The Value of Debt in Building Wealth

Foreword xi Acknowledgments xv About the Author xix Introduction xxiii Chapter 1: The Traditional Glide Path 1 In a Perfect World, No Debt! But Our World Isn't Perfect 2 You Owe a Debt to Your Future Self 3 Break the Paycheck-to-Paycheck Cycle 4 Companies Embrace Balance 5 The Power of Savings 6 A New Glide Path: Debt Adds Value 8 Finding Your Glide Path 11 The Need for Specific, Actionable Advice 12 Endnotes 14 Chapter 2: Foundational Facts 17 All Debt Is Not Equal: Oppressive, Working, and Enriching Debt 18 Paying Down Debt Gives You a Return Equal to Your After-Tax Cost of That Debt 20 Sh*t Happens--Value Liquidity 20 Yes, You Can--Save 24 Compounding Matters--For the Upside and the Downside 26 The Past Is the Past; Focus on the Future 29 Behavioral Economics Matters 30 Endnotes 31 Chapter 3: A Balanced Path to L.I.F.E. 33 Phase 1: Launch! 37 Phase 2: Independence 51 Endnotes 62 Chapter 4: Freedom and Equilibrium 65 Phase 3: Freedom 66 Phase 4: Equilibrium 76 Bonus Phase: No Debt! 80 Endnotes 82 Chapter 5: The Other Side of the Balance Sheet 85 The Probability of an 8 Percent Rate of Return Is Zero 86 Risk, Return, and Diversification 87 What about Interest Rates and Cost of Debt? 95 What about One of Your Biggest Assets? Your House 97 Three Buckets of Money 99 Risk Matters--The Risk of Time 105 Factoring Leverage into Returns 107 Debt as an Integrated Part of Your Investment Philosophy 109 Endnotes 110 Chapter 6: Proof of the Value of Debt 113 The Big Picture--Debt Can Be Valuable 115 Children and College Savings 127 Interest Rates and Debt Service CoverageRatios 128 Endnotes 128 Chapter 7: Conclusion 131 Taking a Stand Against Conventional Wisdom 132 Endnotes 137 Appendix A: Phi Phound Me 139 Inspiration Arrived 140 Not Perfect Makes Perfect 142 Applying the Fibonacci Sequence 142 From 13 to 8 148 From 8 to 5 150 Super Cool Math 151 Endnotes 154 Appendix B: Understanding the Power of Securities-Based Lending 155 Case Study 156 The Power of Securities-Based Lending 159 First Bank of Mom and Dad 162 Endnotes 163 Appendix C: Home Purchase and Financing Considerations 165 Don't Rush to Buy a House 166 When Home Ownership Can Go Wrong 168 Save Yourself the Anguish 169 Be Careful! 170 All Mortgages Are Not Created Equal 171 Owning Can Be Great 175 Endnotes 176 Appendix D: The Millennial's Guide to Debt and Getting Started 179 Saddled by Student Loans 180 The Best Budget: Spend Less Than You Make 182 Debt-to-Income Ratios 185 Pulling These Concepts Together 188 Endnotes 188 Appendix E: The Math Behind the Examples 191 Chapter 1: The Nadas, Steadys, and Radicals 193 Chapters 3 and 4: Brandon and Teresa 199 Higher Income 210 Endnotes 216 Glossary 219 Resource Guide 225 Bibliography 231 Suggested Reading 233 Index 235