Words to Invest By: Bulls, Bears… Brilliance?

“I spent a lot of money on booze, birds and fast cars. The rest I just squandered.”
— George Best

Source: Wikimedia Commons

If confession is good for the soul, soccer legend George Best must be smiling down from heaven. While most financial advisors preach prudence, Best lived the kind of life that makes accountants wake up screaming. But here’s the uncomfortable question: was he wrong? After all...

Somerset Maugham: Because Five Senses Aren’t Enough

“Money is like a sixth sense—and you can't make use of the other five without it.”
— Somerset Maugham

Source: Wikimedia Commons

And there’s the rub: money may not buy happiness, but try booking a luxury cruise with your sparkling personality. Even the wealthy know this truth—though some found more… ‘creative’ ways to get there:

Malcolm Forbes: How to Win Friends and Influence Relatives

“I made my money the old-fashioned way. I was very nice to a wealthy relative right before he died.”
— Malcolm Forbes

Source: Wikimedia Commons

Ah yes, inheritance—history’s laziest investment strategy. Not your style? Then take a page from J.P. Getty instead:

J.P. Getty: Coffee, Grit… and Crude Oil

“My formula for success is rise early, work late, and strike oil.”
— JP Gett

Source: Wikipedia

Simple enough: wake early, work late, and discover millions of barrels of dinosaur juice. Why didn’t we think of that? Of course, once you’ve got money, the real question is what to do with it—and Steve Martin delivers a masterclass in conspicuous consumption:

Steve Martin: Wealth, Waste, and the Wonders of Bad Taste

“I love money. I love everything about it. I bought some pretty good stuff. Got me a $300 pair of socks. Got a fur sink. An electric dog polisher. A gasoline powered turtleneck sweater. And, of course, I bought some dumb stuff too.”
— Steve Martin

Source: Wikimedia Commons

Full disclaimer: fur sinks don’t belong in a balanced portfolio. And managing your own investments? That’s rarely the smartest strategy either. For anyone tempted to DIY, consider this sobering advice:

Paul Samuelson: Boring Today, Wealthy Tomorrow

“Investing should be more like watching paint dry or watching grass grow. If you want excitement, take $800 and go to Las Vegas.”
— Paul Samuelson

People have been saying money can’t buy happiness for so long they almost believe it. But how many have bothered to test the theory?

Spike Milligan: Just Give Me the Money, I’ll Handle the Happiness

“All I ask is the chance to prove that money can't make me happy.”
— Spike Milligan

Source: Book Steve Library

And we’ll give the last word to Mark Twain, who rarely wasted them:

Mark Twain: The Honest Truth About Evil and Empty Pockets

Better Problems, Smarter Portfolios

“The lack of money is the root of all evil.”
— Mark Twain

Source: Wikimedia Commons

At Wealth Preservation Management, we know money won’t make life perfect. But it does bring much better problems than poverty ever will. After all, it’s one thing to lie awake debating whether you really need that electric dog polisher; it’s another to wonder how to keep the lights on.

We can’t help you strike oil or charm a wealthy relative, but we can help you grow wealth the old‑fashioned way—by sidestepping the dumb and compounding the smart. George Best’s approach might sound fun, but we prefer our clients to have something left over after the booze, the birds, and the fast cars.

Ka-ching, the check is in the mail.

P.S. If anyone has a lead on a gasoline‑powered turtleneck sweater, do let us know. (Asking for a friend)