Robert Kiyosaki: 7 Money Secrets They Don’t Teach You in School
Written by
Caitlyn Moorhead
Edited by
Susan Kim
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Robert Kiyosaki, money expert and the bestselling author of “Rich Dad Poor Dad,” has been an outspoken critic of the conventional educational system’s approach to financial literacy. Simply put, there is more than one path to both achieving your financial goals and growing your wealth.
Contrasting starkly with traditional financial advice, Kiyosaki once said, “Everything is the opposite of what they teach you in school. I would study money because they don’t teach money in school. …”
His financial advice should be taken to heart for anyone looking to learn more about their finances as Kiyosaki currently has an estimated net worth of about $100 million made from writing and real estate to name a few. As Kiyosaki has said, “It’s not how much money you make, but how much money you keep, how hard it works for you, and how many generations you keep it for.”
Here are seven money secrets you may not have learned in school that Kiyosaki thinks you should explore.
Study Your Money
Kiyosaki suggests studying money because understanding money — how it works, how it flows and how it can be generated — is pivotal. While schools teach commerce and economics, the real mechanics of money, investments and wealth creation through assets like real estate or side hustles are often neglected.
He often makes the argument that schools don’t adequately teach financial literacy, leaving you vulnerable to making poor financial decisions. According to Kiyosaki, a lack of financial understanding or ability to manage your money can lead to financial struggles or debt spirals.
Traditional Jobs Are Not the Only Way To Earn Money
Kiyosaki often emphasizes entrepreneurship over traditional employment. “I would never go to school. Get a job,” he once said.
He advocates for cultivating an entrepreneurial spirit, creating businesses and generating employment to accrue wealth instead of merely receiving a paycheck. Kiyosaki also promotes the concept earning passive income streams through side gigs as a way to build long-term wealth.
Just Working Hard Hardly Works Anymore
Kiyosaki stresses the incongruity of the notion of working hard for money. His model involves making money work for you through investments and passive income sources and by leveraging debts rather than merely toiling away in a job and saving pennies. The mindset you have in achieving financial success will influence your outcome, as he suggests that a positive and proactive attitude is crucial.
Simply Saving Is Not the Ultimate Financial Strategy
Contrary to the common financial advice of saving money diligently, Kiyosaki proclaims, “Save money, get out of debt.” His ideology leans toward utilizing money effectively through investing and building assets instead of letting it sit idly in savings.
One way to boost your wealth other than just saving your pennies is to grow in your understanding of what assets and liabilities could work for or against you. He emphasizes the importance of distinguishing between these two areas as assets are things that generate your income and liabilities are things that drain your income.
Try To Use Your Debt as a Tool
“Get out of debt” is a standard financial recommendation, yet Kiyosaki sheds light on the concept of using debt as a tool to leverage investments and grow wealth. Instead of fearing debt, understanding its mechanisms and utilizing it strategically can lead to prosperous outcomes. He also doesn’t subscribe to other financial expert’s advice when it comes to ideas such as when Dave
He believes that leveraging debt is a key driver of his wealth because of the tax advantages it provides. Kiyosaki goes on to critique the common financial advice of living debt-free
Homeownership Is Not Exactly the Heart of Wealth Creation
Kiyosaki warns that buying a house is not the unambiguous path to financial prosperity that it’s often portrayed as. He underlines the importance of recognizing the difference between assets and liabilities, stating that a house can sometimes be a liability rather than an asset if it’s not generating income.
Don’t Just Start Investing In the Stock Market
His advice deviates from the mainstream with a surprising notion: “Invest in the stock market. I do the opposite.” Kiyosaki emphasizes financial education to comprehend and navigate the intricate worlds of investing, recommending exploration beyond the conventional stock market, such as real estate investing and building businesses.
Kiyosaki’s philosophies encapsulate unorthodox yet insightful perspectives on managing money and creating wealth. Challenging normative paradigms, his advice orbits around financial education, entrepreneurial ventures, strategic use of debt and astute investing.
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