WINNING AT THE MONEY GAME

Shawn Geegbae

Your finanical playbook to

success

Winning at the Money GameYour financial playbook to success

Shawn Geegbae

WINNING AT THE MONEY GAME

This publication is designed to provide competent and reliable information

regarding the subject matter covered. It is sold with the understanding that

the author and publisher are not engaged in rendering legal, financial, or

other professional services. The author and publisher specifically disclaim

any liability that is incurred from the use or application of the contents of

this book.

While the author has made every effort to provide accurate information,

neither the publisher nor the author assumes any responsibility for errors,

or for changes that occur after publication.

Winning at the Money Game™ and all book titles, characters and locales

are trademarks of Shawn Geegbae. Use without permission is strictly

prohibited.

Copyright ©2014 by Shawn Geegbae

All rights reserved. No part of this book may be reproduced, scanned, or

distributed in any printed or electronic form without permission. Please do

not participate in or encourage piracy of copyrighted materials in violation

of the author’s rights. Purchase only authorized editions.

Library of Congress Cataloging-in-Publication Data

Geegbae, Shawn

Cover design by Chris Amador. Edits by Brittany S. Kelly

Winning at the Money Game: Your financial playbook to success / Shawn

Geegbae.

Table Of Contents

Introduction . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 1

The Basics . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 3

Free-Throws . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 6

Passing . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 9

Boxing Out . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 11

Follow-Through . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 13

THE SQUAD . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 15

Summary . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 23

Words of Inspiration . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 25

About the Author . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 29

1

Introduction

Tied game, five seconds left on the clock and you’ve got the ball. The crowd is on its feet, cheering and screaming. Cameras are flashing and everyone is watching in anticipation. What’s your next move?

The game of basketball develops many skills that you will need in life no matter if you win, lose or warm the bench. As a player, you’ve learned and mastered the fundamentals, played away games in hostile arenas, made quick decisions on offense and defense, and learned perseverance to never give up on a play, in a game or on yourself. The lessons learned on the basketball court have guided some players to become doctors, actors, and scientists.

In school, we learn math, science, history and English but many students graduate high school without hearing words like “credit, compound interest, and FICO.” Putting coins into a piggy bank is the most financial knowledge many teens obtain before they make their way into our modern financial world. If the cycle of financial illiteracy is not broken the consequences can become dire.

Winning at the Money Game: Your financial playbook to success utilizes basketball models and examples to teach important principles of personal finance. Readers are provided with a link between familiar basketball concepts and unfamiliar financial practices. With this approach, you will begin to master financial and investment strategies.

2

IT’S GAME TIME!

3

The Basics

“Success is neither magical nor mysterious. Success is the natural consequence of consistently applying the basic fundamentals.” Jim RohnAmerican entrepreneur, author, and motivational speaker

In The Money Game, you will face a variety of situations and the only concept that works, no matter the opponent, are the fundamentals. Why do you think players from the NBA to high school spend hours constantly practicing and reviewing the fundamentals? It’s because they are important in becoming successful! The first step in getting off the bench and into the money game, is mastering the most important fundamental – your credit.

Give Yourself Some Credit

It is essential that you understand both your credit reports and your FICO score. Credit is money you are allowed to have, based on the trust that payment will be made in the future. A credit score is a measurement of your reliability to pay your bills on time.

FICO is an acronym for the Fair Isaacs Credit Organization, the creator of the software used to calculate credit scores. Your FICO score is similar to a report card; it provides you information about your credit- how well you are doing.

4

It contains a history of how well you have paid your bills, how much credit you have, and the type of credit cards and loans you possess. The score is calculated based upon your credit history. Scores range between 350 (high risk-this is not good) and 850 (low risk-this is very good). