Thomas J. Stanley : Millionaire Next Door Author; Researcher; Expert

In an earlier blog post, we discussed how career experiences, both successes and failures, can lead to moments of clarity (Working for those Ah-ha! Career Moments, August 2012). This post highlighted the fact that many successful millionaires have a wide range of experiences that help them determine a successful career path. ...

A recent newspaper headline proposed that "the best way to get rich is the stock market."  Building wealth via stocks or other investments is akin to growing trees.  You can't grow oak trees if you don't have enough money to buy acorns.  So, suggesting that the stock market leads to wealth is putting the cart before the horse.  It is not just about being frugal.  Frugality has its limits.  Some people misread the material in The Millionaire Next Door.  In the book, I mention that most Americans are not wealthy.  This is especially interesting among those who earn incomes in...

Two recently published articles caught my attention.  And, bear with me, they are related!  In the first one, Bob Dudley, the well respected CEO of BP, is quoted:  Employment is difficult in many places.  But anybody who goes through petroleum engineering, chemical engineering there will be jobs for them. . . .  . . . they will have phenomenal opportunities. In past blogs, as well as in Stop Acting Rich, I have mentioned that engineers in general are quite productive in transforming income into wealth.  Even more productive are professors who teach petroleum engineering, chemical engineering, mining engineering, etc. The second article deals with...

At what age do you think a child's trajectory of future achievements (or lack of) is defined?  Some people think that it is at age 4.  It must be since some of them spend considerable dollars having their 4 year-olds "prepared" for acing "the new gifted and talented test."  If the child scores big he will qualify "for gifted and talented kindergarten seats in New York City public schools."  It may be that the tutoring has done so well that, as the title of a recent New York Times article states, "Schools Ask: Gifted or Just Well-Prepared?"Natalie . . . 4, spent...

We just spent 5 days chilling out on a Florida barrier island on the Gulf coast. It was our first visit to St. George Island .  After 2 days there it became evident to me that this laid back environment is well suited for the millionaire next door types I have known.  It is quiet, reasonable [$8.50/dozen Apalachicola oysters] and unpretentious.  Plus I was pleasantly surprised to find that it is the most "dog friendly" vacation spot I have encountered. Every listed rental property that allowed dogs had a paw print next to each description.  There are no gourmet restaurants on the island, and if you are looking for...