“Finding assets that appreciate is really the key to building wealth,” says Tara Lawson, a senior wealth planner at US Bank Private Wealth Management. While the average decline was 14%, it took just four months, on average, for the market to recover and get back to breakeven, says Sam Stovall, chief investment strategist at CFRA. You can’t build wealth by playing it safe and hiding your money under the mattress, earning a zero return. Building wealth and growing your net worth is about consistent savings, investing in a diversified portfolio and staying invested over the long haul. As you can see from Kiplinger’s Net Worth Calculator, your net worth is comprised of various financial assets and liabilities.
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“Dr. Bernstein has distilled a lifetime of investing wisdom into a short, practical and easy to read introduction to a life long financial path that…” Read more “…investing for many years but I still found this booklet to be an easy to read and a thoroughly enjoyable guide for not only the millenials but…” Read more “Straightforward, easy to read-approach to personal finance. I’ll recommend this to any young person out there. I’ll have to read this yearly.” Read more
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“…And that means anyone with an income. This is down to earth, responsible planning advice and something that should be understood and embraced by…” Read more “…Bernstein has a down-to-earth, “tell it like it is” style that keeps the attention of the reader.” Read more “This is yet another interesting and valuable book by Dr. Bernstein….” Read more “Fantastic. Easy to understand and he genuinely seems to care about the average person. I highly recommend this stellar resource.” Read more “This is such good advice. Clear and straightforward, it makes so much sense. Thank goodness he wrote this. I’m sending a copy to my son.” Read more
- “This is basic, financial advice for everyone….” Read more
- The net worth data show both the average and the median (a midpoint, with half the values higher and half the values lower).
- The optimal strategy for most young people is thus to first max out their 401(k) match, then contribute the maximum to a Roth IRA, then save in a taxable account on top of that.
- Customers find the book worth their money and time, appreciating that it keeps investing costs low and is especially valuable for non-savers.
He was the 2017 recipient of the CFA Institute’s James Vertin Award for financial research.
“Very good advice that I will be sharing with my children. Easy to read and great links to other books.” Read more Readers also mention the book includes a good reading list and very good advice that they will be sharing with their children. Download the free Kindle app and start reading Kindle books instantly on your smartphone, tablet or computer – no Kindle device required. “An excellent book for young people. Some practical tips to help young people manage their finance and prepare for retirement.” Read more “I liked its brevity, simplicity and price (free) I look forward to reading his recommended books and his book coming out in june.” Read more “…Overall, I liked the book. It was a quick and easy read so I would recommend it for those who don’t want to spend a lot of time reading but still…” Read more
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Customers appreciate the book’s brevity, with one noting it’s the shortest personal finance book, while another mentions it’s long enough to have substance. “…This is a must for personal investment finance for retirees and those working toward a healthy retirement.” Read more “Simple, easy to understand advice for young investors. Anyone following the strategy presented by Dr Bernstein will undoubtedly do well in retirement.” Read more
If You Can: How Millennials Can Get Rich Slowly Kindle Edition
Total U.S. retirement assets totaled $45.8 trillion at the end of June 2025. Retirement assets accounted for a third (34%) of all household financial assets in the U.S. at the end of June 2025, according to the Investment Company Institute. “This is basic, financial advice for everyone….” Read more These ebooks can only be redeemed by recipients in the US. Used book that is in clean, average condition without any missing pages. And, to repeat, if you just want to read the booklet, it’s available for free.
“It’s not a sexy strategy, but investing for the long term works,” says Lawson. Take advantage of workplace retirement plans. Whatever your risk tolerance is, make sure your money is performing for you.” Make sure your money is working hard for you.
If you want to grow your net worth, invest in things that make money for you when you’re asleep. “I like to say that stock market history can serve as ‘virtual Valium,’ since it can help you sleep better when you know how quickly the market tends to get back to breakeven from declines,” Stovall said. The second part is you have to invest your money. “The first part (of growing your net worth) is you’ve got to save your money. “Your money’s not going anywhere, but it doesn’t do anything for you, either,” says Steffen.
- Customers appreciate the book’s brevity, with one noting it’s the shortest personal finance book, while another mentions it’s long enough to have substance.
