Wise Money: Wealth, Happiness, and Compounding

Quote to Ponder

"The first rule of compounding: Never interrupt it unnecessarily.”- Charlie Munger

Recommended Links

• Here's What Retirement With Less Than $1 Million Looks Like in America - Wall Street Journal
• The Age of AI Has Begun - Bill Gates
• What Happened to Silicon Valley Bank? (video) - Johnny Harris
• Yale Invests This Way. Should You? - Wall Street Journal
• Stocks are Still the Best Game in Town to Beat Inflation - MarketWatch
• The Luckier You Are The Nicer You Should Be - Morgan Housel
• Is My Money Safe? - Quarry Hill Blog
• Short KSTP Segment Featuring Quarry Hill

Insight

The Almanack of Naval Ravikant is a collection of wisdom and insights from the well-known entrepreneur and investor. In the book, Naval shares his thoughts on a variety of topics, including wealth, happiness, and success. Below are some of the key takeaways from the book on how to achieve wealth and happiness.

• The importance of compound interest: According to Naval, compound interest is the most powerful force in the universe. By investing wisely and letting your money grow over time, you can achieve financial independence and wealth. It’s important to start investing early and consistently, even if it’s just a small amount at first.
• Seek wealth, not money: Wealth is about having an abundance of resources, not just money. This can include things like good health, strong relationships, and meaningful work. Wealth is about having the freedom to do what you want, when you want, and with whom you want.
• Focus on creating value: The key to building wealth is to create value for others. This can be done through entrepreneurship, investing, or simply by doing your job well. When you create value, you will be rewarded with wealth.
• Happiness is a state of mind: Happiness is not something that can be bought or achieved through external means. It’s a state of mind that comes from within. You can choose to be happy, regardless of your circumstances. Focus on gratitude and the present moment, rather than worrying about the past or future.
• Avoid debt: Debt can be a trap that keeps you from achieving financial independence. It’s important to live within your means and avoid taking on debt whenever possible. If you do have crippling debt, focus on paying it off as quickly as possible.
• Invest in yourself: The most important investment you can make is in yourself. This can include things like education, learning new skills, and taking care of your health. By investing in yourself, you can create more value for others and achieve greater success.
• Embrace uncertainty: Life is uncertain, and that’s okay. Embrace the uncertainty and use it as an opportunity to learn and grow. Don’t be afraid to take risks and try new things. You never know what opportunities might come your way.
• Focus on what you can control: There are many things in life that are outside of your control. Don’t waste your energy worrying about them. Instead, focus on what you can control, such as your thoughts, actions, and reactions.
• Avoid the comparison trap: It’s easy to get caught up in comparing yourself to others, but this can be a trap that leads to unhappiness. Instead, focus on your own journey and what you want to achieve.
• Cultivate strong relationships: Relationships are one of the most important things in life. Invest in your relationships with family, friends, and colleagues. Focus on building strong, positive connections with others.

The Almanack of Naval Ravikant offers a wealth of wisdom on how to achieve wealth and happiness. By focusing on creating value, investing in yourself, and cultivating strong relationships, you can achieve fulfillment in all areas of your life.