In my many years in the financial services industry,  I have realized that there are really just 3 ways people attain wealth:

1) Inherit it – About 2% of the population stands to inherit something substantial from their parents. However, even to those who stand to inherit some fortune, consider this popular thought: the first generation creates the wealth, the second generation wastes the wealth and the third generation finishes the wealth. As for me, I think I stand to inherit some things from my father — his medical illnesses, hahaha!

2) Marry it – this is one of the oldest way to gain instant wealth. However, most of those who married for money ended up with miserable lives. Being rich but miserable isn’t really an appealing life isn’t it? I am truly happy with whom I married and will not exchange that for a billion bucks although I’m not sure if my wife feels the same… har, har!

3) Spend less than what you make and invest the difference – this is really the sure fire way of attaining wealth. Hard work, diligence and prudence. I work hard and I’d like to believe I am diligent. If I only know what prudence means, I am on my way. 😉

Lazy hands make for poverty, but diligent hands bring wealth.

– Proverbs 10:4, NIV