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5 Times Dad Was Right About Money

Emily Guy Birken — Thu, 01 Jun 2017 08:00:12 +0000

Despite what you may have thought as a teenager, it turns out your old man actually knew a thing or two — particularly when it came to money. True, Dad's wisdom might have sounded like corny jokes, dusty cliches, or weird logic at the time, but there was some great information in there among the eyeroll-inducing humor.

So at the risk of having him say "I told you so," let's take the time to recognize some of the ways Dad was right about money. Here are five of the money lessons he taught us well:

1. "If it sounds too good to be true, it probably is"

Your dad probably told you this to protect you from con artists, frauds, and crooks, as well as those friends of yours he never liked. When you were a kid, Dad probably wanted you to remember his advice when a friend told you that you could definitely get away with whatever scheme they were trying to talk you into. But it's important to keep this advice in mind when you are offered a "once-in-a-lifetime investment opportunity" as well.

It's easy to see dollar signs (or imagine a Ferris Bueller-like day of playing consequence-free hooky) when someone is presenting you with an offer that seems too good to be true. Reminding yourself that dear old Dad would probably tell you to back away slowly from such an offer can be enough to make you stop your impetuous rush toward untold fortune — or a whirlwind tour of Chicago in a stolen Ferrari.

2. "You don't need that"

When I was in elementary school in the 1980s, all the cool kids wore Jordache jeans, which my father very patiently explained to me that I didn't need. He clearly did not understand the importance of that horsehead label to one's standing in the social hierarchy on the playground.

When Dad told you that whatever item you believed was vital to your life and happiness was not something you needed, you were probably just as disappointed as I was. But as infuriating as it was to hear this, he was helping you learn the difference between wants and needs. To this day, I can hear Dad's voice in my head telling me I don't need whatever impulse purchase is trying to come home with me. I usually listen to him, too — unless it's a pair of awesome jeans.

3. "You've got Champagne taste on a beer budget"

Wanting something you cannot afford seems like a simple enough problem to solve when you're a teenager living at home — ask Mom or Dad to buy it for you. That request does not often end well for the teenager. Many an aspirational teenage consumer gets this sarcastic response from Dad regarding the relationship between their taste and their budget.

Coveting things you can't afford can destroy any budget, and your dad wanted you to understand that it's a short trip to bad finances if you try to indulge your high-end tastes. Dad was trying to teach you how to be realistic about your budget and stick to indulgences that you could realistically handle.

4. "Money doesn't grow on trees"

This is one of the greatest hits of dad sayings, and you probably heard it many times throughout your childhood. He'd dust this old chestnut off whenever you were blatantly wasteful, or whenever you asked for something that he wasn't willing to pay for. In some households, turning the thermostat up by a single degree would result in Dad materializing from nowhere to remind you that trees just don't produce currency.

At the time, this lesson just sounded like Dad being an old stick-in-the-mud. But he was actually trying to remind you that there is a cost to money. Someone (ahem, your parents) had to work for the money necessary to keep the house at a comfortable temperature, replace the toilet paper you used to TP your friend's house, and buy the guitar you so desperately wanted but you never actually practiced playing.

As an adult, it's much easier to understand that money isn't freely available when you realize you have to work in order to earn more. Suddenly, it makes sense why Dad turned into a financial botanist whenever you spent his money.

5. "The best things in life are free"

If your dad was anything like mine, he might have told you this when you asked him for money. While his attempt at being funny was probably not well received, the actual message also made you roll your eyes — since there are plenty of awesome things in life that you have to pay for.

This is a lesson that needs to marinate for a while before it resonates. Teenage you may have just seen this cliché as a cover for your dad not wanting to give you money to go out with your friends. However, adulthood often brings the realization that the things that really do make life sweet — like sunsets, belly laughs, kisses, and naps — are not things you can buy. Dad was right when he told you that you don't need to spend money to enjoy the best of life, even if he was a little too schmaltzy in how he told you.

Appreciating Dad's words of wisdom

Many of the things your dad told you about money might have sounded hokey when he first said them, but it doesn't make them any less true. Let your dad know how much you have learned from him, and how much you appreciate his wisdom, if not his sense of humor.

This article is from Emily Guy Birken of Wise Bread, an award-winning personal finance and credit card comparison website. Read more great articles from Wise Bread:

8 Wise Tips Famous CEOs Would Give Their Younger Selves

Brittany Lyte — Thu, 25 May 2017 09:00:11 +0000

Every successful CEO has hit plenty of bumps on the road to the top. Despite the struggles, these top leaders have still managed to conquer challenges, shed their shortcomings, and grow both their skills and their net worth. They have made mistakes and learned from them.

