The company Intuit, which is well-known for software programs like QuickBooks and TurboTax, was founded by Scott Cook. Cook, who was born in 1953, saw a lot of changes in the business world throughout his career. He made a memorable statement that illustrates the evolution of financial management over time.

In the past, handling money was as simple as operating an antique car with manual gears, where you could precisely predict each shift. In order to cover their basic needs for retirement or future expense planning, people would open a savings account and possibly invest in some government bonds. The technology was much simpler, there were fewer products, and there was less competition.

However, the landscape underwent a significant transformation as the late 20th and early 21st centuries approached. Numerous new tools and platforms were made available to people with the advent of personal computers and the internet with the goal of assisting them in better managing their finances. The modern world is similar to operating a high-tech car with features like GPS navigation, automated gear shifts, and safety systems. These features provide much greater functionality, but they also require users to get used to a complicated interface.

Cook's observation encapsulates this change, showing how financial decision-making has become more complex and powerful than ever in the digital age. People can now make well-informed decisions about debt management, savings, and investments that were unthinkable just a few decades ago thanks to access to enormous volumes of data and advanced software tools.

This quotation highlights Cook's understanding of how technology and personal finance have changed over time, showing how the digital revolution has elevated money management from a simple task to a complex science.