Last Updated on 10/12/2023 by Carl-Peter Lehmann
The concept of being rich often conjures images of opulence and instant wealth. However, true richness is more a product of patience, strategic planning, and understanding. Not only that, being rich is more than just about money and material wealth. True richness extends far beyond the numbers in a bank account or the assets one possesses. It encompasses a wealth of experiences, relationships, health, and personal fulfillment. And for most of us, ‘get rich slow’ and being smart with our money so we can get rich investing, is the ticket to becoming financially free.
Beyond Money
But being rich in a holistic sense means nurturing deep and meaningful connections with family and friends, creating a wealth of memories and support systems. It’s about enriching one’s life with experiences, not just possessions – travel, learning, cultural exploration, and personal development. Health, both physical and mental, is a crucial aspect of this, for it is the foundation upon which all other forms of richness are built. Emotionally rich individuals find joy in the simple pleasures of life, maintain a state of gratitude, and possess a sense of inner peace and contentment. This broader definition of being rich, recognizes that true richness is about the quality of life and the legacy one creates and leaves behind. It’s about making a meaningful impact in the lives of others and finding purpose and satisfaction in one’s own journey.
The Myth of Overnight Success
There is the incredible story of Jack Whittaker, who won a $315 million lottery in 2002 but lost it all to recklessness and misfortune, literally within the space of about 10 years. His tragic tale shows ‘how get rich quick’ without wisdom or humility can lead to a rapid decline. This contrasts sharply with the methodical approach of long-term wealth accumulation achieved by sacrifice, discipline and working towards a goal.
We like to idolize the mega rich and how they built their empires – whether in business, sports, or entertainment – forgetting how long and arduous that journey often is. Consider the stories of some of the most successful business figures of our time. Take Steve Jobs, for example, whose journey with Apple started in a garage in 1976 and took years of innovation, setbacks, and persistence before he made his comeback and sowed the seeds of the tech giant Apple is today, thanks to the invention of the iPhone.
There are many examples like his that illustrate a common thread: building a successful, billion-dollar corporation is a process that unfolds over decades, not overnight. It requires not just a brilliant idea, but also perseverance, adaptability, and a long-term commitment to growth and learning.
Get Rich Slow: The Wonder of Compound Interest
Sadly, not everyone can be an Elon Musk, Tiger Woods, or Oprah Winfrey. The ‘Get Rich Slow’ method is how most of us achieve freedom – using time and the power of compound interest as our allies. Invest 15% of your income for 40 years and you should be financially free. (assuming you invest wisely). Most people get rich slow via the virtues of patience, commitment, and discipline. If you start investing young, at 21, by the time you’re 60 – you should be rich or financially secure. To speed up the process is simple. Invest more. How do you do that? Spend less and/or increase your income.
Few create billion-dollar empires or become stars in their fields that will earn them mega-millions. And even those that have made fortunes, don’t necessarily end up keeping them. That’s why getting rich slowly will teach you humility, discipline and sacrifice – and help you be appreciative of what you have, understanding that richness extends beyond having millions in the bank.
The image below shows a very basic and simple example of why you should start investing early and how compound interest is your friend in achieving financial freedom. Time and patience are the bedrock of get rich slow. It doesn’t require special skills or knowledge. Just start!
How Do You Get Rich?
How do you get rich? There are different ways to get rich. Create a successful business that gives you equity you can sell. Forge a successful career that allows you to earn (and invest) more than most. Ultimately, it boils down to developing some financial savvy, being smart with your choices, and getting good with managing your money.
1. Budgeting and Saving: Start by setting a realistic budget and sticking to it, ensuring you save a portion of your income regularly. The more you can save and invest, the faster you will get rich.
2. Debt Management: Pay off high-interest debts to prevent your liabilities from eating into your potential savings. Every cent going to the repayment of debt, is a cent you could be investing to get ahead and achieve freedom. Think about that.
3. Continuous Learning: Stay informed about financial trends and tools. Knowledge is a crucial asset in wealth building.
You don’t have to be an expert or financial guru. But you do need to develop some financial smarts. That starts with having good money habits and understanding some basic investment principles.
How to Get Rich Investing: Diverse Strategies for Long-Term Growth
How to get rich investing is understanding that time is your friend, and certain assets or investments give you the greatest probability of achieving success. But getting rich investing is not an overnight or quick thing. Sure, some people made money on crypto. Or meme stocks. But that’s not a strategy, that’s luck. Is it fun to gamble or speculate? Sure. But do it only with what you can afford to lose. The bulk of your investments should be going into a diversified portfolio of quality investments.
Investing Strategies
• Stock Market: Historically, the stock market has offered returns averaging around 7% after inflation and offers one of the most predictable ways to get rich investing. Long-term stock investments, especially in diversified portfolios, can yield amazing results over decades. Investing in stocks is easier than ever via index funds and ETFs. And if you’re unsure, enlist the help of a professional.
• Real Estate: Real estate investments, whether through direct property purchases or real estate investment trusts (REITs), can provide steady income and capital appreciation. Rich folk will always have a core part of their wealth tied up in property or real estate. Using other people’s money (the bank’s), can be a great strategy to get rich if you know what you’re doing.
• Retirement Saving: Maximizing contributions to retirement funds are a ‘forced’ form of investing, often with tax advantages, and which can yield significant results over time. It’s not sexy, but it works.
• Alternatives: From crypto, to gold, commodities, and other forms of alternative assets. All can play a role in a well-balanced and diversified investment portfolio to help you get rich investing.
Case Study On How To Get Rich Investing
We have a client, let’s call her Sarah. She’s always been diligent, disciplined and had clear goals. She started investing 20% of her income as soon she started her first job after graduating, as a software engineer. That allowed her to accumulate seed capital she would use to put down as a deposit on four different investment properties by the age of 30. As she got promoted and increased her income, she was aware of the dangers of lifestyle creep, and managed to increase her savings to 30% of her income.
Through all of this, she got married, had a child and bought a home with her husband. But she was never extravagant and lived well within her means. She drove a basic used car; their house was nice but far from opulent (even though they could have afforded far more) and she was conscious about teaching her daughter the value of money by not spoiling her unnecessarily.
‘Almost’ Rich by 45
By age 45 almost all the properties we paid off and the rental income she was generating could cover most of her lifestyle expenses. She’d also been diligent about maxing our her retirement fund contributions and adding consistently to a diversified investment portfolio.
At the age of 50, she was ‘rich enough’ to be able to retire, but chose not to (she loves what she does). Sarah doesn’t think of herself as rich even though by most standards she is. She loves spending money on things that give her pleasure, like travel and interesting experiences with her family. Being rich to her means she has the freedom to spend time doing what she loves with the people she cares most about.
Conclusion
Being rich and accumulating wealth is a journey of strategic decisions, patience, and continuous learning. It’s about making informed choices and understanding that getting rich is not just about wealth, but about leading a rich life in all aspects. Being rich transcends monetary value; it encompasses richness in health, relationships, and life experiences. Financial stability is not the end goal but a means to achieve a fulfilling life. Start your journey towards holistic richness today. Educate yourself, seek professional advice, and remember, the path to wealth is a marathon, not a sprint.
Carl-Peter Lehmann
Carl-Peter is a Director and Partner at Henceforward. He is a CERTIFIED FINANCIAL PLANNER with over 20 years experience.
