Working as a CERTIFIED FINANCIAL PLANNERTM professional gives me a unique perspective on money, and how it affects people. One of the most common quotes I hear is that “Money is the root of all evil.” This quote leaves out an important piece, however. The full quote is “The love of money is the root of all evil.” Money is not good or bad; it is a tool to be used. From the inside, money is a lubricant: it makes things easier. To travel across the country, you can walk, ride a bike, drive, take a bus, a train, fly coach, fly first class, or fly on a private jet. Each option gets you across the country. The difference is the effort, comfort and time involved.
From the outside, money is a magnifying glass: good people become better, and jerks become much bigger jerks. Consider philanthropists in your local community – most are successful businesspeople who choose to generously share their gifts with local charities. Nice people do nice things. As wealth grows, gifts become bigger. And we all know the opposite; jerks with money are much bigger jerks. How do you view money? Is accumulating it the end goal? Or do your goals focus on your family, health and community, and money is just a tool to reach them?