Most people can’t tell the difference between someone who is rich and someone who is wealthy.

​Rich is a high income. It’s what you see: the designer belt, the leased BMW, the $15 cocktails.

​Wealthy is what you don't see. It’s the $2M brokerage account, the paid-off cash-flow assets, and the freedom to say "No" to a boss.

​Over the years, I’ve seen the books of people who "look" like millionaires but have a net worth of zero. They are one bad month away from total collapse.

​Stop spending your "seed corn." Every dollar you spend on a status symbol to impress people you don't like is a dollar that can never work for you again.

​Real wealth is silent. If you have to prove it, you don't have it.

Wealth is the money that stays. It’s the stuff people don’t see: your investments, your savings, and your freedom. If you have to prove you’re rich, you probably aren't wealthy yet.

Next time you see someone with a brand-new designer bag, ask: "Is that an asset making them money, or a liability stealing their future?"

Your Action Plan:

​The 24-Hour Rule: Wait a day before buying anything over $100.

​Calculate Your Equity: Know what you actually own versus what you owe.

​The "Invisible" Transfer: Move "spending money" into an index fund instead.

​Audit Your Circle: Hang out with people who talk about growth, not spending.

​Identify Your Seed Corn: Cut one "status" expense today and invest it.