Money Guy Show: "How To Get Rich and Stay Rich in 2026 (By Age)"

Hosts: Brian Preston & Bo Hanson
Release Date: January 30, 2026

Overview

This episode delivers a hands-on, decade-by-decade roadmap for building and maintaining wealth, tailored to every life stage from your 20s through your 50s and beyond. Brian and Bo break down the foundational “three ingredients to wealth creation,” spotlight age-specific strategies, and discuss common pitfalls to avoid. They provide actionable tips and quantifiable goals to help listeners not only grow rich but stay rich, emphasizing discipline, smart saving, and intentional planning throughout the journey.

Core Theme: The Three Ingredients to Wealth Creation

Discipline: Living below your means and creating financial margin.
Putting Money to Work: Investing consistently, so compounding can do the heavy lifting.
Time: Harnessing the power of compounding by starting early and staying invested.

Quote (Brian Preston, 01:09):
"This should feel so simple. ... The first ingredient to wealth creation is discipline. ... If you can let your money work harder than you can with compounding growth, amazing things will happen."

By Decade: Tips, Traps & Goals

In Your 20s

Key Tips

Start Investing Early:
- The advantage of time is massive.
- Just $95/month starting at 20 turns you into a millionaire by 65; most of that is growth, not contributions.
- Quote (Bo Hanson, 02:32):
  "If you're a 20 year old and you want to be a millionaire, all you have to do is start saving $95 a month and you will be a millionaire by the time you reach age 65."
Build an Emergency Fund:
- To avoid desperate decisions when life happens—medical issues are a leading cause of bankruptcy.
Invest in Yourself:
- Develop new skills, invest in education or training to improve future earning potential.
Make a Plan:
- Having a direction multiplies your chances of financial success.
- Utilize resources like the Money Guy’s financial order of operations.

Common Traps

Living Above Your Means:
- Only 38% of Americans spend less than they make.
Unprepared for Emergencies:
- Less than 46% have three months’ expenses saved.
Racking Up High Interest Debt:
- Student loans: limit to ~6%.
- Car loans: preferably avoid, but up to 10% if necessary.
- Never carry a credit card balance.

Quote (Brian Preston, 09:18): "If you're not paying it off every month, you're not a credit card type of person. Credit card use is a okay, but credit card debt, no way."

Essential Goals

Begin Investing—Anything Counts:
- $95/month (age 20), $185/month (age 25), $302/month (age 29) to hit $1M by 65 ([10:40]–[11:19]).
By the End of Your 20s:
- Portfolio/invested assets should be about 1x your annual income.

In Your 30s

Key Tips

Tame Debt Early:
- Debt becomes more dangerous, covering bigger purchases (cars, houses).
- Apply “Money Guy Rules”:
  - 23/8 Rule for Cars: 20% down, finance ≤ 3 years, payments <8% of gross income; luxury cars must be paid in cash in 1 year.
  - 3/5/25 Rule for Houses: 3% down (first home), stay at least 5 years, total housing costs <25% of gross income.
Ramp Up Saving:
- Target 25% of gross income into savings/investments.
Maintain Full Emergency Fund:
- Especially important with dependents.

Common Traps

Overspending on Cars & Houses:
- Average down payment is just 14% ([16:12]), loan term is nearly 6 years ([16:20]), and payments are 10.8% of income ([17:00]).
Lingering High-Interest Debt:
- Average millennial carries ~$7,000 in credit card debt ([18:12]).
Housing Costs Consuming Income:
- 21% of homeowners, 50% of renters spend >30% on housing ([18:47]).

Quote (Bo Hanson, 17:00):
"The average new car payment right now is $754 a month... 10.8% [of median household income]..."

Essential Goals

Save 20%–25% of Gross Income:
- Set up automatic saving; make it non-negotiable ([19:35]).
Net Worth by Decade’s End:
- 3x annual income by your 40th birthday.
Checkpoints for $1M by 65:
- Age 30: $340/month or $43k lump sum ([20:18]).
- Age 35: $606/month or ~$79k lump sum.
- Age 39: $943/month or $122k lump sum ([20:46]).

In Your 40s

Key Tips

Get Specific with Your Financial Plan:
- Know your “number”—the amount needed for retirement, and reverse-engineer your savings rate.
- Pay attention to asset location (taxable, tax-deferred, Roth).
Review, Track & Measure:
- Update net worth annually ([26:15]).
Keep Saving 25%—or More:
- If you’re behind, adjust and ramp up.

Quote (Bo Hanson, 23:56):
"Once you have defined the finish line ... you can then reverse engineer into okay, well how much should I be saving? Do I still need to be saving 25% or am I out ahead of the curve?"

Common Traps

No Awareness of Financial Position:
- One in four Americans in their 40s don’t know how much they’ve even saved for retirement ([26:15]).
Taking Excessive Risk to Catch Up:
- Temptation to swing for the fences, but it's risky and unnecessary.
Prioritizing Kids’ College Over Retirement:
- 56% say they’d fund kids’ college before their own retirement, a critical order mistake ([29:41]).

Quote (Brian Preston, 28:41):
"Don't feel like you have to get into that sexy sizzle of this is what rich people do... huge risk that you might not need."

Essential Goals

Monthly & Lump-Sum Checklist (for $1M by 65):
- Age 40: ~$1,050/month or $136k lump sum ([30:35]).
- Age 45: $1,806/month or $224k lump sum.
- Age 49: $2,812/month or $320k lump sum.
Net Worth by Late 40s:
- 6.4x annual gross income saved ([31:20]).

In Your 50s and Beyond

Key Tips

Plan Your “Retirement Landing” Thoughtfully:
- Don’t try to DIY if it’s out of your depth. Stress-test your plan and seek expertise if needed ([32:19]).
Preserve Your Health—Health Is Wealth:
- Save diligently, but ensure you’re healthy enough to enjoy your savings ([33:31]).
Think About What Comes Next:
- Plan hobbies, activities, and future goals for fulfillment beyond just having money ([34:44]).

Common Traps

Speculating or Over-Leveraging to Catch Up:
- Risky “last ditch” efforts to make up for lost time can erase a lifetime of sound saving ([36:32]).
Hanging onto Debt:
- Even mortgage debt—a truly free lifestyle means debt-free living ([36:32]).

Quote (Brian Preston, 36:32):
"Are you really free if you're still indebted, if you have obligations sitting out there? That's not freedom to me."

Essential Goals

Define Both Quantitative & Qualitative End Goals:
- Know your “number” for financial independence, AND your “what’s next” for contentment ([37:13]).
Specific Age Benchmarks for $1M by 65:
- Age 50: $351k invested.
- Age 55: $523k.
- Age 59: $700k ([38:16]).
Net Worth by 60:
- 13.7x annual gross income saved ([38:16]).

Notable Quotes & Memorable Moments

"You are a billionaire of time..."
- Brian Preston, [02:11]: Emphasizes how young investors can leverage time for huge growth.
"You want to make sure you have dollars in place that can protect you from those unknown unknowns..."
- Bo Hanson, [08:03]: The importance of a robust emergency fund.
"If you're buying a luxury car, you got to pay it off in cash in one year..."
- Bo Hanson, [12:49]: Lays down strict money guy rules for auto purchases.
"Feel your body relax and let go... Visit 1-800-contacts.com..."
- [21:44] A moment of comic relief as the meditation vibe is interrupted by an ad; demonstrates the show’s friendly, light-hearted tone.

Useful Timestamps for Key Segments

| Segment | Topic | Timestamp | |------------------------|--------------------------------------------------|---------------| | Start | The three keys to wealth | 00:53–01:42 | | 20s: Tips/Traps/Goals | How to get started & pitfalls to avoid | 02:11–11:19 | | 30s: Tips/Traps/Goals | Debt, cars, home, savings rates, checkpoints | 12:16–21:19 | | 40s: Tips/Traps/Goals | Specificity, tracking, risk, college funding | 22:26–31:20 | | 50s+: Tips/Traps/Goals | Retirement navigation, health, next life stage | 32:08–39:17 |

Final Takeaways

The core recipe for wealth—discipline, smart investing, and letting time do its work—is universal, but how you apply it must evolve as you age.
Start early, keep your lifestyle in check, and escalate your saving habits as earning power grows.
Avoid debt traps and financial drift by maintaining discipline, planning ahead, and consistently tracking your progress.
As you enter retirement, shift from accumulation to enjoying your wealth with intention, health, and purpose.

Brian Preston (39:17):
"Your simple financial life has now gotten much more complex. ... We're here to help out ... the key things that you need to know about money by each decade that you walk through so you can maximize those tips that we shared, avoid the traps, but then also know exactly what those goals are."

