The New Luxury You Need to Know

A MESSAGE FROM OUR FRIEND MODE MOBILE

This tech company grew 32,481%..

No, it's not Nvidia. It's Mode Mobile, 2023’s fastest-growing software company according to Deloitte.

They’ve just been granted their Nasdaq stock ticker, and you can still invest at just $0.26/share.

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*Mode Mobile recently received their ticker reservation with Nasdaq ($MODE), indicating an intent to IPO in the next 24 months. An intent to IPO is no guarantee that an actual IPO will occur.
*The Deloitte rankings are based on submitted applications and public company database research, with winners selected based on their fiscal-year revenue growth percentage over a three-year period.
*Please read the offering circular and related risks at invest.modemobile.com.

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Last weekend, I found myself in a peculiar situation.

I was having dinner with an old college friend who just got a promotion at his tech job.

He spent the entire evening showing me pictures of the Gucci belt he was eyeing and the new BMW he was test driving that afternoon.

All I could think was: Is that really what financial success looks like?

The Uncomfortable Truth About Financial Freedom

Here's what I've learned after years of studying millionaire habits and building wealth: The new Gucci belt is a Roth IRA. The new Benz is a paid-off Honda. The new Maldives vacation is a peaceful weekend at a local beach.

Luxury items and experiences aren't worth it if they cost you peace of mind.

This isn't just my opinion.

Harvard researchers recently revealed that 46% of renters are struggling to make ends meet – and many of them are six-figure earners.

The culprit?

Impatience.

Three Wealth-Building Principles That Actually Work

1. Embrace the Sacrifice Timeline

Every generation learns this lesson the hard way: sacrifice is inevitable.

You either sacrifice the "Instagram lifestyle" now, or a recession will wipe you out later.

When your career progresses, the easy route is tempting:

• Getting that new car

• Upgrading to a bigger home

• Spending right up to the edge of your means

You can "technically afford it" on paper, but this approach creates a financial house of cards.

Create a "sacrifice timeline" – commit to 3-5 years of living below your means while investing the difference.

Think of it as paying your future self first.

2. Build Recession-Proof Finances

The current economic reality is sobering:

• Average household debt is $128,000

• 60% of Americans can't handle a $1,000 emergency

• Half are postponing major life decisions (buying a home, retiring, having children)

This isn't because the economy is fundamentally broken.

It's because people didn't prepare when times were good.

Build a true emergency fund that covers 6-12 months of expenses. Not 3 months. Not what feels comfortable.

What would actually sustain you if everything went wrong simultaneously.

3. Create Financial Margin in Everything

Most people's financial plans are ticking time bombs.

They work perfectly until they don't. And when a recession hits with a 30%+ market correction, there's no safety net.

For every financial decision, ask: "How would this look if my income dropped by 25%?"

If the answer is "disaster," it's not the right move yet.

Create margin in housing costs (stay under 25% of take-home pay), transportation (buy used, pay cash), and lifestyle inflation (increase savings rate with each raise).

What This Means For You

I'm not saying never enjoy your money. I'm saying build the foundation first.

Think of financial freedom like building a house. Luxury purchases are the interior decorations. They're meaningless if your foundation is cracking and your roof leaks.

The wealthiest people I know aren't distinguishable by what they wear or drive. They're distinguishable by their calm when others panic.

When everyone else is freaking out about a 10% market correction, they're looking for opportunities.

When others are liquidating at the bottom, they're buying assets at a discount.

That peace of mind? It's the real luxury.

Be Wealth Operator