The 40 Percent Rule

What is the 40 percent rule? Well for starters it is a game changer when it come to building wealth. I have read over 100 books on investing and personal finance. I do not recall coming across the 40 percent rule. I discovered the rule by reading The Millionaire Playbook, by Grant Cardone.

I got excited when I read it. It gives a different perspective on building wealth. An aggressive game plan to help you become a millionaire. One concept is saving to invest. Not saving to save. That’s where the 40% rule comes in. Save 40% of your gross income and put it into your “Sacred Accounts” until you are ready to invest it to create more income. Sacred accounts are accounts where you never touch the money.

40% of your income is some major cheese from your paycheck. That is a huge lifestyle change especially if you are living paycheck to paycheck and in major debt. This will leave you broke most of the time but it is how the wealthy build their wealth. This is how the wealthy stay… WEALTHY.

Rich Vs. Wealthy

There is a difference between rich and wealthy. You get rich before you get wealthy and as Chris Rock said, “The ball player is rich, the guy paying the ball player is wealthy.” Bruckminster Fuller said wealth is measured in time. How long can you not work while your assets produce income? Wealth produces more wealth and it can withstand economic downturns. Look how many people stayed wealthy during the past recession.

How to Do the 40 Percent Rule

First decide that you are going to start building wealth. It’s simple not easy. Take baby steps. I couldn’t save 40% in the beginning and I was already putting 20% of my income towards paying down my debts. So I started with 4%. That was manageable and I moved up gradually. Now it’s automatic and I don’t even miss it.

If you read The Richest Man in Babylon, by George S. Clauson, then you are familiar with, “A Part Of All You Earn Is Yours to Keep”. Saving 10% of your income and 20% to pay down your debts. Now just bump your saving up to 40%. As I mentioned earlier it is a game changer.

Sacred Accounts

Remember this is wealth building. You are saving so you can invest into income producing assets. This will take time. Use time wisely. Research investments that will produce more income streams. I chose real estate because it is not a fad and dependent on technology. People need to shop, eat, and live. Real estate takes care of that.

Emergency Fund

I suggest you have an emergency fund. Start with $1000. It is for emergencies only. Life always brings a crisis several times a year. But ever since I have had an emergency fund I haven’t had any financial emergencies. I have had this for several years. I have never had to dip into it. This is not an investment. It’s cash to take care of the unforeseen.

Your Income Increases

Stash away all of your bonuses, raises, and surges of income. Put that in your sacred accounts. You don’t want expenses rising to meet income. Continue to drive a wedge between expenses and income. Put all your increases into the sacred accounts.

Pull The Trigger

After some time you will have enough to start investing. I don’t know how long it will take you. I know my mentor saved for 8 years before he pulled the trigger. He turned that investment in to a $5 million dollar profit a couple of years later. He pulled the trigger after he felt confident and made sure he could get his money back. This isn’t gambling.

He got a great deal because he had access to cash. Money loves speed and when you are liquid you can pounce on opportunities. There are awesome deals everyday which people miss out on because they don’t have access to capital. This is why saving to invest is so important.

Just Start

Here is what you need to do now:

1. Open up your sacred accounts. (I have one for real estate and business investing). Chose accounts where you will not have immediate access to the money. Online savings accounts are great and pay a higher interest rates.

2. Decide how much you are going to save. Start with your first paycheck, commission, or any other income. Even if it is 1% that’s better than nothing. It’s easier if you have automatic deductions. That way you won’t miss it.

3. This is a lifelong activity. Keep going until you die.