Economic inequality has become a defining issue of our age.

Twenty-six of the world’s richest people have the net worth of 50% of the worlds’ poorest. Some define this as economic pornography others as an economic right.

Over the last few decades the gap between incomes, wealth and living standards of the rich and poor has increased in most countries while the middle class is wavering.

Let’s take a look through the lens of job creation and attempt to answer the question of how this information could in fact help create future opportunities. That is if you are able to reframe the ugly image of economic pornography for a moment and consider new opportunities other than the current and important focus on the STEM related jobs (Science Technology Engineering and Maths).

To be clear, irrespective of the super-rich, there are a growing number of the population that are creating large disposable incomes, and many will want to spend it on unique and tailored services for themselves. The trends are already there. They will want them fast and personalised and by having access to these services they will have pleasure in differentiating themselves from others. It doesn’t matter how we deny it, for most people class matters.

While this may not be anything new the questions now becomes what are the jobs that may be created to meet the growing needs of the affluent and as a consequence help reduce the income divide? One such job, that could create huge opportunities is the Trusted Advisor role and the spin off roles as a result of this opportunity. My primary reasons for this belief are two-fold.

Firstly, in our current world of information overload, fake news and deep fakes people want to know who and what to believe. They will pay money for an expert who can provide them with information they can trust. Paradoxically as trust in our institutions and each other is waning we want more than ever to have people we can trust.

Secondly as the western world takes a deep dive into social isolation, with over 25% saying they experience loneliness each week, people now more than ever want to connect with other humans and if necessary, they will pay to do so. We are already haunting coffee shops and it’s not all about the coffee.

The roles could include:

• Security. Instead of worrying about security, irrespective if it is online or in thehome, would you pay for a Trusted Security Advisor who could advice and respond to your every need if you had the money to do so? This may include climate change security, like what glass to put in your windows to help prevent the impact of extreme weather events, maintaining privacy or the most appropriate bunker to build in case of emergencies.
• Medical. Instead of a 15-minute appointment with a rotating medical professional, would you pay extra for a doctor, a nurse or a pharmacist who took the time to know you, and spent time explaining things and putting Dr Google in perspective at least in the short term? In Germany pharmacists some prescribe medication and dentists are taking Blood pressure.
• Retail. Can you imagine feeling like royalty by never wearing the same outfit twice? That you may engage a service like Rent a Runway, which provides designer clothes to rent.This service is already going gang busters in New York. However, can you image your own trusted advisor making recommendations for your weekly wardrobe and cross referencing with the company sales, so you were the only one wearing that design to a particular function? Hedonism may be alive and well for those who would desire this service however it can provide incomes for others and expand the middle class.
• Insurance. Instead of scanning the internet for the best insurance options, what if you had a trusted advisor that sorted out all your insurance. This may include advising on climate impacts on land purchases or advising on insurance implications for new technologies like driverless cars. They would not be paid on commission but by you directly.
• Travel. Can you imagine your own personal Airline Advisor? They identify the best plane service to meet your needs. It may be booking on a personal jet, a first-class only aeroplane or business class only aeroplane. Each plane has a personalised in-air services to choose from. For example, your own masseuse, beautician or professor in the sky. Your trusted advisor could coordinate, car pick up, what lounge to enter and manage frequent flyer points as necessary. There are significant job opportunities created in addition to the trusted advisor.
• Nutrition. Your Body Advisor rather than dietician. They help you know what to eat, to optimise your health and specific body and DNA structure. They move beyond fads and provide you with information on what is in your food, how it is sourced, is it organic or genetically modified and the best way it should be prepared. They understand the interactions between drugs food and exercise and advise accordingly.
• Aged care. Then there is the Aged Care Trusted advisor who may come to your home or face time online.They explain all your legal and housing options for your aged care including all stages up and including till death do us part. They then source the best options based on the information you or your family provides and follows up to ensure you are receiving the care you requested and have paid for. They could even become your advocate when family members don’t exist or are missing in action.I know if I had the money this is a service I would absolutely seek out if it was available. There are too many horror stories not to.

Though every cell in my body wants things to be different and as uncomfortable as it is to say it, if we are creating a two-class system of economic inequality (or something similar which much of the data suggests) it’s not about denial or outrage. Instead, it is about engaging our collective creativity to construct new job opportunities, and rebuild the middle class

As a consequence, it may just help reduce the growing gap between the rich and the poor and provide good financial opportunities for the many rather than just the few.

If I dared to be altruistic perhaps with more trusted advisors providing quality information, some people may make more informed decisions about their health, their families and perhaps even their environmental impact.