What Arb Letter Is (And Why 35,000+ Readers Subscribe)
567: Pursuing Success, Wealth, and Fufillment
Welcome all.
We saw a big influx of new subscribers over the last week so if you just found your way to Arbitrage Andy and Arb Letter, this is your starting point.
*For long term followers or subscribers, this might be a welcomed refresher, but feel free to skip it if you’ve been with us since the beginning (regular post will go out for paid subs tomorrow). If you are a long term subscriber, it would be awesome to hear why you guys subscribe and what you enjoy about Arb Letter in the comments.
Today’s post is structured as follows:
Review of What Arb Letter Is
What Drove Me To Start It
Our FAQ Section/Major Themes Review
For those unfamiliar with who I am, for about 10 years now I have gone by pseudonym Arbitrage Andy online. I’m a pretty normal guy, I went to college in the US, competed as a Division I athlete, and studied history/politics/business.
My brand/online business journey started with a finance/lifestyle meme page I launched in 2017 when I got my first job at a small trading shop in New York City. At the time, before the complicated algorithms Instagram was still pretty pure ( basic images/memes could do very well, this was before the Reels/Tik Tok revolution).
I cannot tell you exactly WHY I did this, except for the fact I have always been the type of person to want to build things outside mainstream commitments like school, jobs, etc. I was an early reader of BowTied Bull (in their previous form) and they had a major impact on my early life goals and strategies as a young man trying to navigate the world.
I began posting simple images and eventually memes about my time in New York City. The page went viral and eventually climbed to 250,000 followers in the following years. It was an awesome experience. People would recognize the merchandise in the Hamptons, brands would reach out to run ad deals, I built a pretty solid network off a meme page, and living life as a young 20 something year in old in a major city was epic.
At the end of the day I love creating things, so running a meme page and making content was something I naturally enjoyed. Guys often ask why I made it anonymous:
A.) I don’t think I am important enough to make it about “me” specifically
B.) I value privacy
C.) It should be about the content/takes/etc. as opposed to some image
Growing older changed my views on life and my interests but it was really the events of the last decade as a whole: the Covid Pandemic, mass immigration, the rise of cultural marxism and DEI, US elections, insane money printing, the BLM and Antifa riots, the war in Ukraine, the explosion of AI, and countless other geopolitical, financial, and cultural flashpoints.
I found myself drawn to more than just memes about lunch in midtown or the latest pair of bit loafers I could review.
The pandemic and those other events changed my life permanently:
I became increasingly disillusioned with mainstream institutions, authority, and culture
I watched media, corporations, and politicians increasingly shape public perception, often with incentives that weren’t immediately obvious
I observed relationships, communities, and even families fracture as tribalism and ideology increasingly replaced open discussion
I became obsessed with understanding how money, politics, technology, and power actually interact
I realized just how grand the lies told to the masses can be, and how eagerly people would eat it up for short term comfort or reassurance
I recognized that I no longer enjoyed the corporate lifestyle, and that I wanted to build something of my own and eventually do that full time
There were two realities I now saw: how things really are and this dysfunctional neutered normie hamster wheel that 90% of the world runs on endlessly.
For me, that period fundamentally changed the way I view the world forever. Some early meme enjoyers were right to say “you changed”.
I absolutely did, but I also grew up.
This period taught me to question consensus rather than automatically accept it. To seek primary sources instead of headlines. To value history over recency, incentives over rhetoric, and independent thinking over blind tribal loyalty.
I became far less interested in what people were saying and far more interested in why they were saying it. Who benefits? What incentives are at play? What does history suggest happens next? How do you actually achieve what you want in life?
Those questions became the foundation of how I analyze markets, politics, business, technology, and society today.
And so I launched Arb Letter.
What is Arb Letter & Why Should I Subscribe
If you’re looking for another generic newsletter that simply summarizes yesterday’s headlines and corporate slop….
This probably isn’t for you.
Arb Letter is written for investors and independent thinkers who want to understand how markets, geopolitics, technology, business, and history fit together, and use that understanding to build personal wealth and navigate an increasingly complicated world.
Every day we're bombarded with breaking news, market commentary, political hot takes, AI predictions, and financial advice. Most of it is reactive. Much of it is biased. Almost all of it disappears within a week.
Long term readers don’t subscribe because I predict every headline correctly.
They stay because my framework works and my experience thus far is a testimony to that. Readers learn how to identify major trends before they become consensus. They think more clearly during periods of panic. They build conviction instead of chasing headlines. They become better investors, better decision makers, and ultimately more sovereign individuals.
They are leaps and bounds ahead of others.
