Dave Ramsey isn’t just any financial guru – he’s a powerhouse who reportedly owns $600 million in real estate, all bought in cash. Known for his unfiltered advice to callers, he usually sticks to helping others get their finances straight. But occasionally, he pulls back the curtain and gives a glimpse into the personal strategies that got him where he is.
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A few years back, in a popular YouTube video, Ramsey’s message was loud and clear: “The borrower is a slave to the lender.”
In that video, he detailed his investing process, clarifying that debt isn’t just a financial burden – it’s a roadblock to real wealth. For Ramsey, avoiding debt isn’t simply about managing money; it’s about taking control of your future.
Ramsey often highlights the power of focusing on “your most powerful wealth-building tool” – your income. He insists that when you keep your earnings out of the hands of lenders, you’re free to use them to create long-term wealth. “When you haven’t committed your income in the form of payments to everybody else, you can invest it and become wealthy,” he says, explaining that a little financial discipline now can lead to significant rewards.
Ramsey shares a striking example: the average car payment in America is around $503. “That’s just crazy,” he exclaims. If someone instead invested $500 a month from age 30 to 70 in a decent growth stock mutual fund, Ramsey claims they could amass over five million dollars by retirement. “One thing could make you worth five million dollars,” he says, emphasizing how small decisions add up over time.
Ramsey’s advice doesn’t stop at avoiding debt. He’s also a vocal advocate for investing in good growth stock mutual funds, a strategy he believes is the best path to financial independence. He favors a balanced approach, spreading investments across four types of funds: growth and income, growth, aggressive growth and international funds. This mix, he argues, has a strong track record of outperforming basic index funds. “If the mutual fund you’re looking at is below that S&P 500 line, don’t buy that fund,” he advises.
Ramsey is well aware that his stance sometimes contrasts with other voices in the financial world, especially those promoting index funds and fee-conscious strategies. “Some people are stepping over $5 bills trying to pick up pennies worrying about these fees,” he quips, adding that while fees matter, they’re not what makes or breaks financial success. To him, the true key is consistency – saving and investing monthly, year after year, no matter what the market is doing. He’s clear that “the big thing is actually putting money into the mutual funds, actually investing.”
Ramsey’s approach also reflects his view on financial independence. For him, paying a broker is worth it to have someone keep you on track. “I need a broker in my life. I need somebody that’s an advisor,” he says, explaining that, despite knowing a lot about investing, he prefers having a professional’s guidance to stay disciplined. Ramsey points out that emotional reactions to market trends often sway people who invest independently. “When you’re out there by yourself with all your theories,” he says, “you cash out all your mutual funds at exactly the wrong time because you don’t have anybody in your corner saying, ‘Don’t jump.'”
According to Ramsey, retirement success isn’t just about choosing the right investments – it’s about regularly investing. He cites research showing that “74% of retirement success is doing it.” By steadily contributing to retirement accounts, people can build a significant nest egg without chasing high returns or jumping in and out of the market.
Ramsey’s advice is simple: stay away from debt, invest consistently and focus on the long term. He believes this advice can help people achieve not only wealth but also peace of mind. “This is how you get wealthy,” he says, stressing that the journey isn’t about luck or timing; it’s about persistence and discipline.
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