We wondered what some of the wealthiest CEOs would tell their younger selves, and found eight gems worth passing on. (See also: 11 Finance Tips You Wish You Could Tell Your Younger Self)

1. Stay true to yourself

Kevin Johnson, CEO of Starbucks, is working hard to grow the chain from 26,000 locations today to 37,000 by 2021, all while maintaining the brand's unique appeal. He has some big shoes to fill, after taking over from Starbucks' iconic leader Howard Schultz in April 2017. His guiding principle, as he told Business Insider: Be authentic. By acknowledging all aspects of your authentic self — shortcomings and counterproductive tendencies included — you allow yourself and the people around you to do their best work.

"It's important to be comfortable being authentic," Johnson said, adding, "Being authentic means you have to be vulnerable."

2. Find a job you love

Berkshire Hathaway Chairman and CEO Warren Buffett — one of the world's most successful investors with a net worth of $73 billion — puts it in layman's terms: Take on a career that makes you excited to wake up in the morning.

"You follow your passions. You find something you love," said Buffett at Fortune's Most Powerful Women Summit in 2014. "The truth is, so few people really jump on their jobs, you really will stand out more than you think. You will get noticed if you really go for it." (See also: The 5 Best Pieces of Financial Wisdom From Warren Buffett)

3. Exceed expectations

DreamWorks co-founder Jeffrey Katzenberg's path to success was made by following this tip: Always give your best performance. And, if you can, outperform other people's expectations of your work.

"I don't think it matters how small or how big the task is," the Hollywood influencer, whose net worth is estimated at $750 million, famously said. "If you can do it just a little bit better than what is expected, you will be noticed and rewarded."

4. Embrace tough assignments

Don't settle for easy work — that's the advice of PepsiCo CEO Indra Nooyi, who earned $29.8 million in 2016.

"Nobody notices when you do an easy job well," she told Business Insider in 2014. "It's far better to challenge yourself by raising your hand for the toughest assignments and work to solve problems that no one else has been able to solve. That's how you truly become a trusted leader inside an organization."

5. Pursue extracurricular interests

"My advice is to focus on becoming a complete person," said Goldman Sachs CEO Lloyd Blankfein, who grew up in a Brooklyn housing project and now has a net worth estimated at $1.1 billion. "Everyone should focus on the content of his or her job, of course. But work is not the end; it's a means to an end. You owe it to yourself to open up to broader interests."

So, pursue a hobby, travel, learn a new skill, read voraciously. Become that interesting person that makes great dinner conversation.

6. Focus on developing your own unique talents

Former Birchbox co-CEO Hayley Barna knows a thing or two about developing personal strengths and talents. She helped launch the subscription beauty box company in 2010 before stepping down five years later to become First Round Capital's first female partner.

Her best advice is to identify and strengthen your distinct set of skills, rather than trying to be good at things you struggle with. For example, if you're a horrible writer but you're mathematically gifted, focus on your talent with numbers rather than trying to develop a literary voice.

"Never compare your weaknesses to someone else's strengths," Barna has said. "While comparisons are tempting, especially for competitive, ambitious people, it's always important to focus on your own special talents. That's how you can make a real impact. And it's the coordination of everyone's unique skills that can make magic happen."

7. Own up to your mistakes

Dave Finocchio, CEO of Bleacher Report, would tell his younger self to admit his faults, act swiftly to correct them, and learn from them.

"I make mistakes all the time, and talk about them openly with people up and down our hierarchy," the digital sports franchise leader told Forbes in 2016. "It fosters a culture where people should feel comfortable critiquing themselves honestly."

8. Push yourself

Marissa Mayer, former CEO of Yahoo, says she would counsel her younger self to get comfortable being uncomfortable. You'll never get ahead without pushing yourself to do things you've never done, and that means embracing tasks that you think you might not be fully prepared for.

"I always did something I was a little not ready to do," Mayer, whose net worth is $189 million, said in a 2015 speech. "I think that's how you grow. When there's that moment of, 'Wow, I'm not really sure I can do this,' and you push through those moments, that's when you have a breakthrough."

This article is from Brittany Lyte of Wise Bread, an award-winning personal finance and credit card comparison website. Read more great articles from Wise Bread:

6 Inspiring Quotes About Money From Successful Women

Emily Guy Birken — Mon, 08 May 2017 08:00:12 +0000

It's no secret that most people tend to think of finance as a boys' club. But women have been blazing trails, disrupting entrenched ideas and industries, and making serious bank for centuries. It is unfortunate that their words of wisdom have been so often overlooked.

