© 2016 by Tim Maurer

Published by Baker Books

a division of Baker Publishing Group

P.O. Box 6287, Grand Rapids, MI 49516-6287

www.bakerbooks.com

Ebook edition created 2016

Ebook corrections 02.08.2018

All rights reserved. No part of this publication may be reproduced, stored in a retrieval system, or transmitted in any form or by any means—for example, electronic, photocopy, recording—without the prior written permission of the publisher. The only exception is brief quotations in printed reviews.

Library of Congress Cataloging-in-Publication Data is on file at the Library of Congress, Washington, DC.

ISBN 978-1-4934-0324-0

Author is represented by WordServe Literary Group, www.wordserveliterary.com.

Some names and details have been changed to protect the privacy of the individuals.

“The problem with so much personal finance advice is that it’s unnecessarily complicated, often with the goal of selling you things you don’t need. Tim Maurer never plays that game. His straightforward, candid, and—yes—simple prescriptions are always right on target.”

—Jean Chatzky, financial editor of NBC’s Today Show

“Finally, a personal finance book that isn’t only about how to improve your financial situation for the sake of just making more money; instead, Simple Money is ultimately about how to live a more fulfilling life, and provides the financial education, along with simple (and practical!) money tools and techniques you can use to help you get there.”

—Michael Kitces, director of financial planning at Pinnacle Advisory Group; publisher of Nerd’s Eye View financial planning industry blog

“Amen! Amen! Amen! Simplicity is a gift . . . and this book offers it by the truckload!”

—Carl Richards, New York Times columnist; author of The One-Page Financial Plan; director of investor education at the BAM Alliance

“Once again, Tim takes us by the hand and leads us through the complicated world of personal finance. Reading this book is like having your own personal financial advisor—a great one—sitting on your shoulder, helping you make difficult decisions. From setting goals to investing to preparing for retirement, Tim shows us the way to financial prosperity.”

—Kimberly Palmer, senior money editor at U.S. News & World Report; author of The Economy of You

“Some books teach you about money, and others help you find your purpose. Simple Money is the rare, honest book that tackles the intersection between them. You can’t manage your money without thinking about your life—and the system that Tim proposes can make a radical difference in both.”

—Chris Guillebeau, New York Times bestselling author of The $100 Startup and The Happiness of Pursuit

“If you’ve ever had the urge to throw up your hands and yell ‘Enough!’ when thinking about your finances, you are on to something, and Simple Money will help you find it.

“In Simple Money, financial expert Tim Maurer teaches us how to literally redefine wealth in a way that will both honor your life values and priorities while simultaneously ...