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Pathway to Prosperity: Your Guide to Money and Economics
Pathway to Prosperity is a comprehensive financial literacy program that takes the mystery out of money. Investing, credit, budgeting, risk management, taxes, and economics are explained in a practical, easy to understand manner. At the end of the journey, you will have a clear understanding of personal finance that will instill confidence and empower you to make better decisions in your day to day life. Knowledge is power. Take the first step down the path to a brighter tomorrow.Firebird Book Award winnerSan Francisco Book Festival honorable mention awardLiterary Titan Five Star Review
- GenresFinancePersonal Finance
241 pages, Kindle Edition
Published September 24, 2020
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Displaying 1 - 7 of 7 reviews
March 9, 2021
‘Knowledge is power’ – an outstanding Primer on achieving financial success!
Utah author Mark Lazar earned his degrees in finance from University of Utah and the University of Colorado, is a certified financial planner, and serves as the senior vice president for a national wealth management firm as well as an adjunct professor of finance at University of Utah David Eccles School of Business. His early years of living in financial hardship provided his motivation to succeed, and it is that journey that he wished to share in helping others to become financially independent – the topic of this, his debut publication.
The book opens with the tenor that prevails throughout this enormously informative and accessible guide: ‘There is a shroud of mystery and an illusion of unattainability to wealth and prosperity. This book is intended to both dispel those myths and explain how money works. The bad news is there is no magic formula or get-rich-quick scheme. The good news, however, is that by building your wealth the right way – by understanding and incorporating sound financial principles into your everyday life and doing a handful of things a little better – over time you will become financially secure. Furthermore, the very same principles that enable you to achieve prosperity will also ensure you won’t lose it once you have it.’
Mark covers the money spectrum in this primer for achieving financial success, starting with the Basics (personal balance sheet, cash flow, budget, credit, taxes, methods of payment). Wants versus needs (education funding, college, time management), The Issues (rent versus buy, buying a home, mortgages, investment property, risk management), Planning for the future (retirement plans, social security, retirement in come, reverse mortgages). Stock Market insights (stocks, bonds, market cycles, corporate governance), and The Big Picture (Economics 101, The Federal Reserve System, Inflation, Deflation, Gross Domestic Product, Fiscal Policy) – each section is explained with such accessible detail that the book becomes a much-needed fixture in the library of us all!
At book’s end, Mark provides a Comprehensive Knowledge Check – a list of thirty questions to guarantee we have digested all the materials in the book – a reinforcing way to judge where we stand at present after absorbing his fine book. The markers he underlines for financial success are Cash Reserve, Balance Sheet, Cash Flow, Budget, Credit, Invest in Yourself, Pay your self First, Invest wisely, Diversify your retirement income, Manage risk sensibly, and (with his touch of humor0 – KISS (Keep it Simple, Stupid).
A book for students of all levels – those studying economics and those of us out in the world looking for solid, well considered tutoring, this is one of the very finest resources for understanding and employing financial matters. Very highly recommended.
Utah author Mark Lazar earned his degrees in finance from University of Utah and the University of Colorado, is a certified financial planner, and serves as the senior vice president for a national wealth management firm as well as an adjunct professor of finance at University of Utah David Eccles School of Business. His early years of living in financial hardship provided his motivation to succeed, and it is that journey that he wished to share in helping others to become financially independent – the topic of this, his debut publication.
The book opens with the tenor that prevails throughout this enormously informative and accessible guide: ‘There is a shroud of mystery and an illusion of unattainability to wealth and prosperity. This book is intended to both dispel those myths and explain how money works. The bad news is there is no magic formula or get-rich-quick scheme. The good news, however, is that by building your wealth the right way – by understanding and incorporating sound financial principles into your everyday life and doing a handful of things a little better – over time you will become financially secure. Furthermore, the very same principles that enable you to achieve prosperity will also ensure you won’t lose it once you have it.’
Mark covers the money spectrum in this primer for achieving financial success, starting with the Basics (personal balance sheet, cash flow, budget, credit, taxes, methods of payment). Wants versus needs (education funding, college, time management), The Issues (rent versus buy, buying a home, mortgages, investment property, risk management), Planning for the future (retirement plans, social security, retirement in come, reverse mortgages). Stock Market insights (stocks, bonds, market cycles, corporate governance), and The Big Picture (Economics 101, The Federal Reserve System, Inflation, Deflation, Gross Domestic Product, Fiscal Policy) – each section is explained with such accessible detail that the book becomes a much-needed fixture in the library of us all!
