Roth or traditional? Actively or passively managed? Rent or buy?
Over time, the endless decisions in personal finance can start to feel overwhelming - like you’re too deep in the weeds to see where you're headed.
That’s when it helps to zoom out and re-center on the big picture. Because when you boil it all down, building wealth comes down to one simple concept: a pipeline.
A wealth pipeline.
Imagine a water pipeline flowing into a pond. The more water that moves through the pipeline, the bigger and deeper the pond becomes. But over time, debris - sticks, leaves, junk - can clog the pipe, slowing the flow. The more debris, the slower the water moves, and the longer it takes for the pond to grow.
Now let’s plug in the analogy:
The water is your income.
The pipeline is your financial system - your habits, your structure.
The debris is your spending.
The pond is your wealth.
Your goal? Grow the pond.
There are only two ways to do that:
1. Reduce the debris (spending)
2. Increase the water (income)
Let’s look at both.
Start here. It’s the simplest way to unclog your wealth pipeline.
Track your expenses. Seriously track them. Every month - or even twice a month - review where your money is going. Most of us have leaks we’re not even aware of: subscriptions we forgot about, impulse buys, unused memberships. Once you start paying attention, it becomes easier to cut the unnecessary and let more water flow freely into your pond.
And here’s why this matters more than it seems: a dollar saved is worth more than a dollar earned.
Think about it. Most expenses are paid with post-tax dollars. If you're in a 20% tax bracket, every $1 you spend actually costs you $1.25 in earnings. So that $150 cable bill? It really costs you $187.50 of your hard-earned income. Cutting it puts that entire amount back into your wealth pond.
You can only cut so much. At some point, you’ll reach a limit. But when it comes to income? The potential is unlimited.
The modern world offers more ways to earn than ever. Drive for Uber, deliver food, list a room on Airbnb, freelance online, ask for a raise, start a side hustle, mow lawns, sell your old stuff, teach a skill—you name it.
The key? Don’t say, “I can’t.” Say, “How can I?”
This mindset shift comes straight from Robert Kiyosaki’s Rich Dad, Poor Dad. The moment you tell yourself something’s impossible, your brain stops working on it. But ask how, and suddenly, you’re problem-solving.
Instead of saying, “I don’t have time,” ask, “How can I better use my time to earn more?”
That shift alone can change everything.
The wealth pipeline isn’t perfect. It’s not meant to be a comprehensive financial model. But its power lies in its simplicity—and in a world that often overcomplicates personal finance, that’s a breath of fresh air.
Every now and then, zoom out. Reassess. Ask yourself:
Is my water flowing as strongly as it could?
Where is debris slowing me down?
Am I growing the pond, or just treading water?
Get clarity. Cut the clutter. And let your wealth pipeline flow freely toward the future you want.