第26部分(第1/8 頁)

So　wise　investors　must　look　at　more　than　ROI；　it's　the　assets　you　get　for　free　once　you　get　your　money　back。　That　is　financial　intelligence。 ：

8。　ASSETS　BUY　LUXURIES：　The　power　of　focus。　A　friend's　child　has　been　developing　a　nasty　habit　of　burning　a　hole　in　his　pocket。　Just　16；　he　naturally　wanted　his　own　car。　The　excuse；　〃All　his　friends'　parents　gave　their　kids　cars。〃　The　child　wanted　to　go　into｜

his　savings　and　use　it　for　a　down　payment。　That　was　when　his　father　called　me。　〃Do　you　think　I　should　let　him　do　it；　or　should　I　just　do　as　other　parents　do　and　just　buy　him　a　car？〃

To　which　I　answered。 〃It　might　relieve　the　pressure　in　the　short　term；　but　what　have　you　taught　him　in　the　long　term？　Can　you　use　this　desire　to　own　a　car　and　inspire　your　son　to　learn　something？〃　Suddenly　the　lights　went　on；　and　he　hurried　home。

Two　months　later　I　ran　into　my　friend　again。 〃Does　your　son　have　his　new　car？〃　I　asked。

〃No；　he　doesn't。　But　I　went　and　handed　him　3；000　for　the　car。　I　told　him　to　use　my　money　instead　of　his　college　money。〃　〃Well；　that's　generous　of　you；〃　I　said。

〃Not　really。　The　money　came　with　a　hitch。 I　took　your　advice　of　using　his　strong　desire　to　buy　a　car　and　use　that　energy　so　he　could　learn　something。〃

〃So　what　was　the　hitch？〃　I　asked。

〃Well；　first　we　broke　out　your　game　again；　CASHFLOW。　We　played　it　and　had　a　long　discussion　about　the　wise　use　of　money。 I　then　gave　him　a　subscription　to　the　Wall　St