Topics We Cover:
Crypto (a top bestseller on Substack)
Equities (Tech, Defense, AI mostly) PLTR 0.00%↑ and NVDA 0.00%↑ were some of my best early calls
Building a business/side hustle
Geopolitics & Global News (The world is changing quickly, 90% of people have no clue what is actually going on and how it affects them)
Self Development, Fitness, Finding Happiness
Sovereignty (how to reduce your dependence on the system)
Society (we now live in a dystopian modern world. Distractions and injustices are everywhere in abundance)
Over the years I’ve received thousands of emails from readers who landed better careers, built successful businesses, started families, got in better shape, dramatically improved their investment returns, or simply started viewing the world through a completely different lens.
The questions below represent some of the core ideas I come back to again and again and they are FAQ I receive across all platforms.
They form the foundation of how I think about markets, wealth, careers, business, and life.
Let’s get into July FAQs and follower/subscriber submitted content.
FREQUENTLY ASKED QUESTIONS
Your Career & Wealth
How Do I Get Wealthy?
You live in one of the most abundant times in human history. Our BowTied Bull inspired strategy that drove revenue online and made me a millionaire (after starting with $5,000 on day 1 in New York City) boils down to an incredibly simple 3 pronged mantra/structure:
Day Job/Corporate role (Bonus + Base Pay)
Side Hustle Business → Cash flow + Equity + Sale Opportunity
Investing → Equities/ETFs → Crypto → Cash → Real Estate Eventually
Read more - The simple blueprint for getting rich
As a general rule of thumb you should be aggressively investing in your 20’s, building up a second source of income, and going full tilt. We will expand on specifics here tomorrow.
Is entrepreneurship worth it?
I am fortunate that my parents instilled solid work ethic at a young age and this translated into academics, sports, and now my career. I left the corporate world after 10 years to continue building my business full time. Going out on your own is absolutely worth it but comes with challenges.
There is uncertainty, doubt, pressure, and setbacks but the benefits far outweigh the negatives. You will make more money in the long run, you will earn your time back, you will have more time for family eventually, and you will have a greater purpose.
For me now, there is not going back and my life has forever changed for the better. In the age of AI, job layoffs, and hyperinflation, starting your own thing is table stakes.
I suspect our children will need to fully adapt an entrepreneurial mindset to see true success in the modern age.
Are corporate careers still worth pursuing?
Corporate roles and day jobs can be leveraged to fund your side hustle or business. Use them ruthlessly to do so AND learn skills in the process. I learned more about people and sales in corporate than I ever will on my own. I also got very fed up with corporate culture in general, noticing that it became highly integrated with mainstream progressive politics.
I am biased to sales, tech, or other front office roles with base pay + bonuses that allow you to eat what you kill, earn more in your 20’s, and invest lump sums early in life.
Until you feel confident enough to take the leap, corporate roles can be very lucrative until/if you decide to go out on your own and escape.
The brutal truth is you will rarely become wealthy or transcend social class with just a day job now unless you have some rare exit or equity opportunity.
Obvious exceptions for 1% roles like private equity, doctors, lawyers, engineers, etc, but even those roles are beginning to come under pressure.
How do I start a business?
We have covered this extensively in Arb Letter. You must first either identify:
What you are naturally good at (have to be ruthlessly honest here)
A need for a service or product (solve a problem/help people)
I’ve always had creating things and writing come naturally, hence all of this.
Read more - Simple Guide To Make Money Online
What Is The Key To Success?
Consistency is the number one trait in successful people.
When I started Arbitrage Andy I posted a meme or story everyday for 7 years before I reached terminal velocity.
Consistency. That’s mostly it. That’s the secret to much of your potential success. Simple, but not easy for 99% of people. You can tell them and 1/10 will listen.
Since I started Arb Letter, across 550+ posts:
I have written approximately:
14–16 typical nonfiction books (70–80k words)
11 full-length 100k-word books
Arb Letter is read across 50 states and 185 countries now.
On Instagram I have 2,242 Feed Posts. At a highly conservative number of stories posted each day (we can assume 4), after 10 years that gives us 14,600+ stories posted.
That is countless hours of content creation, research, copy + paste, and editing.
250,000 Instagram Followers
19,000 Twitter Followers
~35,000 newsletter subscribers
Ability to work for myself
Took almost 10 years to get.
Think about that. I only share it to put into perspective what it takes to see some relative success.
You guys can see the same success in your ventures. Apply:
Consistency
A unique angle
A borderline obsessive drive to succeed and push forward
Politics & The World
What changed your worldview over the last decade?
