MONEY Master the Game: 7 Simple Steps to Financial Freedom

Money is a good servant but a bad master

If you are self-motivated, wow, this world is tailored for you. The boundaries are all gone. But if you’re not self-motivated, this world will be a challenge because the walls, ceilings and floors that protected people are also disappearing. . . . There will be fewer limits, but also fewer guarantees. Your specific contribution will define your specific benefits much more. Just showing up will not cut it

The returns in your account are directly linked to the upside of the stock market (for example, the S&P 500). So if the stock market goes up, you get to participate in the gains. But if the market goes down, you don’t lose

In section 2, we’ll show you how to build your investments into a sizeable nest egg—what I call a critical mass—that will enable you to make money even while you sleep! With a few simple strategies, you’ll be able to create a guaranteed income stream, allowing you to build, manage, and enjoy your own personal “pension” on your own terms

Yet I’m sure you know there are some exceptions to the rule. What would you say if I told you that today there are financial instruments that will let you make money when the markets go up and not lose a penny when they go down

No matter where you live, if you don’t have another source of income, you could end up the best-dressed greeter at Wal-Mart

JOHN SHOVEN, Stanford University professor of economics

is not realistic to finance a 30-year retirement with 30 years of work. You can’t expect to put 10% of your income aside and then finance a retirement that’s just as long

You can be young without money, but you can’t be old without

Real financial freedom! And the good news is, it can be achieved by anyone. Even if you’re starting out in debt, deep in the hole—no exaggeration—with a little bit of time, consistent focus, and the right strategies applied, you can get to financial security or even independence in a few years