Mark Stachyra

June 21, 2016

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David Bach is one of America’s most prolific and bestselling financial authors of our time who has helped millions around the world learn how to live and finish rich through his books, seminars, television appearances.
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David,
your books are great! Most of the concepts aren’t new to me, having read Kiyosaki, Tracy, etc. Thanks most of all for publishing Start Late, Finish Rich, as this is closest to the situation I’ve put myself in.

Anyway, here’s the success story part: Less than 2 years ago I was struggling to keep from falling further behind in rent (I’ve never owned real estate yet), was regularly late on loan payments, and worked ridiculous hours at a job that was failing to live up to its promise. As soon as I quit this job (which was 1099’d as for income) I was amazed at how much I was spending just to work 80+ hours per week so I couldn’t even squeek by. Before long I got 2 jobs & started tracking (and therefore controlling) my spending. I didn’t “budget” per se, just got in the habit of looking what I was spending my income on & asking “why do I need this?” I was able to move into my own apartment, and started taking steps to return to a career that I actually enjoy. Since I’ve been out of it for so long and the job market is way down now, it’s still tough. However, I’ve controlled my Latte Factor so well that I’m able to survive on a net income of only $1250 per month. This includes transportation and food. I’m actually able to pay $150 per month on my (negotiated down to) 4% credit card and $92 per month on my student loan from the last century. The card balance is down to ~$6k and the student loan to maybe $12k.

At this point, I’ve realized that if I find work that GROSSES $40k per year I would actually be able to INCREASE my standard of living as well as have saved as much as $20000 in ONE YEAR, which would be a down payment on real estate.

I’d like to close with a question: I’m 44, never owned real estate, no kids, no wife, have a stale Bachelors’ Degree, and my FICO is only 596. I may have put myself in an unusually bad situation for a man my age, but what would you suggest as a next move? What should I be doing differently than I’m doing now?

Many thanks & keep cranking out the good info!
Mark Stachyra,
Mesa, Arizona.

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Reply...

Hey there, I’m David.

Thank you. Over the past 30 years, I've had the privilege of reaching over 100 million people through my books, podcast, and media appearances. I've written 12 national bestsellers including The Automatic Millionaire®, Smart Women Finish Rich®, and The Latte Factor—with over 7 million copies sold in more than 20 languages. 

I've been honored to appear on NBC's Today Show over 100 times and have been featured on The Oprah Winfrey Show, CNN, Fox News, CNBC, and more. My work has been profiled in The New York Times, Forbes, TIME, and The Wall Street Journal. 

What has always driven me and still does is this: I want to help you live and finish rich. Whether you're just starting out or looking to make smarter financial choices, I'm here to guide you with real conversations and proven strategies.

At seven, my grandma handed me a stock certificate instead of a Happy Meal. That moment sparked my lifelong mission: to help you take control of your money and build lasting wealth.

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