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The term ‘generational wealth’ isn’t something that often comes up in discussions of financial prudence, but it definitely should. The main problem when discussing generational wealth is that you don’t directly benefit from it in your lifetime, but your future generations do. And in today’s world of immediate gratification, most people don’t want to plan that far into the future.

Acquiring and retaining wealth over time is a difficult job as many economic factors can impact an individual’s income and expenses in any generation. But the benefit of generational wealth is that if done properly, your successors can find themselves in the top 5% of their generation’s most financially successful people.

If this concept interests you and you want to know more, here’s a basic rundown of the rules of acquiring and retaining wealth long-term.

The Rules of Real Wealth

No matter the generational differences, there are a couple of rules to building wealth that has been universally applicable since the dawn of civilization. The first rule is not spending more than necessary and avoiding as much luxury as possible. If you’re the first generation in your family’s generational wealth plan, your job is to accrue as much money and assets as possible.

This can be done in many ways including creating a fixed deposit account, using buy now pay later apps, saving money on shopping by using discount offers as much as possible, and sticking to more cost saving habits. So if possible, create another revenue stream aside from your main job. If you splurge and spend money on luxuries, it will be very difficult for the next generation to build wealth on what you accrued.

The second rule is to expand on the first generation’s accrued wealth. It’s then the responsibility of the following generations to use the wealth you’ve accrued and expand it by using it to set up multiple income streams and other financial investments that passively accrue value over time, such as bank accounts that provide high-interest rates on deposits.

Passing It On

Most financially successful people commonly agreed on stock markets and foreign exchanges as the most effective sources of passive income. Other options include investing in up-and-coming companies, technology, and businesses that allow for shareholders.

The third rule to building generational wealth is to retain what you’ve earned across multiple generations. Keeping the spirit of the first generation alive across multiple generations is undoubtedly the most difficult part of the plan. Usually, the second and third generations of wealthy families become too busy spending what the previous generation accrued.

This results in more expenses than income which can seriously drain a family’s finances. One needs to remember that money continuously loses value over generations, so without significant effort being put in to balance out the expenses, a generational wealth plan becomes a disaster.

Stand the Test of Time

For your family’s financial legacy to stand the test of time, wealth-building’s progression must be continuous and organic. Some of the richest families all across the globe are the results of generational wealth building. People like Jeff Bezos or Elon Musk, who achieved huge successes during their lifetime, are more the exception than examples, so you need to think realistically.

Building wealth takes time, and it takes insight and strategic planning to take advantage of investments that might not necessarily pay off immediately but will do so in the future, possibly decades down the road. Basically, you’re hedging all your bets and putting all your effort into a plan that might not succeed in your lifetime.

Creating a strong family bond and passing down your values to your children, who in turn will pass those values down to their children, is very important in all of this planning. This means you need to successfully raise your children properly to naturally and organically build on your family legacy. Each family member must not think individually but rather as a whole unit.

All of this might sound a bit intimidating at first, but over time with careful planning and strategy, you can gradually implement all of these tips and ensure your legacy stands tall a few generations down the line.

Leaving a Better Future

Building generational wealth might not seem appealing given the time and effort required, but it’s the most tried and tested wealth-building method in human history. If you’re willing to walk the extra mile, you yourself can live a successful and productive while leaving a better future for the next generation. So if you want to do just that, start working on your own generational wealth-building plan ASAP.

Are you a renter looking to transition to the role of a landlord? Do you think you have what it takes to keep up with rent collection, home inspections, and tenant complaints? This step-by-step guide to buying your first-income property can help you better navigate the task of being a property owner.

Is Rental Property the Right Investment for You?

Although owning rental properties is one of the most stable forms of investment, it isn’t for everyone, or at least not right away. Thus, it would be best if you didn’t dive into the industry simply because everyone else is doing it. Real estate is a capital-intensive venture you should only embark on based on your state of mind, finances, and risk aversion.

Real estate is right for you if:

• You’re ready to be a landlord
• You don’t mind investing long-term
• You value stability

Real estate isn’t right for you if:

• You want to get rich quick
• You need liquidity
• You’re not ready to deal with tenants

5 Steps to Buying Your First Rental Property

1. Do Your Research

Research is essential for any business owner to thrive. You must be ready to do your homework and find out what you need to succeed as a property owner, especially if you’re buying your first one. While there are some things you’ll have to learn on the job, going in with an idea can help you navigate hurdles better. You should compile a list of questions to research on the internet or ask experienced real estate professionals. For example, would you like to invest in a single-family unit or a condo? How does that rental property perform in your chosen location? Also, it would help to decide whether you’ll manage the property yourself or hire a qualified property manager to handle your rental investment property.

2. Get Your Finances in Order

As we highlighted earlier, real estate is a capital-intensive venture, so you must prepare aptly. If you have personal debt, you might want to consider paying those off first. Too much debt can make getting a loan with reasonable rates harder. Besides, it might be hard for you to keep up with monthly mortgage payments. At this stage, you should start evaluating your financing options. A bank loan might not be the best solution for everyone. If you’re a good negotiator, you may consider seller financing. Of course, you can pay cash upfront if you have enough to spare.

3. Find the Right Property

Your first rental property can make or sink your portfolio. Hence, you must find the right one. The key word during your search is location. Prime location often translates to higher income for the property owners. Thus, it would be best if you were looking for things that attract renters. As a tenant, what informed your decision of where to live? Was it close to your office, good schools, and the city? Remember that people are willing to pay more for neighborhoods with an excellent walkability score. Gyms, laundromats, supermarkets, and bus terminals can contribute to your walkability score. The more errands people can complete on foot from your rental, the better.

4. Estimate Your Expenses

Before committing to any rental property, you should estimate your expenses. One of first-time property owners’ most common mistakes is underestimating their rental costs and undercharging tenants. You need to take a holistic approach when calculating your operating costs. Most landlords will account for repairs, utilities, staff salaries, loan mortgage, and property taxes. However, it’s easy to ignore travel expenses, employee gifts, and HOA fees. With these expenses in mind, you can create an accurate budget and ensure your cash flow remains positive. Also, it can help you take advantage of tax deductions.

5. Know Your Landlord’s Duties

As a tenant, you might think your landlord has it easy. After all, they only remind you when it’s time to pay rent and come around occasionally to make repairs. However, being a landlord is an active job and managing a rental property requires a lot of attention. Besides the apparent roles of collecting rent and making repairs, you need to schedule maintenance and pay utilities. When your units are vacant, you have to put out ads, screen tenants, and sign a valid lease. Also, you need to be aware of state laws regarding habitability, security deposits, and much more. With so many responsibilities, you should consider leaning on the help of other real estate experts.

Conclusion

That’s our step-by-step guide to buying your first income property. Moving from tenant to landlord is a big transition, and we hope this article clarifies what you need to do. However, before taking these five steps, you should consider if real estate is right for you. Remember that your first rental property will set the pace for the rest of your business. Thus, it would help to rely on an expert property manager when you need it.