Assets vs. Liabilities: My Financial Wake-Up Call

Here’s how I break it down: assets put money into my pocket. Liabilities take money out. That means things like dividend-paying ETFs, rental properties, and stocks are assets—they generate income for me on a regular basis. On the flip side, luxury cars, designer clothes, and expensive vacations? They’re liabilities. They might make me look rich, but they drain my wallet.

Early on, I was guilty of chasing that “rich” lifestyle—buying things to impress others. But it wasn’t sustainable, and it certainly wasn’t helping me build wealth. Now, I focus on buying assets first and letting those assets eventually fund my lifestyle. That’s how real wealth is built.

Active vs. Passive Investing: Choosing My Lane

Over time, I’ve learned that not all investing is created equal. Some people thrive with active investing—digging into individual stocks, flipping houses, or running businesses. It takes time, effort, and a high tolerance for risk, but the potential rewards can be big.

For me, I’ve leaned more into passive investing. I prefer putting my money into low-maintenance investments like index funds, ETFs, or even real estate syndicates. These “set it and forget it” strategies don’t require me to constantly watch the market, and they still provide solid returns over time.

How I Get Paid from My Investments

There are two ways I get paid: cash flow and appreciation. Cash flow is that sweet, regular income I get from dividends or rental properties. It’s money I can actually use without selling the asset. Appreciation, on the other hand, comes from buying something and waiting for it to go up in value—like when a stock or home increases in price.

I like to combine both strategies. I hold dividend-paying ETFs that pay me quarterly, and I have long-term investments that I’m confident will grow in value. That balance gives me steady income and long-term growth.

Picking the Right Strategy for Me

I’ve realized that choosing the right investment strategy is personal. It depends on how much time I want to spend, my comfort with risk, and how involved I want to be. For example, if I have $100 and not much time, I can throw it into a low-cost ETF and automate monthly contributions. If I have more capital and time, I might explore real estate or private business deals.

The key for me has been to start small, learn as I go, and diversify over time. I didn’t try to master everything at once.

Making My Investments Work Automatically

One of the smartest things I ever did was automate my investing. I use platforms like M1 Finance to make regular contributions through dollar-cost averaging. That way, I invest consistently whether the market is up or down, and I don’t get stuck trying to time anything.

If you’re more into active investing, that’s fine too—but do your homework. I’ve learned to research financial statements, understand economic trends, and study the locations of any properties I’m considering. Real estate especially requires knowing where people are moving and why.

I Never Stop Learning

If there’s one habit that’s accelerated my financial growth, it’s financial education. I read books, take courses, and follow people who know more than I do. Every time I level up my knowledge, my investing gets smarter—and more profitable.

Education isn’t optional in this game. It’s the edge that helps me make better decisions and avoid costly mistakes.

My Goal: Financial Freedom, Not Just Looking Rich

At the end of the day, everything I do financially comes down to this: I want my investments to generate enough income to cover my lifestyle. That’s what financial independence means to me—freedom from needing a paycheck, freedom to live on my own terms.

To get there, I diversify. I’ve got money in the stock market, real estate, and some alternative investments. I don’t chase trends—I focus on building income streams that can weather any storm.

And most importantly, I’m in it for the long haul. I know that consistent investing over time will get me where I want to go.

Jaspreet Singh is not a licensed financial advisor. He is a licensed attorney, but he is not providing you with legal advice in this article. This article, the topics discussed, and ideas presented are Jaspreet’s opinions and presented for entertainment purposes only. The information presented should not be construed as financial or legal advice. Always do your own due diligence.

The post How I’m Building Wealth by Focusing on Assets, Not Liabilities appeared first on ROI TV.

If 2025 taught investors anything, it’s this: volatility creates opportunity—if you know how to stay calm and invest wisely.

From rapid market crashes triggered by tariff wars to equally rapid rebounds, investors who stayed disciplined and bought during the dips came out far ahead. Here’s how you can learn from history, improve your financial psychology, and build long-term wealth, even when the market feels chaotic.

1. 2025: A Case Study in Volatility and Opportunity

The stock market in 2025 was a roller coaster.

• February 3: Tariffs announced on Canada, China, and Mexico → market panic
• February 4: Tariffs paused → rebound
• March 4: Tariffs reinstated → crash
• March 7: Tariffs paused again → rebound
• April 2: Tariffs on the entire world → fastest crash since COVID
• April 9: Pause announced → another rebound

Global markets lost $4 trillion… and recovered.

Those who sold in fear locked in losses.
Those who bought during the panic bought assets at huge discounts—and built wealth.

2. Lessons from Past Market Downturns

History repeats itself—and savvy investors know it.

• 2022: Market down 20%
• 2020: COVID selloff—faster than Great Depression rates
• 2008: Financial crisis collapse
• 2000: Dot-com bubble burst

Each time, investors who stayed the course—or better yet, bought more during the downturn—benefited massively.

Example:

• Amazon stock fell over 90% during the dot-com crash.
• Long-term investors who bought then saw their investments skyrocket years later.

The big takeaway:
Downturns aren’t disasters—they’re opportunities for future wealth.

3. Financial Psychology: Your Secret Weapon

The biggest difference between wealthy investors and struggling ones?
Financial psychology.

• Selling during a crash = locking in losses.
• Buying during a crash = locking in future gains.

It sounds simple—but when the news is screaming “CRISIS,” staying calm and investing consistently takes real mental toughness.

Smart investors remember:
Markets crash. Markets recover.
Over time, the economy grows—and so does your portfolio.

4. Passive Investing: Always Be Buying (ABB)

Trying to time the market almost always backfires.

Instead, adopt the Always Be Buying strategy:

• Set up automatic investments into broad funds like VTI (total U.S. market ETF) or S&P 500 ETFs like SPY and VOO.
• Keep investing every week or month—no matter what the headlines say.

During downturns, your money buys more shares for the same amount—supercharging your long-term growth when markets recover.

ABB takes the emotion out of investing—and makes sure you’re always building wealth.

5. Staying Informed (Without the Panic)

The key to smart investing isn’t watching every market twitch—it’s staying informed without getting overwhelmed.

Resources like the Market Briefs newsletter provide:

• Daily updates on the economy, stocks, crypto, and housing
• Actionable insights (not just scary headlines)
• Free investing master classes for deeper education

Knowledge is power—especially when everyone else is panicking.

6. Bet on the Broader Economy

Investing in the U.S. economy through broad index funds remains one of the safest, smartest ways to build long-term wealth.

• Funds like VTI, SPY, and VOO automatically adjust to include the strongest companies.
• Weak companies get dropped; strong ones stay in.
• You don’t have to pick winners—the market does it for you.

By consistently investing in America’s future, you position yourself to ride decades of growth—even if there are bumps along the way.

Final Thoughts: Volatility Is Your Friend (If You Let It Be)

Every panic, every crash, every correction is an opportunity.

If you:

• Stay calm
• Keep investing
• Focus on long-term growth
• Trust the broader economy

You’ll look back at market downturns as the moments that built your wealth, not destroyed it.

Remember: The greatest investment opportunities often come wrapped in fear.

Jaspreet Singh is not a licensed financial advisor. He is a licensed attorney, but he is not providing you with legal advice in this article. This article, the topics discussed, and ideas presented are Jaspreet’s opinions and presented for entertainment purposes only. The information presented should not be construed as financial or legal advice. Always do your own due diligence

The post Is 2025 the Best Year in History to Invest? appeared first on ROI TV.