Resources Mentioned

Money Guy Free Resources
Financial Order of Operations & related courses: learn.moneyguy.com
Net worth & millionaire progress checklists available on their resources page

Money Guy Team out!

Money Guy Show: "How To Get Rich and Stay Rich in 2026 (By Age)"

Hosts: Brian Preston & Bo Hanson
Release Date: January 30, 2026

Overview

Core Theme: The Three Ingredients to Wealth Creation

Discipline: Living below your means and creating financial margin.
Putting Money to Work: Investing consistently, so compounding can do the heavy lifting.
Time: Harnessing the power of compounding by starting early and staying invested.

By Decade: Tips, Traps & Goals

In Your 20s

Key Tips

Start Investing Early:
- The advantage of time is massive.
- Just $95/month starting at 20 turns you into a millionaire by 65; most of that is growth, not contributions.
- Quote (Bo Hanson, 02:32):
  "If you're a 20 year old and you want to be a millionaire, all you have to do is start saving $95 a month and you will be a millionaire by the time you reach age 65."
Build an Emergency Fund:
- To avoid desperate decisions when life happens—medical issues are a leading cause of bankruptcy.
Invest in Yourself:
- Develop new skills, invest in education or training to improve future earning potential.
Make a Plan:
- Having a direction multiplies your chances of financial success.
- Utilize resources like the Money Guy’s financial order of operations.

Common Traps

Living Above Your Means:
- Only 38% of Americans spend less than they make.
Unprepared for Emergencies:
- Less than 46% have three months’ expenses saved.
Racking Up High Interest Debt:
- Student loans: limit to ~6%.
- Car loans: preferably avoid, but up to 10% if necessary.
- Never carry a credit card balance.

Quote (Brian Preston, 09:18): "If you're not paying it off every month, you're not a credit card type of person. Credit card use is a okay, but credit card debt, no way."

Essential Goals

Begin Investing—Anything Counts:
- $95/month (age 20), $185/month (age 25), $302/month (age 29) to hit $1M by 65 ([10:40]–[11:19]).
By the End of Your 20s:
- Portfolio/invested assets should be about 1x your annual income.

In Your 30s

Key Tips

Tame Debt Early:
- Debt becomes more dangerous, covering bigger purchases (cars, houses).
- Apply “Money Guy Rules”:
  - 23/8 Rule for Cars: 20% down, finance ≤ 3 years, payments <8% of gross income; luxury cars must be paid in cash in 1 year.
  - 3/5/25 Rule for Houses: 3% down (first home), stay at least 5 years, total housing costs <25% of gross income.
Ramp Up Saving:
- Target 25% of gross income into savings/investments.
Maintain Full Emergency Fund:
- Especially important with dependents.

Common Traps

Overspending on Cars & Houses:
- Average down payment is just 14% ([16:12]), loan term is nearly 6 years ([16:20]), and payments are 10.8% of income ([17:00]).
Lingering High-Interest Debt:
- Average millennial carries ~$7,000 in credit card debt ([18:12]).
Housing Costs Consuming Income:
- 21% of homeowners, 50% of renters spend >30% on housing ([18:47]).

Quote (Bo Hanson, 17:00):
"The average new car payment right now is $754 a month... 10.8% [of median household income]..."

Essential Goals

Save 20%–25% of Gross Income:
- Set up automatic saving; make it non-negotiable ([19:35]).
Net Worth by Decade’s End:
- 3x annual income by your 40th birthday.
Checkpoints for $1M by 65:
- Age 30: $340/month or $43k lump sum ([20:18]).
- Age 35: $606/month or ~$79k lump sum.
- Age 39: $943/month or $122k lump sum ([20:46]).

In Your 40s

Key Tips

Get Specific with Your Financial Plan:
- Know your “number”—the amount needed for retirement, and reverse-engineer your savings rate.
- Pay attention to asset location (taxable, tax-deferred, Roth).
Review, Track & Measure:
- Update net worth annually ([26:15]).
Keep Saving 25%—or More:
- If you’re behind, adjust and ramp up.

Common Traps

No Awareness of Financial Position:
- One in four Americans in their 40s don’t know how much they’ve even saved for retirement ([26:15]).
Taking Excessive Risk to Catch Up:
- Temptation to swing for the fences, but it's risky and unnecessary.
Prioritizing Kids’ College Over Retirement:
- 56% say they’d fund kids’ college before their own retirement, a critical order mistake ([29:41]).

Quote (Brian Preston, 28:41):
"Don't feel like you have to get into that sexy sizzle of this is what rich people do... huge risk that you might not need."

Essential Goals

Monthly & Lump-Sum Checklist (for $1M by 65):
- Age 40: ~$1,050/month or $136k lump sum ([30:35]).
- Age 45: $1,806/month or $224k lump sum.
- Age 49: $2,812/month or $320k lump sum.
Net Worth by Late 40s:
- 6.4x annual gross income saved ([31:20]).

In Your 50s and Beyond

Key Tips

Plan Your “Retirement Landing” Thoughtfully:
- Don’t try to DIY if it’s out of your depth. Stress-test your plan and seek expertise if needed ([32:19]).
Preserve Your Health—Health Is Wealth:
- Save diligently, but ensure you’re healthy enough to enjoy your savings ([33:31]).
Think About What Comes Next:
- Plan hobbies, activities, and future goals for fulfillment beyond just having money ([34:44]).

Common Traps

Speculating or Over-Leveraging to Catch Up:
- Risky “last ditch” efforts to make up for lost time can erase a lifetime of sound saving ([36:32]).
Hanging onto Debt:
- Even mortgage debt—a truly free lifestyle means debt-free living ([36:32]).

Quote (Brian Preston, 36:32):
"Are you really free if you're still indebted, if you have obligations sitting out there? That's not freedom to me."

Essential Goals

Define Both Quantitative & Qualitative End Goals:
- Know your “number” for financial independence, AND your “what’s next” for contentment ([37:13]).
Specific Age Benchmarks for $1M by 65:
- Age 50: $351k invested.
- Age 55: $523k.
- Age 59: $700k ([38:16]).
Net Worth by 60:
- 13.7x annual gross income saved ([38:16]).

Notable Quotes & Memorable Moments

"You are a billionaire of time..."
- Brian Preston, [02:11]: Emphasizes how young investors can leverage time for huge growth.
"You want to make sure you have dollars in place that can protect you from those unknown unknowns..."
- Bo Hanson, [08:03]: The importance of a robust emergency fund.
"If you're buying a luxury car, you got to pay it off in cash in one year..."
- Bo Hanson, [12:49]: Lays down strict money guy rules for auto purchases.
"Feel your body relax and let go... Visit 1-800-contacts.com..."
- [21:44] A moment of comic relief as the meditation vibe is interrupted by an ad; demonstrates the show’s friendly, light-hearted tone.

Useful Timestamps for Key Segments

Final Takeaways

The core recipe for wealth—discipline, smart investing, and letting time do its work—is universal, but how you apply it must evolve as you age.
Start early, keep your lifestyle in check, and escalate your saving habits as earning power grows.
Avoid debt traps and financial drift by maintaining discipline, planning ahead, and consistently tracking your progress.
As you enter retirement, shift from accumulation to enjoying your wealth with intention, health, and purpose.

Resources Mentioned

Money Guy Free Resources
Financial Order of Operations & related courses: learn.moneyguy.com
Net worth & millionaire progress checklists available on their resources page

Money Guy Team out!

How To Get Rich and Stay Rich in 2026 (By Age)

Powered by Wave AI

Summary

Money Guy Show: "How To Get Rich and Stay Rich in 2026 (By Age)"

Overview

Core Theme: The Three Ingredients to Wealth Creation

By Decade: Tips, Traps & Goals

In Your 20s

Key Tips

Common Traps

Essential Goals

In Your 30s

Key Tips

Common Traps

Essential Goals

In Your 40s

Key Tips

Common Traps

Essential Goals

In Your 50s and Beyond

Key Tips

Common Traps

Essential Goals

Notable Quotes & Memorable Moments

Useful Timestamps for Key Segments

Final Takeaways

Resources Mentioned

Summary

Money Guy Show: "How To Get Rich and Stay Rich in 2026 (By Age)"

Overview

Core Theme: The Three Ingredients to Wealth Creation

By Decade: Tips, Traps & Goals

In Your 20s

Key Tips

Common Traps

Essential Goals

In Your 30s

Key Tips

Common Traps

Essential Goals

In Your 40s

Key Tips

Common Traps

Essential Goals

In Your 50s and Beyond

Key Tips

Common Traps

Essential Goals

Notable Quotes & Memorable Moments

Useful Timestamps for Key Segments

Final Takeaways

Resources Mentioned