The following quotes from female financial gurus will inspire anyone to improve their lives, their careers, and their bottom lines.

1. "Be thankful for what you have; you'll end up having more. If you concentrate on what you don't have, you will never, ever have enough." — Oprah Winfrey

At a net worth of $3.1 billion, Oprah Winfrey is one of the richest women in America — but she didn't start out that way.

Winfrey was born into poverty and raised until age six by her grandmother before bouncing back and forth between her mother and father. She suffered sexual abuse at the hands of family members, and at age 14, she had a baby who died within days.

Her early life was not characterized by abundance, and yet Winfrey still learned to be thankful for what she had, rather than what she lacked. Her sense of gratitude helped her to focus on building her career rather than feel bitter over her childhood of abuse and neglect.

Winfrey's attitude about the power of gratitude is actually borne out by scientific research. People who are thankful for what they already have are more successful, more emotionally resilient, and often even physically healthier. That's because they recognize there is no way to "have it all." Feeling grateful for what they do have makes it possible to focus on appreciating the life they live right now, while also working toward the life they want to live.

The fact that Winfrey overcame such a difficult, scarring childhood and feels grateful for the goodness in her life is part of what makes her so beloved. We can all learn to appreciate the abundance we already have while we work to build the life, career, and relationships we want.

2. "One thing I've learned is that I'm not the owner of my talent; I'm the manager of it." — Madonna

Madonna may be the original "Material Girl," but the singer, songwriter, actress, entrepreneur, and writer has parlayed her incredible talent into an estimated net worth of $560 million — meaning she never again has to wait for a man to present her with diamonds.

Madonna's description of her talent may sound surprising. If she is not the owner of her own creativity and money savvy, then who is?

As it turns out, Madonna's view of her abilities is reflective of something called the "growth mindset." Rather than viewing her talent as an innate and fixed part of herself, Madonna sees it as something that she can manage and grow. If she believed that she "owned" her talent, then it would be easy for her to rest on her laurels and assume there is nothing new she could do with her music or writing.

But as the manager of a prodigious talent, Madonna accepts the challenge of trying to push her creative boundaries and recreate herself over and over again. This mindset has allowed her to have an unparalleled career that has spanned close to four decades.

That makes it an attitude we should all try to emulate. Whatever abilities we have can always be managed and improved by refusing to see them as static, which can lead to great success.

3. "My best successes came on the heels of my failures." — Barbara Corcoran

Most people know Barbara Corcoran from her role on the show Shark Tank, but the Manhattan real estate investor, who is now worth $40 million, started off as a serially unemployed teacher and sometimes-waitress. After failing at 22 different jobs, she borrowed $1,000 from her boyfriend in 1973, and started a real estate business that she called The Corcoran Group. The boyfriend didn't last, but the business did. It grew to a $66 million company, which she sold in 2001 before embarking on her writing, speaking, consulting, and television career.

Corcoran understood throughout her series of early failures that each of those missteps did not reflect poorly on her. They were simply different options to try until she found the right fit for her career. Since she did not internalize these failures, she was able to take the lessons she learned from them and find success.

We should all take a page from Barbara Corcoran and learn to see each failure as a potential steppingstone to success. Picking yourself up after a failure may be difficult, but that is the only way you will ever succeed.

4. "Some people think luxury is the opposite of poverty. It is not. It is the opposite of vulgarity. Luxury is the opposite of status. It is the ability to make a living by being oneself. It is the freedom to refuse to live by habit. Luxury is liberty. Luxury is elegance." — Coco Chanel

The iconic creator of the Chanel brand, Coco Chanel was born to an impoverished family in France. She died in 1971 with a net worth of $100 million. Her commitment to fashion and luxury made her one of the most influential people of the 20th Century, and her fashion line is worth $19 billion to this day.

Growing up, Chanel knew the deprivations of poverty. This was part of the reason why she was so determined to enjoy luxury throughout her adult life. For Chanel, luxury was not defined by the corseted, heavy dresses that had been haute couture for many years before her own success. For Chanel, luxury in fashion had to be comfortable and true to the wearer. Trying to impress with excess was vulgar, and that was the true opposite of luxury.

By Chanel's definition, luxury is available to anyone, no matter their income. And this is an important distinction to remember as you pursue your own successes. You can easily enjoy the luxurious comfort of being yourself, even if your budget runs more Old Navy than Chanel.

5. "Money doesn't fall out of the sky. We had a business plan, an extraordinary proposal, and it was the right timing." — Sheila Johnson

Sheila Johnson is the co-founder of Black Entertainment Television and current owner of the WNBA team the Washington Mystics. Her net worth is currently estimated to be $710 million — but she wants to make sure that anyone who aspires to her kind of wealth understands what it took to get there.

