A Ridiculously Simple Way To Build Wealth [With Infographic] Everything You Need To Know In Just Two Sentences

Key Ideas

The �secret� to successfully building wealth revealed. Explains the proven formula complete with clear action steps so you can start today. Uncovers the key hurdle that destroys most wealth plans so you know what to avoid. Building wealth is simple.

It doesn�t require luck, genius, or special connections.

You don�t have to attend overpriced weekend financial seminars or learn the latest tricks and gimmicks sold by slick marketers.

As John Bogle wisely stated, �The secret is there are no secrets.�

The truth behind how to build wealth is public domain knowledge, simple to understand, and nobody is going to get rich selling it to you.

In fact, it�s so simple it can be explained in just two sentences:

Make more than you spend and invest the difference wisely. Develop simple daily habits that result in wealth accumulation. I know� you�re probably a little disappointed.

You wanted something new, different, and clever � the missing ingredient that has held you back and will produce breakthrough results. The fabled �secret� every marketer tries to sell.

Instead, I give you something dangerously close to what Grandma would have said.

But listen to the voice of experience. I�ve coached hundreds of people from debtors to the wealthy, and the pattern is unmistakable.

Related: Why you need a wealth plan, not a financial plan.

And it�s not just me singing this song. These same truths were taught by Benjamin Franklin hundreds of years earlier and reiterated by numerous authorities ever since, including J. Paul Getty.

It�s timeless wisdom that has been proven over the centuries, and will also probably work for you (if you just put it into practice).

In short, if you want wealth in this lifetime with the highest probability of success, then these two sentences contain the essential wisdom you need to know.

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Build wealth easily by following these two simple guidelines.

Spend Less Than You Make and Invest the Difference Wisely

The first sentence summarizes how to manage your personal finances so that you grow assets.

It explains the importance of creating positive cash flow that you invest to produce additional positive cash flow.

Notice how it�s composed of three separate yet connected ideas to form a single concept:

Spend less
Earn more
Invest wisely
There are endless variations on how to achieve this objective, but they all follow two simple themes:

You can reduce spending immediately through various forms of frugality. You can increase your income through various strategies including changing jobs, getting a raise, or starting a business. In short, you must create a gap between how much you earn and how much you spend that results in savings to invest for growth and additional income.

The twin themes of spending less and making more are not mutually exclusive, but they do require very different mindsets.

Frugality is about living on less and requires self-discipline. For most people, there is a feeling of sacrifice when following this path, thus making it difficult to succeed.

If that�s you, then frugality is a slow and difficult path to wealth because you will be in constant battle between lifestyle desires and financial freedom goals.

For others, frugality is a pleasurable journey in simplification where fulfillment results from redirecting earned income toward financial freedom goals rather than squandering it on spending.

It�s not uncommon for extreme frugalists to save 70% of income and achieve financial independence in less than 10 years, but it�s not everyone�s cup of tea.

Another alternative is to raise the income side of the equation. The advantage to this approach is there is no theoretical limitation to how fast your wealth can grow because your earning capacity is unlimited.

Many wealth gurus teach the income side of the equation as the �fast path� to wealth; however, if you don�t master the spending side of the equation you still run a high risk of failure due to the all-too-common mistake of allowing spending to rise as fast as income.

The greatest wealth builders focus on both sides of the equation together. They maximize savings by controlling spending while growing income at the same time.

It�s the quickest, most certain path to increased savings for investment.

Great wealth builders focus on both saving money and earning more.

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The third component to the equation � invest wisely � is also simple because everything you need to learn is available for free in the public domain.

You don�t have to take investment seminars or build extraordinary expertise. There are two well proven paths:

Paper Assets: Conventional buy and hold using low cost index funds and proven asset allocation models. Vanguard Funds offers you everything you need. Real Estate: Direct ownership of positive cash flow real estate in your local area. In summary, achieving financial freedom is really quite simple.

Spend less than you make and invest the difference wisely. Rinse and repeat until the income from your investments exceeds your expenses. At that point you�re infinitely wealthy and financially independent. Want to know the secret to building wealth? It's a lot easier than you think - it just requires knowledge of two basic personal finance principles, and a plan on how to live by them. Get that plan here.

With that said, the sad truth is few will achieve financial freedom despite the desirability of the goal and the simple path you must follow to achieve it.

The reason is explained in the second sentence.

Your Wealth Is Determined by Your Habits

The reason so few people achieve wealth is because they don�t adopt habits that lead to wealth.

As you already know, the formula is simple and fully proven. The only thing remaining is to take action with enough consistency to achieve the goal� and that�s where the problems occur.