At book’s end, Mark provides a Comprehensive Knowledge Check – a list of thirty questions to guarantee we have digested all the materials in the book – a reinforcing way to judge where we stand at present after absorbing his fine book. The markers he underlines for financial success are Cash Reserve, Balance Sheet, Cash Flow, Budget, Credit, Invest in Yourself, Pay your self First, Invest wisely, Diversify your retirement income, Manage risk sensibly, and (with his touch of humor0 – KISS (Keep it Simple, Stupid).
A book for students of all levels – those studying economics and those of us out in the world looking for solid, well considered tutoring, this is one of the very finest resources for understanding and employing financial matters. Very highly recommended.
March 16, 2021
A Clearly Written Comprehensive Guide to Understanding Finance.
This incredibly informative book really is the definitive guide to finance. Mark Lazar is a Certified Financial Planner, and senior vice president of investments for a national wealth management firm, who has not only worked in the industry for twenty-five years but has a Batchelor of Science in Finance, and a MBA. However, it is his personal experiences watching his parents struggle to make ends meet, and hard personal circumstances, which motivated him to do better. Working from the age of twelve, this self-made man “quickly learnt the correlation between effort and reward and became a millionaire by age forty.” What better recommendation could anyone ask for, when seeking financial advice?
Set out in five sections, beginning with the basics, the author covers important subjects such as balance sheets, cash flow, credit scores and taxes. Then in Section 2, he discusses ‘The Head Versus the Heart,’ getting down to the hard tacks of get rich schemes, education funding, and wants, versus needs. Or as he says “It’s important to understand the difference between essential and non-essential spending: wants versus needs.” These days, pressures such as these are very real and cause great financial hardship. I just loved this excellent quote he used, “Too many people spend money they earned, to buy things they don’t want, to impress people that they don’t like – Will Rogers.”
Then he tackles the ‘big’ financial decision we make during our lives, either alone or with a partner, our home. He advises the reader on how to decide which option would be better for them, to rent, or buy, and mortgage options. Then as life continues, how to plan for the future, investment properties, risk management and onward…
Until, the year’s roll quickly by and you find yourself considering retirement plans, assets, social security, income in retirement, and the many options available to you. Perhaps you would like to know how to work the Stock, or Bond Market. Well, this incredibly knowledgeable author demystifies these, and discusses other options which are available too.
Finally in Section 6: The Big Picture, he provides ‘Economics 101,’ and talks about inflation, deflation, Fiscal Policy and other important subjects.
I hope the author doesn’t mind me quoting this paragraph. “The bad news is there is no magic formula or get- rich-quick scheme. The good news, however, is that by building your wealth the right way—by understanding and incorporating sound financial principles into your everyday life and doing a handful of things a little better—over time you will become financially secure. Furthermore, the very same principles that enable you to achieve prosperity will also ensure you won’t lose it once you have it. For me, it explains perfectly why I believe this book should be on every high school reading list.
I have never read such a comprehensive guide written in such an easy to understand way. Highly recommended!
This incredibly informative book really is the definitive guide to finance. Mark Lazar is a Certified Financial Planner, and senior vice president of investments for a national wealth management firm, who has not only worked in the industry for twenty-five years but has a Batchelor of Science in Finance, and a MBA. However, it is his personal experiences watching his parents struggle to make ends meet, and hard personal circumstances, which motivated him to do better. Working from the age of twelve, this self-made man “quickly learnt the correlation between effort and reward and became a millionaire by age forty.” What better recommendation could anyone ask for, when seeking financial advice?
Set out in five sections, beginning with the basics, the author covers important subjects such as balance sheets, cash flow, credit scores and taxes. Then in Section 2, he discusses ‘The Head Versus the Heart,’ getting down to the hard tacks of get rich schemes, education funding, and wants, versus needs. Or as he says “It’s important to understand the difference between essential and non-essential spending: wants versus needs.” These days, pressures such as these are very real and cause great financial hardship. I just loved this excellent quote he used, “Too many people spend money they earned, to buy things they don’t want, to impress people that they don’t like – Will Rogers.”