Johnson is not a multi-multi millionaire by accident. In 1979, she and her husband Robert Johnson created the television channel BET in order to provide a crucial outlet for African American voices in media. They knew exactly what they could offer, and they worked hard to create an excellent proposal in order to secure the funding they needed. They were also lucky to jump on the growth of television programming in the late '70s and early '80s. BET grew to the point where the Johnsons sold the channel in 2001 for $2.4 billion.

Johnson makes it clear that there is no such thing as overnight success. You need to have a plan, you need to time things right, and you need to be able to persuade people to invest in you.

6. "Did we ever plan on being billionaires? No, but we wanted to be millionaires." — Diane Hendricks

With a net worth of $4.9 billion, Diane Hendricks is the richest self-made woman in America. She and her husband Ken Hendricks created the Wisconsin-based ABC Supply Co. in 1982, which sells roofing, windows, gutters, and siding for residential and commercial buildings.

Their success is all the more impressive considering the fact that Ken was a high school dropout and Diane only completed a high school education. The husband-and-wife team built their empire through hard work, financial savvy, and a shared vision. They both wanted to be millionaires and aimed their sights at that impressive goal.

The fact that they were both on the same page in terms of growing their business, along with their lofty goals for their finances, eventually made them billionaires. They did not shy away from wanting financial success, so they were always ready to pounce when opportunities presented themselves.

If you hope to emulate the Hendrickses, you would do well to partner with someone who shares your same goals and work ethic. Your level of success just might surprise you.

Heeding the words of wise women

The rags-to-riches stories of self-made women can offer incredible insight, hope, and inspiration to anyone who dreams of a successful life. Their words make it clear that opportunities are available to anyone, provided you have the drive, the mindset, the gratitude, and the audacity to chase your dreams.

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This article is from Emily Guy Birken of Wise Bread, an award-winning personal finance and credit card comparison website. Read more great articles from Wise Bread:

6 Money Lessons From African-American Leaders

Emily Guy Birken — Wed, 22 Feb 2017 11:00:12 +0000

Before the early 20th century, black history was largely ignored by both historians and the general public. As a result, many great lessons imparted by African-American leaders were also ignored and overlooked.

In particular, African-American leaders of the past and present offer a great deal of insight on money and finance that can inspire and enlighten all Americans. Read on to learn the financial lessons these great Americans can teach you.

Oprah Winfrey

"Everyone wants to ride with you in the limo, but what you want is someone who will take the bus with you when the limo breaks down."

The Lesson

Oprah Winfrey is one of the richest people in America, which means she is well aware of how money, fame, and success can draw people to you. But the trappings of success, like a limousine, are just that — trappings. There is no guarantee that the success, money, and acclaim you have now will last, which means you can't trust the people who are only there because of the appearance of your success.

Just as Oprah has her Gayle, who will always happily hop on a bus with her when things go wrong, you should seek people who love and respect you for who you are, and not what you have.

Mellody Hobson

"If you understand how money can work for and against you, you can make better decisions. Financial literacy is not about wealth but about understanding money regardless of the amount. It's about how you treat it and how you maximize opportunities."

The Lesson

Mellody Hobson, the president of Ariel Investments, may be best known by lay audiences for the two TED talks she gave in 2014 and 2015. She is an advocate for both greater diversity in corporate culture and for increased financial literacy. And she truly believes that we can all learn to handle our money better, no matter how much or how little we have. It's a lesson all Americans need to absorb if we want to improve our financial lives.

According to Jackie Cummings Koski, financial educator and author of the book Money Letters 2 My Daughter, Hobson's words and example have made a major difference in her life: "Learning about how Mellody Hobson rose to tremendous success in the business and financial world helped to change my mindset about money and overcoming the odds."

That mindset change is exactly what Hobson wants for all Americans, so that we can all maximize the opportunities in our lives.

Dr. Martin Luther King Jr.

"Philanthropy is commendable, but it must not cause the philanthropist to overlook the circumstances of economic injustice which makes philanthropy necessary."

The Lesson

This quote from Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. can sound somewhat radical to modern ears, since we are not used to thinking beyond the importance of giving back to those in need. But as Dr. King points out, if economic injustice were eradicated, then charity and philanthropy would not be so necessary. It's easy for philanthropists to simply pat themselves on the back for their philanthropy, rather than wrestle with the systemic reasons why their generosity is necessary.