As I mentioned earlier Covid, elections, wars, US politics, and more have drastically altered my worldview. People conflate my crass and irreverent style with MAGA or certain political movements.
Truth is I don’t really identify with any mainstream movement at this point.
When it comes to my political beliefs, they are simple:
Family, God, and my purpose are first, in that order, all else is secondary
I believe in freedom and sovereignty
I want to be successful financially
I believe in strong countries with borders and rule of law
I believe tradition, family, and the natural order are under attack
I believe in strength through power and force
I believe in small government, I see how much corruption is rampant
I believe in independence and self reliance
I strongly reject modern progressivism, DEI, woke thought, and socialism
I believe society has become deeply materialistic, vapid, and lost
I believe everything is cyclic, and we are close to a reset on all fronts
We live in some wild times right now. Many people’s success will hinge on their ability to ignore much of what they have been told is “true” for 20+ years.
How do you effectively deal with other people? What are some lessons you have learned about life?
By age 30, you should have a pretty good dial on how to deal with various types of people and how to navigate life situations without having a complete mental breakdown.
This is a highly refined list but here are some of my most valuable takeaways:
Listen more, talk less
Always observe
Do it now. There is less time than you think
Help people when you can
The people who talk more/all the time are often highly insecure
Everyone is insecure, it can be the ugliest trait besides jealousy
Humility is one of the single most important traits you can embody
It is usually better to lay low than make yourself a peacock
Corporations are not your family, neither are your coworkers
Stop telling people everything about your life
Just because something is, doesn’t mean it should be
Avoid training your brain with cheap dopamine. DoorDash Mcdonald’s is good for 20 minutes then you feel like shit. Making chicken, rice, and veggies will have you feeling better for longer. Hitting auto apply on Linkedin for a job feels good for 5 seconds. Cold emailing 5 employees and following up with them is better.
You will meet a handful of good people/mentors in your life, make sure to cultivate those relationships
Never outshine the master (48 Laws of Power) BIG ONE if you work in finance, corporate, etc.
Enjoy where you are in life even if you think you are ready to move on. 99% of the time I look back on experiences with fondness even if I moved on to something better (goes for people you misjudge or under appreciate as well sometimes)
Sometimes in life you have to eat shit to get closer to where you want to be. Embrace that suck
Where did you meet your wife? Dating in 2026?
I met my wife in person out one night in NYC. In my 20’s I used the apps, etc. I think it’s a pretty bleak dating scene in 2026, at least for people looking for a long term partner/wife etc.
As I said earlier, there has been a decades long war on femininity and masculinity that has either made people asexual freaks or entirely warped relations/normal interactions. Everything is hyper sexualized online and traditional gender roles have been obliterated (though they still exist on a primal animal level).
Ladies, 90% of my readership is men so that’s the point of view I can speak to.
If you are a young guy frustrated by your options, dating prospects, etc. let me give you one of the most valuable pieces of advice I can (and hopefully your dad taught you this).
You build YOUR life first.
You can only fake confidence for so long, women can smell immediately if you’re a man worth getting to know or a poser.
Are you the type of dude you’d want your daughter with?
Focus on yourself, your goals, your finances, first. Women will follow naturally. It’s the same for anything in life man, you simply have to do the work up front.
And for god’s sake have some pride. Stop being so needy. Become so driven and so focused on your goals that you become ambivalent to rejection or outcomes. A healthy dose of casual indifference goes a long way in a world where attention is manufactured like cheap crack at every turn.
Why do you constantly talk about sovereignty?
Men and women in the modern age have been ruthlessly demoralized, targeted, and misled.
To me, sovereignty isn't about withdrawing from society or living off the grid like a hermit. It's about increasing your ability to make your own decisions and reducing unnecessary dependence on systems you don't control.
That means building multiple income streams instead of relying on a single paycheck. It means owning productive assets instead of only consuming slop. It means staying physically fit, thinking critically, cultivating strong relationships, and continuously developing skills that no one can take away from you. It is a rejection of all the slop and propaganda meant to make you docile, compliant, and meek.
Above all, it means refusing to outsource your thinking. Learn to evaluate evidence, understand incentives, and arrive at your own conclusions, even when they differ from the consensus or lead you down an uncomfortable path.
People really underestimate how psyoped all of us have been for decades now. Understand that to the system, an independent, sovereign individual is always the greatest threat.
How do you navigate propaganda and media bias?
The hard truth for most to grapple with is that Orwell’s 1984 pales in comparison to the sea of propaganda and bias we find ourselves in today. What makes it difficult to point out to people is political ideology. One of the Devil’s most devious tricks was labeling literal facts as “misinformation”. To one person “propaganda” is reality.