Then he tackles the ‘big’ financial decision we make during our lives, either alone or with a partner, our home. He advises the reader on how to decide which option would be better for them, to rent, or buy, and mortgage options. Then as life continues, how to plan for the future, investment properties, risk management and onward…
Until, the year’s roll quickly by and you find yourself considering retirement plans, assets, social security, income in retirement, and the many options available to you. Perhaps you would like to know how to work the Stock, or Bond Market. Well, this incredibly knowledgeable author demystifies these, and discusses other options which are available too.
Finally in Section 6: The Big Picture, he provides ‘Economics 101,’ and talks about inflation, deflation, Fiscal Policy and other important subjects.
I hope the author doesn’t mind me quoting this paragraph. “The bad news is there is no magic formula or get- rich-quick scheme. The good news, however, is that by building your wealth the right way—by understanding and incorporating sound financial principles into your everyday life and doing a handful of things a little better—over time you will become financially secure. Furthermore, the very same principles that enable you to achieve prosperity will also ensure you won’t lose it once you have it. For me, it explains perfectly why I believe this book should be on every high school reading list.
I have never read such a comprehensive guide written in such an easy to understand way. Highly recommended!
April 2, 2021
A Wealth of Life-changing Knowledge!
Mark Lazar became a millionaire before the age of 40, but he didn’t begin there. His economically disadvantaged childhood in a blue collar family that struggled to make ends meet gave him drive and motivation to change his own future. Mark has a BS in finance from the University of Utah, and an MBA from the University of Colorado. He has been an adjunct professor of finance and is a successful CERTIFIED FINANCIAL PLANNER™ who loves to help others figure out their finances so that they can prosper.
In Pathway to Prosperity, Lazar begins by telling the reader, “Contrary to what you may hear from friends, family, teachers, the government, or the media—regardless of your race, color, religion, where you grew up, or current social status, you have the power to change your life in ways you never believed possible.” For Lazar, prosperity isn’t attained through magic tricks or get-rich-quick schemes, but by building wealth through understanding and application of solid financial principles.
He divides his pathway into six sections, with the intention that the reader should approach the book not as just a source of knowledge but as a six-week practical program covering everything from the up-close and personal basics of finance, credit, and taxes to a big picture understanding of economics. Lazar makes application easy, with a knowledge check at the end of each section and practical assignment sheets for examination of one’s personal financial status. There are so many beneficial insights to be gleaned in these sections, including learning to differentiate between income consuming assets and income producing assets, how to appropriately use credit, and how to prepare for retirement.
Lazar also addresses the importance of good time management, saying “I firmly believe the most valuable commodity on the planet is time. Money is nothing if not a function of time. Show me a successful person and I’ll show you someone who is good at time management.” This value shows in the user-friendly design of his e-book, with its clickable links to all resources and assignment sheets. The audiobook version, voiced by Mark Williams, is a perfect way to effectively combine building one’s financial knowledge while managing other tasks, such as a daily commute or workout.
In Pathway to Prosperity, Lazar not only encourages the reader that change is possible, he also empowers change by showing the pathway forward and walking with the reader along it. This guide to money and financial literacy is comprehensive in knowledge and practical in design, giving people tools to know how to build a better financial life. This is an especially useful read for high school and college students at the beginning of their financial journeys, though it can help those of us who are farther along in our careers to get an even better grasp of finances. A practical, personal, and inspiring resource, Pathway to Prosperity contains a wealth of life-changing knowledge!
Mark Lazar became a millionaire before the age of 40, but he didn’t begin there. His economically disadvantaged childhood in a blue collar family that struggled to make ends meet gave him drive and motivation to change his own future. Mark has a BS in finance from the University of Utah, and an MBA from the University of Colorado. He has been an adjunct professor of finance and is a successful CERTIFIED FINANCIAL PLANNER™ who loves to help others figure out their finances so that they can prosper.
In Pathway to Prosperity, Lazar begins by telling the reader, “Contrary to what you may hear from friends, family, teachers, the government, or the media—regardless of your race, color, religion, where you grew up, or current social status, you have the power to change your life in ways you never believed possible.” For Lazar, prosperity isn’t attained through magic tricks or get-rich-quick schemes, but by building wealth through understanding and application of solid financial principles.
He divides his pathway into six sections, with the intention that the reader should approach the book not as just a source of knowledge but as a six-week practical program covering everything from the up-close and personal basics of finance, credit, and taxes to a big picture understanding of economics. Lazar makes application easy, with a knowledge check at the end of each section and practical assignment sheets for examination of one’s personal financial status. There are so many beneficial insights to be gleaned in these sections, including learning to differentiate between income consuming assets and income producing assets, how to appropriately use credit, and how to prepare for retirement.