To take Dr. King's message to heart, we should all remember that the problem of poverty is not over after we write a check to help those who are less fortunate. We need to also question our assumptions and challenge ourselves to make economic choices that align with our values.

Madam C.J. Walker

"I had little or no opportunity when I started out in life. I had to make my own living and my own opportunity. But I made it! ... Don't sit down and wait for the opportunities to come. Get up and make them!"

The Lesson

Sarah Breedlove, who marketed herself and her hair products under the name Madam C.J. Walker, was the first American woman to become a self-made millionaire. Walker's hair care empire all started when she created home remedies to deal with a scalp disorder that caused her to lose much of her hair. She began selling her remedy, which eventually grew into a national business that included factories, beauty schools, and trained sales beauticians who sold door-to-door.

Walker was a single mother when she started her business, and she had little education and no experience as an entrepreneur. Yet, she recognized that she could build something great from what she knew — how to help herself and other women with hair care. She did not wait for someone else to help her or offer her a job, but instead decided to become an innovative businesswoman on her own.

We should all learn to create our own opportunities using our strengths like Madam C.J. Walker did, rather than wait for opportunities to find us.

W.C. Handy

"Then I saw the beauty of primitive music. They had the stuff the people wanted … my idea of what constitutes music was changed by the sight of that silver money cascading around the splay feet of a Mississippi string band." - Father of the Blues, An Autobiography

The Lesson

Composer and musician W.C. Handy is known as the "Father of the Blues," but he did not start writing and playing blues music until well after he had established himself as a composer. In fact, he did not think of the blues as legitimate music, because it was "just" the songs that poor black folks would play for themselves. Then at a performance for a rich, white audience in Mississippi, a string blues band was brought in off the street to play, and the audience showered the black performers with money.

Handy realized in that moment that he had been overlooking an important musical style because of snobbery, and that he was the right person to bring this musical style to the world. Handy was wise enough to recognize that he could give the people what they wanted — blues music — and make a profit from his own considerable talent.

His example reminds us that capitalism can influence art in a wonderful way, rather than being an enemy of creativity. Had Handy not had his realization upon seeing the audience reaction to the string blues band, an entire genre of music would potentially be lost to history.

Lynette Khalfani-Cox

"So, getting your money right matters well beyond saying, 'Oh, I had [so much money] in the bank.' It's about financial freedom to make the choices you want. It's about having a more stress-free life in what is an increasingly stressful world. And it's ultimately about feeling like you're in control of things as well, so that things don't feel so...out of whack." - So Money podcast with Farnoosh Torabi

The Lesson

We have a tendency to think that paying attention to our money is a stressful drag, but financial expert Lynette Khalfani-Cox, "The Money Coach," understands that letting your money fall into chaos is much more stressful. She knows whereof she speaks: Khalfani-Cox once had $100,000 in credit card debt, before paying it all off in three years and turning her financial life around.

Seeing how a self-described former shopaholic like Khalfani-Cox could quickly learn to be more mindful of her money and succeed in a career in finance is incredibly inspirational, particularly for other women of color. Real estate investor Lisa Phillips says of Khalfani-Cox, "Until you really see someone of your same color and culture succeeding, that's when hope becomes conviction that you can do something."

Khalfani-Cox works to make sure we all feel more in control of our lives, so that we can all feel the conviction that we can achieve our goals.

Honoring the Lessons of African-American Leaders

The lessons from African-American leaders throughout our history can inspire anyone to work toward their goals, recognize their values, and know their worth. Their words can help you change your money mindset, turn hope into conviction, and recognize that opportunities come to those who seek them.

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This article is from Emily Guy Birken of Wise Bread, an award-winning personal finance and credit card comparison website. Read more great articles from Wise Bread:

14 of the Coolest Sayings About Investing

Damian Davila — Wed, 02 Sep 2015 13:00:27 +0000

To many of us, the world of investing might seem big and scary.

The good news is that many of the pros are willing to share their financial wisdom with the rest of us. From Benjamin Franklin to Warren Buffett, several successful investors have uttered down-to-earth phrases that can teach us worlds about investing. Here are 14 of these coolest sayings.

Warren Buffett

It isn't a coincidence that we start off this list with pearls of financial wisdom from Warren Buffett. The Oracle of Omaha is well known for his charming way of explaining the world of finance and his no-nonsense investment style.

1. "Rule No.1: Never lose money. Rule No.2: Never forget rule No.1."

When making investments, Buffett stresses the importance of doing your homework. You should never approach an investment as if it were a slot machine. Buffett only invests in companies that he has thoroughly researched — and so should you.

2. "Someone's sitting in the shade today because someone planted a tree a long time ago."

