You’re Making Other People Rich: Save, Invest, and Spend with Intention

Financial adviser Sterling, creator of the Future You Wealth blog, debuts with some savvy advice on managing one’s finances in order to maximize quality of life. When Sterling was going through a divorce and facing bankruptcy (despite a well-paid executive position and all the usual trappings of success), he realized he had fallen prey to the common mistake of spending money just because he had money. Feeling more burdened by the stress of maintaining wealth than enjoying it, Sterling decided to think past the formulas he used at work. After explaining the perspective shifts necessary to break one’s attachment to “the pleasure of money”—particularly defining wealth on one’s own terms and “gamifying” one’s spending habits to help with saving—Sterling outlines strategies for building wealth: consistently saving; investing in the stock market, real estate, and bonds; and managing risk. While the advice is familiar, Sterling’s explanations of various financial outlooks, accountability exercises (such as making lists of wants versus needs), and can-do attitude will provide readers with the confidence to change their thinking about money. Those interested in strategies for building wealth should take a look. (Self-published)