Lazar also addresses the importance of good time management, saying “I firmly believe the most valuable commodity on the planet is time. Money is nothing if not a function of time. Show me a successful person and I’ll show you someone who is good at time management.” This value shows in the user-friendly design of his e-book, with its clickable links to all resources and assignment sheets. The audiobook version, voiced by Mark Williams, is a perfect way to effectively combine building one’s financial knowledge while managing other tasks, such as a daily commute or workout.
In Pathway to Prosperity, Lazar not only encourages the reader that change is possible, he also empowers change by showing the pathway forward and walking with the reader along it. This guide to money and financial literacy is comprehensive in knowledge and practical in design, giving people tools to know how to build a better financial life. This is an especially useful read for high school and college students at the beginning of their financial journeys, though it can help those of us who are farther along in our careers to get an even better grasp of finances. A practical, personal, and inspiring resource, Pathway to Prosperity contains a wealth of life-changing knowledge!
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May 18, 2024Nnn
March 26, 2021
"Pathway to Prosperity", by Mark Lazar, is the perfect financial guide for those looking to gain prosperity. The old saying "Knowledge is power" couldn't be truer when it comes to money. Lazar set out to show everyone that prosperity is attainable, not just a dream for someone else. Money, from budgeting to buying a home, can be a personal thing, and Lazar share his personal story up front, of how he was raised in a blue collar household with money issues. He was determined to make a better life for himself, and learned from his upbringing, making another saying--"Experience is the best teacher"--absolutely true. He went from a working boy of 12 to a millionaire at age 40. This author has a gift for simplifying complex ideas--and money can be complicated, but doesn't have to be, as Lazar demonstrates so effectively. There are a lot of financial books to choose from today, but few offer a new way of thinking about poverty and money. Lazar's philosophy is that poverty is a choice, and that the decisions you make can lead you through the desert of want, toward an oasis of prosperity and comfort. This "personal responsibility" approach permeates the book, and will motivate readers to realize they are in charge of their financial future.
"Pathway to Prosperity" starts with the basics--personal finances--introducing you to terms and concepts like budgeting, credit, credit score, taxes, etc. Then moves on to related topics like wants versus needs, is college the best choice for you, get-rich schemes, time management, etc. And covers other money-related life choice that people make every day, but may not think through, like whether to rent or buy, good debt/bad debt, investing, retirement, Social Security, the stock markets--even the Federal Reserve. As you read, you'll find that Lazar carefully and competently covers just about any financial aspect you may encounter on your life's journey. Readers will gravitate toward the author's personal style. There is nothing dry or boring about this book; in fact it's quite engaging and dynamic--something you can take and use in your everyday life. The charts included are an asset to the text. After you finish, you'll feel as though you've taken a wonderful course in money management, and will be equipped to make more informed decisions. The links included in the text take you to more information at PathwaytoProsperity.com. The Knowledge Checks recap what you've read, making this a good book to use in a classroom setting or financial workshop.
The audiobook version of "Pathway to Prosperity" is the perfect way to read this book. The narrator, Mark Williams, gives a personal, energetic feel to the text--lots of personality--as if you are sitting in the audience at a captivating lecture or public speaking engagement, or even across the table from him. It would be a great book to listen to while commuting to work or just in the mood for some motivation concerning your finances. As for the links and charts in the text, you can find them at PathwaytoProsperity.com. The important thing is that you'll come away with a much better understanding of money, how it operates, and how you can make it work in your life.
"Pathway to Prosperity" starts with the basics--personal finances--introducing you to terms and concepts like budgeting, credit, credit score, taxes, etc. Then moves on to related topics like wants versus needs, is college the best choice for you, get-rich schemes, time management, etc. And covers other money-related life choice that people make every day, but may not think through, like whether to rent or buy, good debt/bad debt, investing, retirement, Social Security, the stock markets--even the Federal Reserve. As you read, you'll find that Lazar carefully and competently covers just about any financial aspect you may encounter on your life's journey. Readers will gravitate toward the author's personal style. There is nothing dry or boring about this book; in fact it's quite engaging and dynamic--something you can take and use in your everyday life. The charts included are an asset to the text. After you finish, you'll feel as though you've taken a wonderful course in money management, and will be equipped to make more informed decisions. The links included in the text take you to more information at PathwaytoProsperity.com. The Knowledge Checks recap what you've read, making this a good book to use in a classroom setting or financial workshop.