The most powerful weapon in any investor's arsenal is time. The earlier that you start saving for retirement, paying down debt, and building an emergency fund, the more likely you are to achieve your financial goals.

3. "Our favorite holding period is forever."

Buffett is absolutely right in suggesting to hold stocks for a long time. Several studies conclude that the historical average U.S. stock market return is about 8.5%. However, you can only achieve that kind of investment return by resisting the urge to sell your stocks during slumps. Stay the course and hold your stocks for the long term.

4. "When promised quick profits, respond with a quick 'No.'"

Despite his outstanding performance, Buffett insists that investing is difficult. Buffett points out that even the pros have a hard time beating the market. His advice is to ignore empty promises of a quick buck and to stick with safer investments, such as low-cost index funds, certain to perform reasonably well over time.

Peter Lynch

There are very few investors with better returns than Warren Buffett. One of them is the legendary investor and financial author, Peter Lynch. If you had invested $1,000 on the first day that Lynch took over Fidelity's Magellan Fund, your money would have earned $28,000 by the end of Lynch's 13-year tenure.

5. "Go for a business that any idiot can run — because sooner or later, any idiot probably is going to run it."

CEOs come and go, but truly great companies stick around for a long time.

6. "Although it's easy to forget sometimes, a share is not a lottery ticket... it's part ownership of a business."

Unlike buying a lottery ticket, making an investment is an ongoing process. For example, when you buy shares of a company or mutual fund, you will start receiving prospectuses, annual reports, and proxy forms. Read those documents to inform yourself about your investments and, when applicable, cast your vote to support initiatives that you agree with.

7. "Know what you own, and know why you own it."

Whether it's a real estate property, a retirement account, or a stock share, you have to keep an inventory of that investment and be able to explain you own it. Remember that there are plenty of sneaky investment fees to watch for.

8. "Never invest in any idea you can't illustrate with a crayon."

And the "why you own it" should be a quick one or two-sentence statement, not a 500-word essay.

Benjamin Franklin

American Founding Father Benjamin Franklin epitomised the concepts of frugality and prudence when it came to saving and investing.

9. "An investment in knowledge pays the best interest."

As many as 74% of Americans see having a postsecondary degree or credential as a pathway to a better quality of life. And for good reason. Recipients of a bachelor's degree earn about $1 million more in their lifetimes than individuals with only a high school diploma. Additionally, studies have shown that people with higher education have lower rates of many chronic diseases compared to those with less education. (See also: 5 Expensive Life Essentials Worth Investing In)

10. "Rather go to bed without dinner than to rise in debt."

Buy more of what you want, and you will have less to buy what you actually need.

11. "In this world nothing can be said to be certain, except death and taxes."

So, plan accordingly. Two key foundations for any investment strategy are to have a clear will and to secure the wellbeing of all of your financial dependents. If you're the main or sole breadwinner of your household, buying life insurance is a must for protecting your dependents. (See also: Make These 7 Money Moves Now or You'll Regret It in 20 Years)

And taxes? Well, they happen every year, so you need to plan ahead. By increasing your contributions to retirement accounts and taking advantage of applicable deductions, you can effectively reduce your tax bill.

Sir John Templeton

An investor and mutual fund pioneer, Sir John Templeton created one of the world's largest and most successful international investment funds.

12. "The four most dangerous words in investing are 'This time it's different.'"

Learn from investment mistakes of the past and apply those lessons to your future investments. There is nothing worse than a blind person that doesn't want to see.

13. "Invest at the point of maximum pessimism."

You may know this better by the investing maxim of "buy low, sell high."

But when are those times when you can buy low? Sir Templeton answers, "at the point of maximum pessimism." During the Great Depression of the 1930s, Sir Templeton purchased 100 shares of each company listed in the New York Stock Exchange spending less than a $1 per share and, many years later, he sold those shares for a huge profit.

Paul Samuelson

The first American to win the Nobel Memorial Prize in Economic Sciences, Paul Samuelson provides one of top of the coolest sayings about investing.

14. "Investing should be more like watching paint dry or watching grass grow. If you want excitement, take $800 and go to Las Vegas."

Buffett, Lynch, Franklin, and Sir Templeton would all have agreed with this statement by Samuelson. All successful investors agree that consistency is the key to make it in the world of investing.

"Watching paint dry" may not sound that sexy, but... heck, watching your money grow surely is!

What are some other cool sayings about investing?

This article is from Damian Davila of Wise Bread, an award-winning personal finance and credit card comparison website. Read more great articles from Wise Bread:

10 of the Coolest Sayings About Saving

Mikey Rox — Mon, 13 Jul 2015 17:00:11 +0000

Don't downplay the importance of frugality: Saving money is the single best thing you can do to secure your future.

