueled by common gasoline, and built with interchangeable parts. Its real superpower, however, was Ford’s real gamble: building not just a car, but a revolutionary method of mass production. When the first Model T hit the street, dealers and detractors alike were split—could anyone really sell cars to the masses? The answer, soon echoed across continents and eras, would be a resounding yes. By the mid-1920s, more than half of all cars in America were Model Ts, and the world was changed forever—not only by a product, but by the idea that innovation, when democratized, can genuinely reshape society.Here are four lessons for Modern Investors from the Model T’s revolution.

As Seen On: Fox & Friends ⬅️

Helping Adult Kids: New Norm, or New Dilemma?

🎯On Fox & Friends (click above to watch), I recently weighed in on the headline-grabbing phenomenon: parents saving not just for the college years, but planning to support their children well into adulthood. The catalyst? A Wall Street Journal story featuring parents stashing $1,000 a month, not for tuition, but as a launching pad for their daughter in her twenties and beyond. As I shared on air, there’s really no universal “right or wrong” here. The key for families is separating the emotional pull of wanting to help from the discipline required to protect their own long-term financial security.

In our practice at Victory Independent Planning, with clients from coast to heartland, we’re seeing this “extended support” become part of the new normal. Nearly 60% of today’s parents with kids aged 18 to 34 report providing financial help—ranging from phone plans and home repairs to vacation costs. And while some might fret that this is new-age coddling, the numbers tell a more pragmatic story: since the 1980s, housing costs have quadrupled, medical care is up sevenfold, and college and child care aren’t far behind. Meanwhile, wage growth has barely nudged ahead of inflation. It’s no surprise the classic milestones—moving out, career, marriage, kids—have become far tougher to achieve: where 45% of young adults reached all four back in 1974, only 21% can say the same today.

The other, often overlooked driver? How families save. A generation ago, parents with pensions rarely dipped into them for a child’s new roof; today, with IRAs and 401(k)s, the boundaries are blurrier (and the temptation greater). My advice on national TV matched what I tell clients: this is less about softness, more about responding to modern economic realities—just make sure your own financial future stays healthy, even as you lend a hand. Generosity is admirable, but so is planning with both head and heart.

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🎯Patrick Huey is a small business owner and the author of three books on history and finance as well as the highly-rated recently-released fictional work Hell: A Novel. As owner of Victory Independent Planning, LLC, Patrick works with families and non-profit organizations. He is a CERTIFIED FINANCIAL PLANNER™ professional, Chartered Advisor in Philanthropy® and an Accredited Tax Preparer. He earned a Bachelor’s degree in History from the University of Pittsburgh, and a Master of Business Administration from Arizona State University. Patrick previously served as a Naval Flight Officer from 1996-2005, earning the Strike Fighter Air Medal during combat operations and two Navy Achievement Medals. 👉🏻 Reach him at 877-234-8957 or schedule a time to talk using this link:

https://freebusy.io/victoryindependentplanning-VIP-Booking/phone-consultation

#HistoryLessons #Planning #ModelT #Fox&Friends

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