This week is probably the last time I mention If I Had a Million Dollars: How to Achieve Financial Independence Before Your Parents Do. I am still doing lectures at various colleges and universities. UMD this week. BSM, my alma mater, the next. 

The first step to being independent is to realize you can’t give all the money you make to other people…you must keep some for yourself.

The Millenials, age 15- 24, are predicted to be worse off, financially, than any previous generation: lowest life-time earnings, relatively, and few benefits from employers (if they can get hired). 

Very few people have the time, training, or discipline to research investments such as stocks or real estate. That is why the mutual fun was invented. If you let professionals make the buying and selling decisions with a fund you're able to purchase shares in hundreds of companies for as little as $25 a month. 

TAKE: Always keep a cash reserve, but for intermediate to long-term investing, use a Roth IRA. It grows tax-FREE and has liquidity… it is by far the best vehicle for you to use. 

Would you rather have $1 million or a penny that doubled in value each day for a month?

TAKE: The million dollars you think? Well, in a 30 day month that penny would be worth $10,737,418; a 31-day month: $21,474,836. Surprised? This shows the power of "compound interest."