Here�s the formula for how this works: [(Small, Smart Choices) * (Consistency) * (Time)] = Wealth Procrastination is the single biggest wealth killer. You plan on getting around to it someday. You know what you should do but there is always some other priority. The kids need braces, the car needs repair, the kitchen needs remodeling.

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Action is where the rubber meets the road. It�s one thing to know what to do, and it�s something else entirely to get it done. That�s why habits are so critical.

Habits are the reason postal workers become millionaires while lottery winners go broke.

It doesn�t matter if you look at the writings of Benjamin Franklin from 250 years ago or Stanley and Danko�s bestseller The Millionaire Next Door.

They all say essentially the same thing � the distinguishing characteristic of people who achieve wealth is they manage their money well. They have good money habits.

They don�t earn the most. They aren�t the smartest. They don�t have any special training. They just have good money habits � brain dead simple.

The reason good money habits are essential is actually scientific and results from the mathematics behind how money compounds to grow into wealth.

Small changes done over long periods of time can create massive results. It�s an easy path to wealth.

That�s why daily habits are so important.

A daily habit of frugality saves small amounts every day that compound and grow over long periods of time to become substantial wealth. Try this Latte Factor calculator to prove it to yourself.

A daily habit of increasing your earning capacity through training and education will add small amounts every day to your income potential.

Small changes done over long periods of time can create massive wealth.

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Both of these daily habits will create an increasing spread between what you spend and what you earn, which will increase your wealth at an accelerating rate.

This isn�t rocket science. It�s just daily habits dedicated toward a specific goal � building wealth.

The habit causes the action which produces the result. It�s simple cause and effect.

Habits are the easiest and simplest way for you to cross the bridge between how to build wealth using the simple formula above, and actually doing what it takes to achieve the goal.

You don�t have to intellectualize the process or overcome massive obstacles. You don�t have to get ready to get ready.

Instead, you just start today by adopting one habit that serves your wealth goals. Here are some potential starting points:

Sign up for an automatic savings program.

Opt-in to your company 401(k) (if they offer it).

Prepay a small amount on your mortgage.

Find an unnecessary expense and eliminate it.

Clean up clutter by selling unused assets (RV, boat, jewelry, etc.).

Repair something instead of replacing it.

Develop a niche expertise in your profession that commands a higher wage.

Start learning about asset allocation or investment real estate.

Just pick one habit and start today. Practice the habit until it becomes permanent, then pick another habit and do it again. Then another and another until you can see your wealth grow.

Pick ONE wealth building habit to develop today to get started on your journey to financial freedom

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The greatest obstacle to building wealth is procrastination. Habits are the simplest way to overcome procrastination and get into immediate action.

Habits reduce the entire wealth building process into bite-sized pieces that are easy for anyone to digest. The compounded effect of all these tiny actions over a lifetime becomes wealth.

Want to know the secret to building wealth? It's a lot easier than you think - it just requires knowledge of two basic personal finance principles, and a plan on how to live by them.

Get that plan here.

Summary of How To Build Wealth

The formula for wealth is simple: spend less than you make and invest the difference wisely.

The mechanism to take action on the formula and produce results is equally simple: adopt wealth building habits.

Here�s how it looks in a different format: [(Small, Smart Choices) * (Consistency) * (Time)] = Wealth

The only question remaining is whether or not you will do what it takes.

Related: Why you need a wealth plan, not a financial plan.

Will you follow these proven, simple formulas to achieve amazing financial results? Or will you return to your same old patterns that produce the same old results?

The only thing standing between you and wealth is the willingness to act on this timeless wisdom.

Are you ready to jump in and design your life so your daily actions create your financial independence? This course will help you form an exact step-by-step plan to become financially free.

Please share your thoughts in the comments below. How have these principles worked for or against you in life? What takeaways did you get from this article?

This article was originally published as a guest post on FreeMoneyFinance.com and won best blog post of the year for 2011 in the �Best of Money� writing competition.