One person says the sky is green, one says it is blue. Only one of them is correct but the other either:
Still believes it is green
Or
Knows it is blue but won’t admit it
No amount of debate, arguing, etc. will convince this person. Time Wasted.
I find it helpful to recognize two things when filtering for bias and propaganda. 1.) All politics is dirty. Being a partisan absolutist makes you look dumb given all sides are corrupt and incentivized to mislead you. Second, focus on incentives and patterns to get closer to the truth. And never forget, history is written by the victor.
You are better off focusing on ways to materially improve your life. In the last 4 years or so, but really since 9/11, there has been a mass awakening (Musk’s purchase of X rapidly accelerated this).
Expect the pattern recognition and noticing to continue by the masses. Expect more unrest. More extreme political campaigns and schemes to come.
Nationalism vs. Socialism to be the flavors of the day.
Self Development, Happiness, Your Mission
Why are so many people miserable today?
Aside from the major war against masculinity and femininity, a core issue is the majority of people today are mindless consumers. They want everything easy and try to be comfortable ALL the time. Part of it isn’t there fault, but they lack real challenges, adversity, or purpose. We live in a time where dopamine and short term pleasure is available everywhere you turn:
Onlyfans, porn, endless casual dating
Seamless, food delivery, gluttony
Rampant materialism
Insane narcissism
Drugs/Alcohol in excess
Gambling
Social Media, dating apps, Linkedin “Corporate-ification” of life,
Tech slop, politics, pop culture, sports, etc.
Bottom line is, none of this shit really matters in life. It can make life more fun, it can be good to dabble in these things occasionally, but those who consume them endlessly all end up in the same exact place:
Unfulfilled, depressed, and searching for actual meaning in life. I know hordes of them (ironically many are “rich”). Take a step back and live your life for yourself, while it made sense for me given my growing family, leaving the big city to go build a life in the suburbs was one of best decisions I ever made.
How Do You Stay in Shape?
While I would definitely point you to BowTiedOx for comprehensive guides, I was a three sport athlete in high school and competed at the D1 NCAA level for 5 years. Olympic lifting and running separated me for years but in my post college days my metabolism isn’t what it used to be and life has more obligations (kids, work, etc.)
I keep it simple physically:
Limit carbs and processed food
Intermittent fasting when you overdo it
Drink 3X as much water as you THINK you need in a day
Limit liquid calories (water, Gatorade Zero, Diet Soda almost exclusively)
High on protein, vegetables, fish, and fruit
10,000 to 12,000 steps a day minimum + push ups/pull ups
Stretching, rolling out, mobility exercises (especially at 30+)
Activities that burn calories naturally throughout the day (hiking, tennis, etc.)
Mentally:
I fish, hike, shoot guns, volunteer in my town and work on side projects
I spend an inordinate amount of time in nature now
I put my phone away
I reflect and meditate/15 minute power naps
I ignore politics and headlines for a day or two
I spend time with my kids and wife
I don’t take shit too seriously
What does a meaningful life actually look like?
People place value on different things. Well grounded people want varied outcomes out of life and it changes with age. When I was 21 I wanted to date hot women, get ultra rich, feel good all the time, and be popular.
For me at 33 now?
A meaningful life is my wife and sons, my purpose in life (helping people), working each day to get stronger, richer, and better at things, and my relationship with God (what I view God as). That’s it. I am a strong believer that you are told everything BUT those things matters, when the inverse is true.
Life experience helps you eventually arrive there.
A short time after leaving corporate I just stopped caring about so many things people obsess over: status, partying, prestige, corporate performance, who I know/who knows me, optics, etc. It’s all noise. Much of it is fake and fleeting, especially in today’s world.
I have said it before, you have to sometimes just not take life too seriously. Everyone knows that one corporate jabroni who thinks his job is the single most important role on earth.
As I said earlier some of the most unhappy people I know obsess over this stuff and then wonder why they have severe Sunday scaries or some sort of mid life anxious breakdown at 35. 99% of the time you KNOW exactly what you SHOULD be doing. Anxiety is the result of not doing those things. Align your life with what you want and execute each piece daily, remove the excess.
Is your current action getting you closer or further away from what you want?
If this resonated with you, subscribe, explore the archive, and start building your own edge. I expand on all of these questions, topics, and themes each week.
Glad you are here and look forward to the coming years. I will see paid subs tomorrow for a July Asset refresher, going over positioning in crypto, equities, hedge fund stock picks, etc. 🤝
Have a great Monday.
Andy