If you're having a tough time tightening the purse strings, taking a look at 10 of the coolest sayings about saving money can put things in perspective.

1. "Money looks better in the bank than on your feet." — Sophia Amoruso

Spending your money on clothes, shoes, and accessories might make you the fashion queen or king among your friends, but a fabulous wardrobe isn't going to cover the cost of an unexpected expense. Fashion trends come and go, but financial stability never goes out of style. You can look good without compromising your savings account if you learn how to be a savvy, budget-minded shopper.

2. "Don't tell me what you value, show me your budget, and I'll tell you what you value." — Joe Biden

Joe Biden isn't one to bite his tongue — and with regards to why some people can't get ahead, this quote hits the nail on the head. You might say saving for the future and building an emergency fund are important, but if your budget shows you're spending more on entertainment than growing your 401(k) or savings account, you need to adjust your priorities.

3. "A bargain ain't a bargain unless it's something you need." — Anonymous

We've all been guilty of buying something we didn't need just because it was on sale. It's easy to justify this bad habit. But in actuality, we're wasting money that could otherwise be put toward a financial goal like growing our savings or paying off debt. Before every impulse buy, ask yourself: Do I need this item? If not, leave it in the store and deposit the money you would have spent into your savings account.

4. "Saving requires us to not get things now so that we can get bigger ones later." — Jean Chatzky

The need for instant gratification is real and it gets a lot of people in hot water. People with spending problems unknowingly rob themselves of the opportunity to acquire better things in the future. Think about it. You can't buy a home without a down payment, and you can't save a down payment unless you're willing to curb your spending and make sacrifices. So whenever you feel the urge to spend, think about your future plans and decide whether the purchase is worth delaying your goal.

5. "Beware of little expenses; a small leak will sink a great ship." — Benjamin Franklin

This saying perfectly explains the effect seemingly little expenses can have on our personal finances. Tracking your spending might reveal you're wasting money every week on things you don't really need. Spending $2 a day for coffee and $3 for lunch adds up quickly. That's $100 a month or $1,200 a year that could go toward growing your savings.

6. "Stop buying things you don't need, to impress people you don't even like." — Suze Orman

I absolutely love this quote. Many people won't admit to this behavior, but given how some people go into debt and sacrifice their savings accounts in order to impress others with their bigger homes, nicer cars, and the latest fashions, it's a quote everyone needs to hear. If you feel you have to maintain an elaborate lifestyle to impress a specific group of people, you need new friends. So what if you don't own the best of everything. Learn how to live on less and you'll acquire something a lot of people don't have — a bigger bank account.

7. "You can be young without money, but you can't be old without it." — Tennessee Williams

This quote reminds us that the time to plan for retirement is when we're young and have energy to work. Saving when we're younger might mean fewer vacations, cheaper housing, and discount shopping. But it also ensures enough income to live comfortably in our later years when we can't work as much. If you haven't already, explore retirement options. Enroll in your employer's 401(k) plan or open an individual retirement account.

8. "Save one-third, live on one-third, and give away one-third." — Angelina Jolie

I think it's cool when rich people give savings advice — and it's even cooler when they follow their own advice. Some people don't grasp the benefit of living beneath their means. But if you're able to live on just a fraction of what you earn, you'll have an opportunity to save a greater percentage every month, plus have money available to give back to your community or donate to your favorite charity. Of course, it's easier for rich people to live off a third of their income, but even if you have to adjust the percentage to fit your unique circumstances, this quote is a simple reminder to spend less than you earn.

9. "Get rich slow, or get poor fast." — Anonymous

I once heard someone say, "I'm always going to be broke, so what's the point in trying to save." Coincidentally, this person is also the first to buy the newest electronic gadgets no matter the cost, and his wardrobe takes up three closets. Just from my observation, if he would put as much energy into saving as he does shopping, he wouldn't be broke. Similarly, you have a choice. You can either commit to saving and allow your money to grow slowly over time, or you can spend everything you earn and have nothing meaningful to show for it.

10. "If saving money is wrong, I don't want to be right." — William Shatner

Saving money is cool, and don't let anyone tell you differently. Some people might try and derail your savings plan by tempting you to spend outside your budget, or they might snicker because you never shop without a coupon or discount code. This money saying is one of the best because no matter how much we earn, we should never stop looking for bargains.

Have you heard any cool savings sayings? What money-savvy words do you live by? Let me know in the comments below.

