There are lessons to be learned in almost every experience we face. In addition, always take time out to learn from the experiences of others. I mean, why re-invent the wheel if you don’t have to. I never want to be the millionaire that went broke, and neither do you. That’s why today’s discussion is on planning to be rich.

Planning to be rich is just what it sounds like…even though you may not have thousands of dollars coming in daily yet, manage your finances as though you do. I’m a firm believer that it took me so long to reach my current state mainly because I threw away so much money early on. I had no goals, only money, and so the money came in and went out just as fast.

At the age of 30, I was fortunate enough to run into a financial planner - a true Saint (really, that was his last name).A financial planner is worth their weight in gold and they work hard for your money. Why? Because that’s how they get paid.Think about it - a financial planner makes money off of the money they make you. There has to be a rule in this:

Rule #1: Hire people that get paid based on what they contribute to your success.

So, if I give the financial planner $100, and they turn that in to $150, and then they take $10. I’ve still made $40 off of absolutely no work. Sounds like a winner.You may think that you don’t have enough money to go to a financial planner, but now is the perfect time. No matter your age, no matter your income, a good financial planner is at least going to be able to tell you how awful your life is going to be if you don’t pull in more cash (which you’re already planning on doing). And financial planners are FREE (remember, they make money when you do).

Met Life, Fidelity Investments, New York Life, ING, all of them are great at what they do. Call, make and appointment and spend 3 hours talking to the planner about your goals and how to achieve them on what you are making now. When the cash is flowing like you want, adjust your plan accordingly.