A short history of 1999, the year everyone became a genius In 1999, Barbra Streisand explained her investment strategy to Fortune magazine. She was a day trader. She told the interviewer she couldn’t stand seeing red in her profit column, and since she’s a Taurus,…
Four lessons from The Intelligent Investor that just played out in real time I’m working through The Intelligent Investor, Benjamin Graham’s classic with Jason Zweig’s modern commentary layered through it. This week’s reading covered what aggressive investors should never do, and one line I couldn’t…
It’s not increasing your income or investment amounts When I got my first job out of college, I had one goal. Exceed my debts with my net worth. That was it. Not a fancy car, a nice apartment, or a wardrobe upgrade. Just get my…
I stopped maxing out my 401k. The wealthy don’t build fortunes in retirement accounts — and neither should you. For years, I preached the gospel. Max out your Roth IRA. Max out your 401k. Let compound interest do its thing. Die wealthy. I followed my…
Before I walk you through this, I want to be clear about something. This isn’t an argument against homeownership. It’s an argument against making one of the largest financial decisions of your life without knowing the actual number. Nobody tells you the actual number. What…
I maxed out my 401k every year until it didn’t fit my strategy. I always spent less than I earned. My debt never exceeded my net worth. Every time I had money, investing came first — before the lifestyle upgrade, before the convenience, before whatever…
You’re not behind. You’re just starting. And starting beats standing still every single time. Let me skip the part where I pretend this isn’t scary. You’re 35. Maybe older. Your savings account has a number in it that makes your chest tight. You’ve been working…
The difference between building wealth and just having a portfolio. Let me ask you something uncomfortable. That ETF you bought — why did you buy it? That stock in your portfolio — can you explain the business model? The competitive advantage? Why it’s worth what you paid? That allocation…
I’ve been investing since I was 14. I’ve been working out since I was 11. At some point I noticed something strange: the people who were winning at one were usually winning at the other. The disciplined investors I knew were almost always in good shape….
Step 1: Wealth Building. Step 2: Acquisition. “First plant your fields; then build your barn.” (Proverbs 24:27, MSG) This is one of my favorite scriptures from the Great Book. It is simple, direct, and incredibly practical. It speaks to order, patience, and wisdom, especially when…
Reconsider faux owning if you’ll sacrifice your savings A house is a luxury, and you do not need luxuries to experience success and fulfillment. Homeownership is often treated as proof that someone has “made it,” but that belief ignores context, timing, and individual financial reality. Success…
8 Lessons Some of the most questionable financial advice I have ever received came from people who were struggling financially themselves. Not bad people. Not unintelligent people. Just people whose money habits clearly were not working. Here are a few real examples of advice and…
No more playing games. Take Action Today! When the widow lamented to Elisha of her sad financial plight, fearing that a creditor would take her sons from her, Elisha did not sympathize with her in the way many people expect. Instead, he instructed her to…
Take heed There are infinite ways to build wealth, and when you find the right one, you can accelerate your rate of return exponentially. The challenge is that the best opportunities are not always obvious at the beginning. Before wealth accelerates, you have to find…
Get out of that line if your money ain’t looking right. First, let’s apply some basic logic when it comes to financing a phone. Many people finance their phones because the offer comes with 0% interest. On paper, that can be a smart move. Why pay…