This article is from Mikey Rox of Wise Bread, an award-winning personal finance and credit card comparison website. Read more great articles from Wise Bread:

8 Quotes to Inspire Your Dream Career

Tara Struyk — Thu, 03 Oct 2013 10:24:03 +0000

Maybe you're sitting at work right now, bored out of your wits and struggling for motivation. Don't feel too guilty about it; you're in good company. In fact, most of the people around you probably feel the same way, at least according to a Gallup poll released in June. It found that 70% of American workers are not "engaged" in their work. Eighteen percent of that group hate their jobs so much they actively try to sabotage their company. (See also: How to Survive in a Job You Hate)

That seems pretty extreme, but the cold, hard world of cubicle-land can break even the best of us, including yours truly. Want to do something you love? Here are some words of wisdom to help get you there — and out of a job you hate.

"Choose a job you love, and you will never have to work a day in your life." — Confucius

You can't always turn your passions directly to profit, but you can use them as a guide to help you find work that engages you in the same way. Think about when you're doing something you enjoy. Maybe it's cooking or carpentry. It's like a time warp. Time flies by. When you're doing something you hate, on the other hand, the clock gets stuck. Time slows down. Your torture is prolonged. Find work that doesn't feel like labor. Your work will feel more like living. (See also: The First Step to Your Dream Job)

"Work to become, not to acquire." — Elbert Hubbard

For a long time, I stayed at a job that wasn't working for me for one simple reason: money. I couldn't bear to make even $1,000 less per year. I'd worked hard to get to that salary and somewhere along the way, I got all wrapped up in that number. I didn't need to make that much to pay my bills. But I didn't want to let it go. (See also: Define What Financial Success Means to You)

Money talks. I get that. And you have to eat. But if you want to do something different, keep your ego out of the action. When I finally gave up the old job, a funny thing happened. I started spending less. A lot less. Not just because I had less to spend, but because I suddenly felt happier with what I already had. I used to spend money because I felt I'd earned some pleasure. Now the pleasure comes free of charge.

"Dreams are extremely important. You can't do it unless you imagine it." — George Lucas

If George Lucas hadn't been a dreamer, he'd never have made "Star Wars." And, of course, the world would be a much darker place. If you can build something in your imagination, you're at least halfway to making it real. So, read things that inspire you. Buy travel magazines. Daydream more. Once you've planted those seeds, they never go away. All they can do is grow.

"Anyone who has never made a mistake has never tried anything new." — Albert Einstein

Life is really one big experiment. Sometimes your theory proves true and you get the outcome you expected. Sometimes it proves wrong. But you learn and you keep tinkering. Finding a dream career isn't an exact science. That means you'll probably have to try — and even fail — at a few things before you find paying work that you love. Or you can just stick to the job you know (and hate). Up to you. (See also: How to Learn From Your Mistakes)

"Your time is limited, so don't waste it living someone else's life." — Steve Jobs

Finding fulfilling work is about you. Maybe your mom expects you to be a doctor. Maybe you've spent your entire young life saying you'll be an engineer. Maybe you've already trained to be a teacher, only to find you can't stand the work. Here's the truth: the only person who really has to live with the choices you make is you. Your mom will get over it.

"Successful people are always looking for opportunities to help others. Unsuccessful people are always asking, 'What's in it for me?'" — Brian Tracy

The best businesses deliver something of value. Sure, they do it for profit, but if value doesn't remain the focus, business suffers. If you can't deliver something of value — whether to your business or to an employer — your work suffers. And that's bad news for your career. Think of it as career karma. The more you put in, the more you get back.

"Remember that not getting what you want is sometimes a wonderful stroke of luck." — Dalai Lama

In college, it's easy to get the idea that a career is a straight-shot trajectory straight to the top. In reality, it's a lot more... meandering. Sometimes you don't get the jobs or promotions or opportunities you expected. Sometimes you even get laid off. And you almost never get exactly what you thought you wanted. What that means is that you get something else. Something you didn't expect. Don't just toss it aside. Have a look at it. It might be pretty cool.

"All great changes are preceded by chaos." — Deepak Chopra

Change is hard. It hurts a little. Sometimes it hurts a lot. I'd like to say that I have lots of peace and wisdom when life is difficult and chaotic; in reality I'm a basket case. But I try to remember that the hardest times often lead to the best times. That's true in work, too. Making sacrifices for the career you want is hard, but sometimes you have to stir up a little chaos to create the change you're looking for.

What changes are you hoping to make in your career? What inspires you to work toward a dream job? Tell us about it in comments!

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This article is from Tara Struyk of Wise Bread, an award-winning personal finance and credit card comparison website. Read more great articles from Wise Bread: