5 Stocks I Used To Accumulate My First $100K

I Built My Foundation With These 5 Blue-Chip Companies

Earning Your First $100K Isn’t the Hardest Part

Charlie Munger famously said, “The first $100K is the hardest.” While I respect the wisdom in that quote, I’ve come to believe there’s a deeper layer to that concept. I hit the $100K milestone in invested capital in my mid-twenties—but what surprised me most was realizing that reaching $100K wasn’t the toughest part. The real challenge was in building the right habits and avoiding the common financial traps along the way. Here are some steps you can take to instantly improve your financial situation.

Like many recent graduates, I started my financial journey with student loans and a negative net worth. After years of studying and hard work, it was tempting to splurge on things I thought I deserved—a new car, travel, a nicer apartment. But I had to delay gratification to lay the groundwork for financial security. It wasn’t easy watching friends upgrade their lifestyles while I stuck with a car that had paint peeling off the sides, skipped vacations, and cut out unnecessary spending.

Some called me “cheap,” but in truth, I was simply focused. While others were making $500 car payments, I was investing $500 from every paycheck into the stock market.

If you’re in your 20s or 30s, here are the key steps I’d recommend to build a solid financial foundation:

• Eliminate all high-interest debt—especially student loans and credit cards.

• Pay yourself first. Automate savings and investments.

• Build an emergency fund.

• Invest in yourself. Learn new skills to grow your income potential.

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