Your 20s Are The Cheat Code for Building Wealth — Here's Why

Millionaire investor Graham Stephan breaks down the brutal truth: most people waste their 20s. But if you’re intentional, this decade is when you can set yourself up for financial independence.

Skip The Bad Advice Stephan’s first rule? “Don’t take advice from someone you wouldn’t want to trade places with.” Stop listening to broke people complaining about money. Period.

Build Credit NOW Those three numbers (your credit score) control everything — apartments, mortgage rates, job opportunities. Start with a secured card, use it lightly, pay on time. After 6-12 months, upgrade to better rewards cards. This is foundational.

Gain Skills, Not Just Paychecks Every job teaches you something. Don’t chase money in your 20s — chase skills. Even unpaid internships in your dream field beat dead-end jobs. Pivot fast if it’s wrong.

One Income = One Problem Stephan’s research shows millionaires average around 7 income streams. Mix it up: day job + side hustle + investments + rentals. Variety beats reliance.

Stop Rewarding Yourself This is where most people fail. You get a raise, your lifestyle inflates, and suddenly you’re saving zero more. Stephan’s hack: pretend raises don’t exist. Invest the extra before you taste it.

The Math Is Brutal $1 invested at 20 grows to $21 by 65. Same dollar at 30? Only $10.68. Time is your superpower — use it. Max out a Roth IRA and let compound interest do the heavy lifting.

The Bottom Line Getting rich in your 20s isn’t mysterious — it’s boring and repeatable: build credit, earn diverse income, cut lifestyle creep, invest obsessively. The people who do this? They’re not smarter. They just started early.