As a kid, I loved playing the classic board game Monopoly—but I didn’t realize that the game presented players with an important financial lesson. It wasn’t until I lost thousands chasing bad investments that I learned that lesson the hard way…
Wealth isn’t about money. It’s about assets. That insight is what transformed my approach to everything…
Early in my career, I was spinning my wheels. I chased every hot tip—tech stocks, corporate bonds, options trades—thinking I’d hit it big and finally get ahead. But I didn’t have a system or a strategy in place… it was all knee-jerk decisions.
One year, I made a rookie mistake that cost me big. I ended up having to dip into my IRA early to cover an expense, only to get hit with a 10% penalty and a hefty income tax… because I did no tax planning whatsoever.
It was a gut punch. Thousands gone, and I was no closer to financial independence.
Then I thought back to Monopoly. The game isn’t about hoarding cash. It’s about owning Boardwalk and Park Place—trophy assets that can generate income. That was my lightbulb moment.
Investing isn’t about flashy trades or paper gains. It’s about acquiring assets that work for you to compound your money and your income over time.
That’s in stark contrast to the traditional nest egg model… which forces you to move money into a retirement account for decades, effectively putting your money in prison. Then if you need to use your money, you have to pay a penalty – just like I did.
That’s not the path to freedom. It’s the road to fragility.
When I realized that, I swore off “piecemeal” investing forever. Meaning, I committed to building out a true investment plan rather than chase investments on a whim.
But that led to another problem. What does a comprehensive investment plan look like? What should it entail? The answer I came to changed everything for me.
Tomorrow, I’ll break down why the nest egg model falls short and forces you to choose between having assets or having income.
Then we’ll talk about a better model that makes your money bulletproof and pays you monthly income. That’s the secret to true financial security.
-Joe Withrow
P.S. Are you ready to escape the piecemeal trap and implement a financial plan that actually works? If so, I’d like to invite you to join us for our next webinar: The Strategic Investor’s Playbook: Bulletproof Money, Consistent Cash Flow.
We’re going live at 3:00 pm Eastern on Wednesday, May 14th. Space is limited, so please register in advance. You can do so right here: The Strategic Investor’s Playbook Webinar Registration