The audiobook version of "Pathway to Prosperity" is the perfect way to read this book. The narrator, Mark Williams, gives a personal, energetic feel to the text--lots of personality--as if you are sitting in the audience at a captivating lecture or public speaking engagement, or even across the table from him. It would be a great book to listen to while commuting to work or just in the mood for some motivation concerning your finances. As for the links and charts in the text, you can find them at PathwaytoProsperity.com. The important thing is that you'll come away with a much better understanding of money, how it operates, and how you can make it work in your life.
June 22, 2021
There is no doubt that Mark Lazar’s book, Pathway to Prosperity: Your Guide to Money and Economics, should be read by everyone! A Certified Financial Planner, he has fully loaded this book with vital information about the art and science of creating wealth. Early on he points out, “Making money is one thing, creating wealth quite another.”
What he also continually emphasizes is that free markets are the most efficient method of determining the value of goods and services, and that government policy most often impedes their proper functioning or creates collapse. Each topic is carefully explained, sometimes using charts and equations, and every section in the Kindle version has loads of hot links to corresponding pages on Lazar’s extensive Pathway to Prosperity website.
Pathway to Prosperity is broken down into three sections. The first two-thirds goes through the primary aspects of economic life with the final third, the most interesting to me, focusing on what Lazar calls ‘The Big Picture.’ What he means by the latter are the major historical and societal levers effecting the U.S. and world economies. These include the history of money and trade, central banks (U.S. Federal Reserve or Bank of England), stock and commodity markets, government fiscal and monetary policy, inflation, deflation, bonds, credit, market cycles and more.
Something I didn’t know was that the U.S. Federal Reserve, a private institution with public mandates, is “the most profitable entity on Earth.” Historical examples, going back to the Roman Empire, demonstrate how there is nothing new under the sun and that, for example, governments deflating their own currency for political reasons has been attempted again and again. Lazar knows the reader must learn that the world didn’t start when they were born.
He ushers one through retirement and tax planning, good debt and bad debt, commercial and residential property, government and corporate bonds, stocks and commodity markets and much more. Lazar goes into the difference between ‘Wants and Needs,’ thinking with your ‘Head and Not Your Heart’ and other esoteric aspects of dealing with money.
This is not only a Pathway to Prosperity but a Pathway to more detailed interest in hundreds of topics. I really enjoyed this book and will have to read it again to see what I missed the first time.
Brad Butler, Author of A World Flight Over Russia
What he also continually emphasizes is that free markets are the most efficient method of determining the value of goods and services, and that government policy most often impedes their proper functioning or creates collapse. Each topic is carefully explained, sometimes using charts and equations, and every section in the Kindle version has loads of hot links to corresponding pages on Lazar’s extensive Pathway to Prosperity website.
Pathway to Prosperity is broken down into three sections. The first two-thirds goes through the primary aspects of economic life with the final third, the most interesting to me, focusing on what Lazar calls ‘The Big Picture.’ What he means by the latter are the major historical and societal levers effecting the U.S. and world economies. These include the history of money and trade, central banks (U.S. Federal Reserve or Bank of England), stock and commodity markets, government fiscal and monetary policy, inflation, deflation, bonds, credit, market cycles and more.
Something I didn’t know was that the U.S. Federal Reserve, a private institution with public mandates, is “the most profitable entity on Earth.” Historical examples, going back to the Roman Empire, demonstrate how there is nothing new under the sun and that, for example, governments deflating their own currency for political reasons has been attempted again and again. Lazar knows the reader must learn that the world didn’t start when they were born.
He ushers one through retirement and tax planning, good debt and bad debt, commercial and residential property, government and corporate bonds, stocks and commodity markets and much more. Lazar goes into the difference between ‘Wants and Needs,’ thinking with your ‘Head and Not Your Heart’ and other esoteric aspects of dealing with money.
This is not only a Pathway to Prosperity but a Pathway to more detailed interest in hundreds of topics. I really enjoyed this book and will have to read it again to see what I missed the first time.
Brad Butler, Author of A World Flight Over Russia
May 6, 2021
Expertly written, this financial guide is a must-read for all ages. The author explains all aspects of finance in an easy to understand way.
Displaying 1 - 7 of 7 reviews