Most investors think of time as an enemy, a predator that stalks them all of their lives. They never feel they have enough of it so they are constantly trying to outwit it.
Trying to beat time, they become irrational and make unpredictable, impulsive decisions to "get ahead" or hit the proverbial "home run."
Or, worse they pretend they have all the time in world and do nothing with it.
Later they find themselves playing a costly game of catch-up they cannot possibly hope to win without taking huge risks.
Unfortunately, that's exactly where many investors find themselves today. They are sitting on the sidelines faced with the daunting task of making up the time they'll never get back.
As a seasoned investor, I prefer to think of time as a constant companion-- one that is willing to work with me every day if I harness it properly.
Rather than trying to cheat it, I work with it so that I tip the scales in my favor. This ensures that time becomes my ally rather than my enemy.
Which action do you think will earn you more money over the next 20 years?
And for one highly logical reason - you would be investing two-times more principal.
The truth, though, is that putting away $12,000 right now is actually the more profitable choice.
We have been conditioned to put a little away each month on the assumption that this will add up over time. But that's only half the story.
Trying to beat time, they become irrational and make unpredictable, impulsive decisions to "get ahead" or hit the proverbial "home run."
Or, worse they pretend they have all the time in world and do nothing with it.
Later they find themselves playing a costly game of catch-up they cannot possibly hope to win without taking huge risks.
Unfortunately, that's exactly where many investors find themselves today. They are sitting on the sidelines faced with the daunting task of making up the time they'll never get back.
As a seasoned investor, I prefer to think of time as a constant companion-- one that is willing to work with me every day if I harness it properly.
Rather than trying to cheat it, I work with it so that I tip the scales in my favor. This ensures that time becomes my ally rather than my enemy.
It's What You Don't Know About Time That Kills Your Returns
Let me illustrate.Which action do you think will earn you more money over the next 20 years?
- Investing $12,000 in a single lump sum today; or
- Investing a total of $24,000 in increments of $100 a month?
And for one highly logical reason - you would be investing two-times more principal.
The truth, though, is that putting away $12,000 right now is actually the more profitable choice.
We have been conditioned to put a little away each month on the assumption that this will add up over time. But that's only half the story.
What investors really need to do is consciously put aside as much money as they can as soon as they ! can - then make sure it earns a decent rate of return for as long as possible.
There's no hocus-pocus here.
It really is as simple as that, no matter what future market conditions may hold, no matter what happens with the elections, our debt, Europe, a hard landing in China, or even aliens landing.
The single most important investment decision you can make today is to put time on your side.
Consider the following example.
At 5% a year, the person who chooses to invest $100 a month will be ahead of the lump sum investor 20 years out. But if both investors manage to obtain 10% per year over 20 years (high I know but hang with me for illustrative purposes) the tables turn and the lump sum investor ends up being 6.78% ahead over time.
At higher rates of return, the difference becomes even more pronounced.
At 20%, for example, the lump sum investor would have a healthy $460,051 versus the $268,830 the $100 a month investor would accumulate.
And just in case this is not setting off a huge obnoxious alarm bell in your head, let me put it another way with one of my favorite examples.
In 1626, we bought Manhattan Island from the Indians for a whopping $24 worth of beads and trinkets. History suggests the Indians got the short end of the deal.
Factor in time and interest, and that's not entirely the case.
If the Indians had invested that same amount at 7% a year, which is not unreasonable over long periods of time, they'd have $1,561,138,484,403.65 today which, incidentally, is not all that far off from the total estimated value of all the land in Manhattan.
The message here is clear: you don't have to start with massive amounts of money to become wealthy.
In fact, you can start with unbelievably small amounts. But you have got to start. You cannot worry about what might happen.
Don't have 386 years to ! wait lik e the Indians did or think 7% a year compounded is impossibly high?
No problem. How about if all you have is 12 years?
Chances are good that if you're reading this column, you've been investing for at least that long.
Had you put your money into Altria (NYSE: MO) on December 31, 1999, your total return would be a healthy 1,011.07%. Divided by 12, that's roughly 84.25% a year including dividends and reinvestment.
A similar investment with McDonald's (NYSE: MCD) returned 215.71% over the same time period or roughly 17.97% a year, also including dividends and reinvestment.
My point is time matters and if you're getting paid to play, it can be a powerful way to build true wealth.
Altria Group Inc (NYSE: MO): The company, through its subsidiaries, manufactures and sells cigarettes, smokeless products and wine. The company also manages a portfolio of leveraged and direct finance leases. Adjusted for splits, Altria has increased its annual dividend 292% since 1989. The company is currently yielding 5.50%.
