Financial Literacy - Financial tuneup
Keith Cameron Smith
investing
Spotlight: Keith Cameron Smith

q_v2.gifSome people reject the idea of wealth, "It's lonely at the top" and so forth. What do you say to them?

a_v2.gifA lot of people are still stuck in the comfort mode. They just want to have enough, and they think if they pursue all that money, they'll lose their family; they'll lose their health. That's not me at all. God, family and finances are my priorities. I never wanted to be somebody that went after financial freedom and lost my health or lost my family. I refuse to go down that path. But I've known people that do that. They put money as such a high priority in life that they lose the things that matter most. But if you keep your priorities in order and focus on financial freedom, it's a wonderful world. I love people and I use things. There are some millionaires out there that love things and use people, and that is definitely the wrong formula.

q_v2.gifDo you manage your own money?

a_v2.gifI did everything on my own, yes. I never went to a professional to handle my money for me. What I've come to find out is, while some of those guys are great, a lot of those guys just put on a front. They're making $50,000 a year and they're trying to tell someone who is making a million dollars a year how to invest their money and they really don't know; they're just doing what they've been told to do. I'm not knocking anyone. If you're going to use one, make sure you find a good one who is doing very well financially themselves.

q_v2.gifWhat do you see yourself doing 10 years from now?

a_v2.gifThere are some things we do for money that are only good for a certain reason. That's why we have to keep our eyes open for new opportunities. I'm constantly polishing my portfolio and looking at different forms of income. I never got heavily involved in the stock market. I am still dabbling in real estate but nothing real serious right now. I'm still a young entrepreneur. I still have a lot to learn. I haven't mastered all those principles; I'm still living them on a daily basis. When I focus on them, it seems like opportunities come my way and I make some better decisions. It's not just about the money. It's about the learning process.

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