Posts by Mark Ford
Are You Listening?
Too few have learned to listen well—and have lost out on opportunities because of it. Don’t make the same mistake; learn the tools of active listening now.
Read MoreWhy ‘Must Act Now’ Pitches are Hurting Your Investments
Understanding the anatomy of a sale can help you avoid risky investments and the Must Act Now trigger.
Read MoreHow to Invest in Stocks for Lifetime Wealth
With a net worth of $66 billion, Warren Buffett is the second-richest man in America. Most people know Buffett as a great investor. Why? Early in his investing career, he realized that there were certain businesses that had strategic advantages — advantages that allowed them to continue to grow bigger every decade, crushing their competition…
Read MoreLiving Rich #2: Sleeping Like a Billionaire
So you want to live like the rich do? You’ve come to the right place. I’ve spent years thinking about this topic, and I’m sure that it is entirely possible to live as well as a billionaire without spending loads of money. I’m going to begin our investigation with an activity that is not normally…
Read MoreHow to Buy Happiness
Many times, the things/experiences that give us the greatest joy are free. But oftentimes, money is involved. And when that’s the case, we have to weigh the cost of the thing/experience against the pleasure we will get from it. One example: owning a home… In my book Automatic Wealth, I argued that one of the…
Read MoreHow to Protect Your Investments in a Financial Crisis Part 2
In yesterday’s essay, I introduced you to our unique Risk Management Strategy. We discussed the 1st Leg of the three legged stool system: Asset Allocation – the importance of dividing your investment capital into different asset classes. Today, I will reveal to you the other two legs keeping your investments safe. 2nd Leg: Position Sizing The…
Read MoreHow to Protect Your Investments in a Financial Crisis
Before the financial crisis in 2008, Tom’s dad invested the bulk of his retirement money in a couple of stocks he was excited about.One happened to be Lehman Brothers. As you know, Lehman Brothers went bankrupt in Sept. 2008 and sparked the onset of the financial crisis. With a significant amount of his portfolio in Lehman, Tom’s…
Read MoreThe Truth About Your Big Ideas
A stranger corners you at some industry event. In hushed tones, he tells you he has a “great” idea. And he’ll “share” it with you so long as you promise that you won’t tell anyone or rip him off. “It’s an amazing idea,” he assures you. “I’ve been thinking about it for years. I just…
Read MoreBattered, Broke, Bankrupt, and Old?
Being 60-plus years does not mean you have to be broke and old. Yes, you are older now, and that means you should be wiser, so let your life reflect that.
Read MoreThree Qualities to Look for Before You Go into Business with Anyone
I am not a spendthrift. But I’m not a cheapskate, either.I know people who are not happy in a deal unless they feel like they’ve beaten the other guy down to nothing. That approach to business is mean and inefficient. Most times, it will end up backfiring.Let me tell you why. You are building a…
Read MoreThe Simple Concept That Made Me $6 Million Last Year
On Monday morning, you get a message indicating there is a new balance in your PayPal account. You check and see that while you were at the beach over the weekend, more than $6,500 was deposited into your account. On Tuesday, you receive a check from a client: $4,000, which is what he sends every…
Read MoreThe Secret of the Golden Buckets, Part I
I grew up relatively poor, the second of eight children. My father earned $12,000 per year as a college professor. As a teenager, I was ashamed of our small house, my hand-me-down clothes, and my peanut-butter-and-jelly sandwiches. I dreamed – literally dreamed – of living like a rich man. And so, when I got my…
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