School is a fantastic platform for not only reading, writing, and arithmetic but also activities, athletics, and socializing. This post is not about my thoughts on education, but about what I feel like I missed out on in my early education.

Specifically, personal finance

If you want my opinion on education in one sentence, here it is:

I’m a fan of the Socratic method of teaching, where the teacher teaches the student how to think, not necessarily what to think.

“The only true wisdom is in knowing you know nothing.” - Socrates

So there. Thanks for reading. On to the post…

I can tell you what SOH-CAH-TOA means with regards to finding the missing sides and angles of a right-angled triangle. I cannot recall at time where I have applied this mnemonic device in my day-to-day life post-high school trigonometry.

Every day I make financial decisions that can impact my life and the potential future of my family’s financial outlook.

Our financial choices are a daily “choose your own adventure novel,” and your choice may lead to prosperity or poverty. For most, that sounds a little more important than finding the unknown side of a right-angled triangle, right?

Please don’t assume that I am belittling trigonometry. I’m a fan of mathematics. I own all their records!

The point above is that I believe basic personal finance should be taught at a younger age.

It wasn’t until my junior year of college that I took a course on personal finance. That course textbook is the only remaining college textbook on my bookshelf, 18 years after graduating.

I will never encourage my children to idolize wealth or perceived riches but rather empower them to gain mastery over their financial journey.

I plan to teach my children that money and finances should never be an obsession but a tool they can utilize for their freedom, life experiences, and helping others.

In the same way a carpenter utilizes a router to create smooth corners, one should use financial acumen to have a smoother financial journey.

As you read further, you will find my recommendations for content that I found impactful. I know that this list, along with my acumen, will continue to grow, and I plan to edit this post in the future.

True to the Socratic method, the following content taught me how to think about my finances but did not provide me with a plan for what to do with them.

There are people you can hire to manage your money, and they are called Certified Financial Planners. Check out Don’t Put All of Your Eggs in One Basket for more on this.

If you choose to know Enough About It (It being your finances), then take advantage of the resources below. Whether you go it alone or decide to be an educated client of a CFP, you will find wisdom in the pages on this list.

Enjoy this content and feel free to contact me at: tommyp@enoughaboutit.com with your recommendations and why you feel inspired to share.

I wish you all the best on your financial journey and hope that we have the pleasure of crossing paths on the road to prosperity.

Personal Finance – Jack Kapoor

Summary: This is a photo of my last remaining college textbook. I keep this as a reference, but more so as a reminder to never quit being a student.

The Psychology of Money: Timeless Lessons on Wealth, Greed, and Happiness - Morgan Housel

Summary: The Psychology of Money is a collection of short stories discussing how emotions and beliefs impact our financial choices. It’s not 300 pages of one topic. It’s 19 short stories, so you never feel stagnant.

The Richest Man in Babylon - George S. Clason

Summary: Seems biblical, but the simple applications of this book are timeless. Save a percentage of money, sharpen your skills, and allow time to compound both.

Rich Dad Poor Dad - Robert T. Kiyosaki

Summary: Learn the differences between assets and liabilities. Utilize your money as a tool to build wealth. The Purple Pill: As I mentioned in My Journey to Passive Real Estate Syndication Investing Kiyosaki’s books are must-reads.

The Millionaire Next Door - Thomas J. Stanley, Ph. D. and William D. Danko, Ph.D.

Summary: The truth about what qualifies one to be a “millionaire.” You may be surprised. Lessons we can learn from their habits to build our own financial wealth.

The Millionaire Mind - Thomas J. Stanley, Ph.D.

Summary: Less of the habits (as described in The Millionaire Next Door) and more of the psychology of the millionaire. One of my favorite paraphrased lines is on raising children: “Just because we can afford to have a pony at your party, doesn’t mean that it aligns with our values to have one. “ Classic

The Simple Path to Wealth: Your road map to financial independence and a rich, free life - J L Collins

Summary: You can find a ton of books on the stock market. I feel that the stock market is only one of many tools to utilize for wealth creation. Collins does a fantastic job of simplifying an otherwise intimidating topic.

Personal Finance 101