Linn Energy LLC (Nasdaq: LINE): Linn Energy engages in the acquisition and development of oil and gas properties in Mid-Continent, the Perriman Basin, Michigan, and California, and the Williston Basin in the United States. As of Dec 31, 2011, the company reported operating 7,759 gross productive wells and has proved reserves of 3,370 billion cubic feet equivalent of oil and gas, and natural gas liquids. Since its IPO in January 2006, LINN has consistently paid a distribution each quarter and has increased its quarterly dividend by approximately 115%. Linn is currently yielding 7.2%.
McDonalds Corp (NYSE: MCD): McDonald's operates 33,000 restaurants in 119 countries serving ne! arly 68 million people every day. The company has raised its dividend every year since paying its first dividend in 1976. Adjusted for splits and dividends (using data supplied by Yahoo Finance) the company has returned 44,322% (from $0.22 to $97.73) since 1970. McDonald's is currently yielding 2.9%.
All it takes is that crucial first step. Use your time wisely.
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There's no hocus-pocus here.
It really is as simple as that, no matter what future market conditions may hold, no matter what happens with the elections, our debt, Europe, a hard landing in China, or even aliens landing.
The single most important investment decision you can make today is to put time on your side.
Consider the following example.
At 5% a year, the person who chooses to invest $100 a month will be ahead of the lump sum investor 20 years out. But if both investors manage to obtain 10% per year over 20 years (high I know but hang with me for illustrative purposes) the tables turn and the lump sum investor ends up being 6.78% ahead over time.
At higher rates of return, the difference becomes even more pronounced.
At 20%, for example, the lump sum investor would have a healthy $460,051 versus the $268,830 the $100 a month investor would accumulate.
And just in case this is not setting off a huge obnoxious alarm bell in your head, let me put it another way with one of my favorite examples.
In 1626, we bought Manhattan Island from the Indians for a whopping $24 worth of beads and trinkets. History suggests the Indians got the short end of the deal.
Factor in time and interest, and that's not entirely the case.
If the Indians had invested that same amount at 7% a year, which is not unreasonable over long periods of time, they'd have $1,561,138,484,403.65 today which, incidentally, is not all that far off from the total estimated value of all the land in Manhattan.
The message here is clear: you don't have to start with massive amounts of money to become wealthy.
In fact, you can start with unbelievably small amounts. But you have got to start. You cannot worry about what might happen.
Don't have 386 years to ! wait lik e the Indians did or think 7% a year compounded is impossibly high?
No problem. How about if all you have is 12 years?
Chances are good that if you're reading this column, you've been investing for at least that long.
Had you put your money into Altria (NYSE: MO) on December 31, 1999, your total return would be a healthy 1,011.07%. Divided by 12, that's roughly 84.25% a year including dividends and reinvestment.
A similar investment with McDonald's (NYSE: MCD) returned 215.71% over the same time period or roughly 17.97% a year, also including dividends and reinvestment.
My point is time matters and if you're getting paid to play, it can be a powerful way to build true wealth.
Three Ways to Build True Wealth
Here are three of my favorite wealth builders at the moment:Altria Group Inc (NYSE: MO): The company, through its subsidiaries, manufactures and sells cigarettes, smokeless products and wine. The company also manages a portfolio of leveraged and direct finance leases. Adjusted for splits, Altria has increased its annual dividend 292% since 1989. The company is currently yielding 5.50%.
Linn Energy LLC (Nasdaq: LINE): Linn Energy engages in the acquisition and development of oil and gas properties in Mid-Continent, the Perriman Basin, Michigan, and California, and the Williston Basin in the United States. As of Dec 31, 2011, the company reported operating 7,759 gross productive wells and has proved reserves of 3,370 billion cubic feet equivalent of oil and gas, and natural gas liquids. Since its IPO in January 2006, LINN has consistently paid a distribution each quarter and has increased its quarterly dividend by approximately 115%. Linn is currently yielding 7.2%.
McDonalds Corp (NYSE: MCD): McDonald's operates 33,000 restaurants in 119 countries serving ne! arly 68 million people every day. The company has raised its dividend every year since paying its first dividend in 1976. Adjusted for splits and dividends (using data supplied by Yahoo Finance) the company has returned 44,322% (from $0.22 to $97.73) since 1970. McDonald's is currently yielding 2.9%.
All it takes is that crucial first step. Use your time wisely.
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