In the past couple of years, we’ve faced a ton of unpredictability and the feeling as though we’re just getting by in this uncontrollable world. However, with the calendar freshly flipped over to 2022 and those new years resolutions in mind, now is the time to get a hold of your spending habits, saving habits, debt usage, investments, and insurances. Here are 5 books that we highly recommend reading if you’re wishing to generate a healthy, secure relationship with money and construct the future that you and your family deserve.

‘MONEY Master the Game,’ Tony Robbins

In 2014, Tony Robbins published his best-selling book, MONEY Master the Game. The book gives the reader insights into the value of budgeting and investing early on as well as dreaming about your financial future. Robbins’ message is to invest what you can every month, based on your current income, expenses, and comfortability. Invest a little or a lot, the choice is yours. However, you should put some amount to work for you or else inflation will make your cash worth less, less, and less. We’ll leave you with 5 highlights from Robbins’ influential book:

1. Start Now! – There’s no better time like the present. It’s easy to delay it but working through your finances NOW will give you a better peace of mind and a brighter future down the road.
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2. Learn the Rules – Equip yourself with the proper knowledge before you make any decisions. Nowadays, it is difficult to understand which information you read is credible and which is not. Robbins’ says to educate yourself via trusted platforms or with trusted people. This is a major reason as to why Skyward Financial hosts our free virtual education sessions for anyone interested. We want you to be best equipped to navigate the financial world on your own accord.
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3. Increase Your Hunger – When you’ve started learning and enacting your financial plan, get excited about it! Rejoice in the fact that you are gradually creating the future you’ve always wanted. Exclaim to others that you’ve gotten yourself on the right track. Be proud in your progression because you deserve it!
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4. Risk for Valuable Returns – Not all investments are created equally. Robbins’ suggests to thoroughly understand what you’re investing in and be assured that your investment’s risk is worth its tried and true return. We all want a nice house, a substantial retirement egg, an education fund for our children, amongst other goals, and should have our money invested in reliable assets to grow steadily with you.
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5. Understand Asset Allocation – Once you’ve mapped out valuable investments, educate yourself on how to diversify these assets in the most responsible manner. Diversification refers to how well “spread-out” your investments are. It’s important to have investments with different risks and volatilities as this will help your money withstand many economic changes in the future. Create a robust investment strategy and stick to it!

MONEY Master the Game by Tony Robbins:
‍$34.00 From Amazon

‘You Are a Badass at Making Money,’ Jen Sincero

You Are a Badass at Making Money is one book amongst 4 others by a similar title by Jen Sincero, which motivate you to believe in your abilities and transcend your current thoughts and behaviours. Chock full of captivating phrases, this book gives sound saving/spending advice while allowing you to live according to your own wishes. Whether you are searching for a job, a waged worker, or a business owner, everyone can change their perspective when it comes to money. You are a badass! And this book helps you encourage that element within you! Here are some of our favourite quotes from Sincero:

“Riches come to those who believe in anything is possible even when all signs point to No Way in Hell.”

“A healthy desire for wealth is not greed, it’s a desire for life.”

“Wealth appreciates for the appreciative.”

You Are a Badass at Making Money by Jen Sincero:
‍$20.10 From Amazon

‘The Total Money Makeover,’ Dave Ramsey

Dave Ramsey is a well-known American radio host who educates millions every week on important financial concepts and gives callers personalized advice on how to fix their money problems. His book boldly starts by addressing how many people today, young and old, are in denial about how poor their financial situation is. Ramsey says that if someone if truly going to create a desirable future financially, they must first recognize their own denial and work through it. He discusses common myths, hurdles, as well as remarkable potential outcomes that may come about by laying down some basic financial rules in your life. Ramsay leaves us with the quote:

“To possess riches is to have the right to say how they will or will not be used.”

And Ramsey insists that once wealthy, once all needs are satisfied, giving and donating are the most honourable uses of one’s money.

The Total Money Makeover by Dave Ramsey:
‍$16.34 From Amazon

‘The Intelligent Investor,’ Benjamin Graham

For anyone wanting to understand how the stock market operates, as well as how to benefit maximally from it, The Intelligent Investor by Bejamin Graham should be on your reading list. Graham thoroughly examines the history of the market and guides you on how to invest responsibly, sustainably, and not fall victim to promises that are too good to be true. He offers his views on portfolio diversification for 2 main types of people, the defensive investor and the enterprising investor. It is written in such a way to make certain financial lingo and concepts accessible to a wide audience, so you can absolutely benefit when picking up this book.

“Investing isn’t about beating others at their game. It’s about controlling yourself at your own game.”

The Intelligent Investor by Benjamin Graham:
$18.70 From Amazon

‘Rich Dad Poor Dad,’ Robert Kiyosaki

Arguably the most famous financial book is Rich Dad Poor Dad by Robert Kiyosaki. Throughout the book the author points out how those of different wealth levels sustain different perspectives about money. Rich and poor, according to Kiyosaki, is a mindset more than physical wealth. Further, the book offers at-home exercises to get your finances in order, invest smartly, and aid you in constructing a healthy relationship with money. Here we note some of Kiyosaki’s observations:

“The poor and middle class work for money. The rich have money work for them.”

“… rich people buy luxuries last, while the poor and middle class tend to buy luxuries first.”

“Rich people acquire assets. The poor and middle class acquire liabilities that they think are assets.”

Rich Dad Poor Dad by Robert Kiyosaki:
‍$8.97 From Amazon

We hope these books can be helpful in your quest to set yourself in the right direction and create your desired future. In our virtual education sessions, feel free to ask us about these books, their insights, and how we apply the core components of each of these readings in our practice at Skyward Financial.

Here’s to 2022, the year of taking back control of our money!