- Knowing your net worth can offer valuable insights into your money habits and future goals, says Tim Steffen, director of advanced planning at Baird Private Wealth Management.
- The real purpose of learning financial history is to give you the courage to do the selling at high prices and the buying at low ones mandated by the discipline of sticking to a fixed stock/bond allocation.
- “Brief and to the point as always by Mr. Bernstein. I think book should be a mandatory reading for everyone who start the working career.” Read more
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“Great way to get started with investing and personal finance. Then you get to read the books recommended at the end of each chapter.” Read more Profit and prosper with the best of Kiplinger’s advice on investing, taxes, retirement, personal finance and much more. Profit and prosper with the best of expert advice on investing, taxes, retirement, personal finance and more – straight to your e-mail. Readers also describe the book as easy to read and simple.
If You Can: How Millennials Can Get Rich Slowly – William J. Bernstein
An easy-to-read overview of the topics covered in his earlier book, The Investor’s Manifesto. Customers find the book excellent for young people, serving as a great introduction to investing. “Refreshing in the realm of finance, investing & money management….” Read more Customers find the book worth their money and time, appreciating that it keeps investing costs low and is especially valuable for non-savers. “Great starter to begin thinking about savings! Short book with helpful reading assignments to further understand the market concepts .” Read more
Customers find the book easy to read and understand, describing it as succinct and clear. “This if you can how millennials can get rich slowly is probably one of the best book about personal finance I have ever read. It tells you what you need to do. All you need is here….” Read more “…has been paving the way for financial education and this is another great book that should be required reading for all professions.” Read more “Great advice. Well written. Long enough to have substance, short enough to be approachable. More people need to read this book.” Read more
Download the free Kindle app and start reading Kindle books instantly on your smartphone, tablet, or computer – no Kindle device required. It is not designed to meet your personal financial situation – we are not investment advisors nor do we give personalized investment advice. “The book has some useful financial advice for the neophyte, though it is obviously written for an American audience….” Read more
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’ Maybe they have a lot of money, but maybe they spend a lot, too.” “I often get calls from advisers who say that they have a really high-net-worth client with X millions of dollars, and they’re going to be fine for retirement,” says Steffen. Since debt is subtracted from your assets to determine your net worth, the less debt you have, the better, notes Steffen. This super catch-up provision should help workers near retirement make up for leaner years when they might not have contributed enough.
If You Can: How Millennials Can Get Rich Slowly by William J Bernstein(2014-07- Paperback – July 31 2014
Profit and prosper with the best of expert advice – straight to your e-mail. However, regular folks with 401(k)s, investment portfolios and real estate holdings have a net worth, too. Net worth isn’t just a calculation for the wealthy. That can help you benchmark how you stack up against your peers and aid in retirement planning. Here’s how to grow your wealth over time. Used book that is in excellent condition.
“A great primer for investing that is not just for millennials.” Read more “In a world of information overload, Bernstein has crafted a quick and easily digestible book that will put any young person on the right path to a…” Read more “Easy and quick read. Gets you headed in the right direction and gives a few ideas to continue learning. Pretty good.” Read more
“Good advice contrary to get rich quick plans that most people try to sell. Similar to a book in the 1970’s ” a random walk on wall street”” Read more “Brief and to the point as always by Mr. Bernstein. I think book should be a mandatory reading for everyone who start the working career.” Read more Customers find the book’s advice very good and practical, serving as a great introduction to managing finances. Customers praise it as a masterpiece on personal finance and investing, with one customer noting it’s particularly valuable for non-savers. This is, in part, due to retirement accounts and assets growing over time.
“Oh, if only I had read this when I was younger. It’s good advice for all ages but I’d probably be a kajillionaire by now had I started a few decades…” Read more Customers appreciate the book’s straightforward approach, with simple explanations and a plan that even freshmen can get started with. “Great read and I’ll make sure my nieces and nephews (all in their 20’s) read this booklet as it’s probably more relevant for them……although I’ll…” Read more Customers find the book highly readable, describing it as an excellent guide that is particularly valuable for college students starting their careers. To calculate the overall star rating and percentage breakdown by star, we don’t use a simple average. Median net worth for people aged 25 to 34 is £109,800, but it swells to £502,500 for those aged 65 to 74.