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Want a PDF of this article? We'll email it to you! First Name + Primary E-Mail = Instant Access Related Articles The Ten Commandments Of Wealth BuildingThe Ten Commandments Of Wealth BuildingFM 011: Automatic Wealth � How To Master Your Habits with James ClearFM 011: Automatic Wealth � How To Master Your Habits with James Clear12 Tips To Build Wealth For Early Retirement12 Tips To Build Wealth For Early Retirement 8.3k298.2k57 31 comments Livefyre Sign in51 people listeningPatrickMeningajptufoFinancialmentorGregoryMatveevLarry WeberRodrigoSilvaswamplandOnline Merchant AccountTomeasyfinanceMarie020 + Follow Share Post comment as... Newest | Oldest | Top Comments qcarroll15 qcarroll15 Feb 18, 2016 I 100% agree with this article. For something seeming so difficult to be broken down into two basic steps, is amazing. These steps only seem to appear difficult because of our mentality as human being. Those who can overcome this natural urges of our mind become the more financially successful individuals. For those of us who struggle to reach over the hurdle of ourselves, procrastination usually comes into play. Causing procrastination to single-handedly be the most difficult obstacle to overcome. Procrastination can only be overcome through extensive discipline and the ability to be a self-starter. FlagShareLikeReply ubens ubens Feb 12, 2016 Thank you for this article I have been searching for something like this for long now. FlagShareLikeReply NicoleBryan NicoleBryan Feb 7, 2016 This is SPOT on! Pretty simple formula that we know, but definitely not easy. Been following this simple formula for years and as a result I am more than half way towards financial freedom. Goal is to get there in 2 years, before I turn 40. FlagShareLikeReply morei morei Dec 3, 2015 Thanks, Todd. This is one lifesaver for me and will be a positive life-changer as well! I'll surely let you know when I reach my first landmark goal in financial freedom! Till then, God bless you, and I, too, and our families and community. FlagShareLikeReply vjessi11 vjessi11 Sep 22, 2015 Great Article FlagShareLikeReply WaveTaylor WaveTaylor Jul 1, 2015 Great article. You are right when you say procrastination is a killer. For the last 10 years or so, I have been investing in real estate and have not brought one property,(Sigh)!! FlagShareLikeReply Bruce McKenzie Jr Bruce McKenzie Jr Jun 10, 2015 All I have to say is... WOW! After years and years of looking for a special formula and trying to find a secret way to make or build wealth. I cannot believe how incredibly simple and how much since it makes. Thank you, im definitely listening (and following) now. FlagShareLikeReply merchantsystems1 merchantsystems1 Apr 27, 2015 Hello, thank you for posting such useful article. I was in search of stuff like this. but now m search is completed. Please keep posting like articles like this. regards Diana FlagShareLikeReply WealthCreatingMind WealthCreatingMind Mar 28, 2015 Great article. I think the most important part is keeping good habits. To do so needs a degree of mental muscle and if you have that, then you are already on your route to success. FlagShareLikeReply William Janda William Janda from FacebookFeb 4, 2015 Get up every day. Go do something about it. Work... FlagShareLikeReply SteveKobrin SteveKobrin Dec 30, 2014 I love the idea of habits being the key to success. It gives you so much control over your own destiny. With the right habits we guide ourselves narurally to the desired outcome. FlagShareLikeReply sabo sabo Dec 13, 2014 Good article, based on tried and true facts of frugality, discipline and investing some of whats left over. Everyone would be much better off if they implemented only one of the three, but in our day and age, I think consumerism rules the day. FlagShareLikeReply MarissaHDr MarissaHDr Oct 26, 2014 In this Digital Age when we are bombarded with may information, reading a meaty article like this in 'capsulized' form is indeed a spirit enabler. Very well said, Todd! The right wealth building habits even in bits can really result to great financial freedom. Your triangular presentation of earning, saving and investing money is a very fundamental principle which should find a strategic place on our mental wall. Your inspiring words touched me. Thanks a ton! Keep sharing your light! God bless. FlagShareLikeReply EverydayMoney EverydayMoney Jul 29, 2014 Great visual, Todd. I've tweeted, posted and Pinned it. As I mentioned on my Facebook as well, I've printed it off and plan to put it up in my kids' rooms. When they get frustrated and impatient and are tempted to follow some "secret" path of the rich or try a get-rich-quick scheme, I'm hoping they're remember the infographic and forge ahead. Thank you for your time in putting it together! -Todd FlagShareLikeReply joestanfield joestanfield Dec 19, 2012 Hello Todd I have followed your writings from time to time and enjoy your website. I myself have been on a quest to financial freedom. I have read extensively. With that said- I have found only one way to create wealth and leave a lasting legacy for my family-safely and guaranteed. There is no other vehicle that is as old and tried and true as whole life insurance. Nelson Nash's book - Become your own Banker- is the foundation for this concept. I would suggest Pamela Yellen's book -Bank on yourself. There are specific contracts with certain whole life insurance companies that provide the opportunity for you to provide a death benefit for your family. But at the same time build a cash value that can be loaned against for interest requiring expenses- cars, appliances , etc once purchased using "your own bank" you pay yourself back with interest and receive dividends the rest of your life -thus whole life. It requires discipline and is definitely not a get rich quick scheme. For me after being