Thomas J. Stanley (1944-2015)

Thomas J. Stanley quotes

• The foundation stone of wealth accumulation is defense, and this defense should be anchored by budgeting and planning.

  Thomas J. Stanley

• Great offense and poor defense translate into under accumulation of wealth.

  Thomas J. Stanley

• “Financially independent people are happier than those in their same income/age cohort who are not financially secure.

  Thomas J. Stanley

• Most people will never become wealthy in one generation if they are married to people who are wasteful. A couple cannot accumulate wealth if one of its members is a hyperconsumer.

  Thomas J. Stanley

• Net worth is defined as the current value of one's assets less liabilities (exclude the principle in trust accounts).

  Thomas J. Stanley

• Multiply your age times your realized pretax annual household income from all sources except inheritances. Divide by ten. This, less any inherited wealth, is what your net worth should be.

  Thomas J. Stanley

• How much money is required to maintain the middle-class or even blue-collar lifestyle of a mobile-home dealer and his family?

  Thomas J. Stanley

• It’s easier to accumulate wealth if you don’t live in a high-status neighborhood.

  Thomas J. Stanley

• If you’re not yet wealthy but want to be someday, never purchase a home that requires a mortgage that is more than twice your household’s total annual realized income.

  Thomas J. Stanley

• Money should never change one’s values…. Making money is only a report card. It’s a way to tell how you’re doing.

  Thomas J. Stanley

• It matters less how much more you make than what you do with what you already have.

  Thomas J. Stanley

• How can well-educated, high-income people be so naive about money? Because being a well-educated, high-income earner does not automatically translate into financial independence. It takes planning and sacrificing.

  Thomas J. Stanley

• FEARS AND WORRIES What do you spend time worrying about? Are your concerns congruent with wealth accumulation? Or do you spend time thinking about issues that are impediments to becoming affluent?

  Thomas J. Stanley

• Whatever your income, always live below your means.

  Thomas J. Stanley

• Good health, longevity, happiness, a loving family, self-reliance, fine friends … if you [have] five, you’re a rich man….

  Thomas J. Stanley

• Education plus high income does not equal financial independence. Need planning & sacrifice

  Thomas J. Stanley

• Besides, the world isn't split into good people and Death Eaters. We've all got both light and dark inside us. What matters is the part we choose to act on. That's who we really are.

  Thomas J. Stanley

• Whatever your income, always live below your means.

  Thomas J. Stanley

• Good health, longevity, happiness, a loving family, self-reliance, fine friends … if you [have] five, you’re a rich man….

  Thomas J. Stanley

• If your goal is to become financially secure, you’ll likely attain it…. But if your motive is to make money to spend money on the good life,… you’re never gonna make it.

  Thomas J. Stanley

• Wealth is more often the result of a lifestyle of hard work, perseverance, planning, and, most of all, self-discipline.

  Thomas J. Stanley