Make More, Spend Less – Invest the Difference
Financial Health and Wellness has a LOT in common with Physical Health and Wellness; especially in the sense that everyone knows it’s important; and they even know how to do it (make more, spend less, invest the difference), but very few people actually do what it takes to achieve it. John Templeton once explained to a reporter his secret for becoming wealthy; for the first 20 years out of college, he saved half of everything he earned. Period. Now John Templeton is a LEGENDARY investor and earned good returns for his clients by investing. But his SECRET to wealth was not some stock-picking tip; it was to save HALF of everything he made. Simple really, dirt simple.
But not EASY. Just like being physically healthy is simple but not easy. I’m not saying you have to save 50% of everything you earn, but you could probably save 5%; maybe even 10%. Most of us can find a way to save a nickel or a dime out of every dollar we earn. Haven’t people determined WHY they should work to get and stay financially healthy?
We may all have 100 reasons why we can’t save, and they are all good and rational reasons. But they are short term reasons that are counterproductive to your long-term goals and ambitions. Your why for being financially healthy may be remarkably similar to your why for being physically healthy; to be able to watch and enjoy all the things your family is going to do and achieve and accomplish. You want to be financially healthy enough to enjoy your physical health, and you want to be physically healthy enough to enjoy your financial health.
And the way to financial health is very similar to the way to physical health. Do the right things, do them consistently, and do them for sustained periods of time measured in years. We should go over the wonderful effect of compound interest on finances, but the key to compounding is TIME. The earlier you start, the more consistent you are, the better it works. Just like being physically healthy, the benefits compound over time. The longer you do it, the more consistent you are, the better your results.
Save and invest. Save and invest.
We would love to talk with you about your financial aspirations and needs. At Muhlenkamp making your money grow is our top priority.
The opinions expressed are those of Muhlenkamp and Company and are not intended to forecast future events, guarantee future results, or offer investment advice.
