GOBankingRates works with many financial advertisers to showcase their products and services to our audiences.

These brands compensate us to advertise their products in ads across our site.

This compensation may impact how and where products appear on this site.

older couple financial advisor

Commitment to Our Readers

GOBankingRates' editorial team is committed to bringing you unbiased reviews and information.

it’s possible for you to read more about oureditorial guidelinesand our products and servicesreview methodology.

20 YearsHelping You Live Richer

Reviewedby Experts

Trusted byMillions of Readers

In America, everyonewants to be rich.

facebook sharing button

Americans build wealth by spending less than they earn and investing the rest.

Its a virtuous cycle.

Investing Episodically vs. Systematically Contributing

It all comes down to consistency.

twitter sharing button

Playing Safe With Investments vs.

Prudent Money Risks

Investing can be tricky, potentially involving loss.

Individuals need to be taught to invest and not simply to save to build wealth.

linkedin sharing button

The surest way to buildtrue long-term wealthis to invest in the stock market, urged Johnson.

Moment-to-Moment Money Decisions vs. Making retirement and savings contributions automatic is a wise approach.

People should try and automate as many financial decisions as they can.

email sharing button

One must make saving money a habit.

And habits good or bad develop over time, Johnson said.

You will practice dollar-cost averaging and build significant wealth over the long run, Johnson said.

The biggest advantage of automatic plans are [the] behavioral underpinnings of the plans.

That is, once enrolled in an automatic savings plan, people tend to stay enrolled.

Specifically, one should not simply budget and track expenses, but one should budget for savings.

However, Campanale noted that …many Americans lack the financial discipline or awareness to do this.

One should not feel guilty about spending money in a manner that some might consider frivolous, Johnson said.

The key is to budget to get to maximize ones own unique preferences and not those of others.

One certainly shouldnt cut out those things that truly bring us happiness.

More From GOBankingRates

Share This Article:

The Latest inMoney