in business for 20 years I never want to go to a bank again for anything. Also to have peace of mind that my cash value will grow every year guaranteed and my family is taken care of financially in the event I die prematurely is a wonderful thing. If you have commented on this particular vehicle please refer me to where I may read if not- Please comment - I would love to hear your thoughts. Have a Merry Christmas and wonderful holiday of rest and Happy New Year! Joe Stanfield FlagShareLikeReply Pedro V Pedro V Aug 14, 2012 Hello Todd this is Pedro (back again) Good and sensible article (as usual) The equation is simple but the 2nd part (invest wisely) is not so easy to bring into action (unless for me). Here in Spain,the situation is becoming difficult,( I don't even trust we.ll stay in the Euro for a long time) so I've tried to follow your tips: I have bought some amount of silver coins (instead of gold which is more expensive and not so easy to break up in small amounts) and I am thinking about buying a real estate in USA, to get passive incomes from renting, and my question is: Is a good moment to buy a condo in USA (ie Orlando or Miami?) What is your forecast abiut the real estate market? (My idea is to have some money out of Euros and to get passive incomes form our savings) Thanks in advance Pedro FlagShareLikeReply swampland swampland Jun 8, 2012 Todd, So why aren't I rich? If " The formula for wealth is simple � spend less than you make and invest the difference wisely. " is the solution? The first part is the simple part, but the second half is the real killer. Just looking a bit at us, we tend to keep things until they die. We now have a car payment because the 27 year old one died. Just could not repair it one more time. We still have a tube type TV because it still works. We only go out to eat when there is something special going on, or to celibate. We don't have a lot to spend, so we don't. Every paycheck some goes into the 401(k). If I don't see it, I don't spend it. Likewise, I discovered Sharebuilder at the start of the year. Now, every two weeks a small amount goes to the investments automatically. That is where the problem of invest wisely comes in. Not a clue if it is wise or just wishful thinking on my part that they are good choices. I picked a few from the DJIA that pay dividends, and set up automatic re-investment. So far I am up a wee bit. I a few years that should be more than a wee bit. I looked at the Vanguard funds, but could not meet the minimums. That is why I turned to the Ing Sharebuilder program. A little bit here, and a little bit there. Before I know it, I now own a few shares of stock with very little pain. Thanks for publishing your ideas, FlagShareLikeReply RodrigoSilva RodrigoSilva Jun 8, 2012 To read your articles is similar to going to Mass: it does not change my religion but confirms my faith. Thanks for remind your clear and consistent message. FlagShare1MarissaHDrLikeReply Larry Weber Larry Weber Jun 7, 2012 This article is right on the money. We used many of the principles and strategies outlined above to build our wealth. Todd, you have an incredible gift of stating best practice financial practices strategies in simple terms. You cut through the hype and tell the financial truth. Your work is a gift to us all. FlagShare1MarissaHDrLikeReply GregoryMatveev GregoryMatveev Jun 7, 2012 Hello, Todd R. Tresidder. My name is Gregory Matveev.I study english it's my hobby. I use habits wich you listed, and I thanks You for e-mail wich sent. Because, as you do not do every day the same thing, but still good when you recall that you need to do. And you are very good at it. I need it! I want to habits of wealth. All the best FlagShareLikeReply jptufo jptufo Jun 7, 2012 Great work as usual, Todd. Your honesty and transparency is refreshing as you spread the truth about investing to the world. Truth is simple. "Guru's" over complicate to persuade their followers that they have the answers. There are two other items to learn when investing: 1. Never invest with money you cannot afford to lose. 2. Always get your principle back. The best of success to you! FlagShareLikeReply PatrickMeninga PatrickMeninga Jun 7, 2012 I definitely agree with the habit thing. The only wealth I have built in my life is a direct result of some insane work habits. I built a website and sold it off for a very nice amount, and creating that website was done "nose to the grindstone." I wrote every day, for over a year, even when I did not feel like it. Over 1,500 articles and over one million words. I could not have done that without pushing myself a great deal, to reach for more discipline. I had to stretch to learn how to write that much, to become that consistent with my writing. I had to stretch myself to start treating it like a real business. Definitely, habit formation is critical. FlagShare1MarissaHDrLikeReply KellyWilliams KellyWilliams Jun 7, 2012 Thanks for this article, i stumbled on your website whilst researching building wealth, spent alot of time and money on this path, but your website says it all and there are no gimmicks...thanks for providing this information, i especially like your emphasis on consistent action...am from the United Kingdom and the principles of wealth are the same everywhere...thanks once again. FlagShareLikeReply Trackbacks My best friend asked me how to become wealthy. This is what I told him says: December 24, 2013 at 4:39 am [�] until Todd Tressidder explained it that I just thought it is so [�] 5 Great Blog Posts From Last Week - The Savings Novice says: June 15, 2015 at 7:13 am [�] 2. A Ridiculously Simple Way To Build Wealth [�] 60 minute financial solutions how much money do I need to retire 4 Rule Safe Withdrawal Rates In Retirement Variable Annuity Pros and Cons Investment Fraud Don't Hire a Financial Coach! 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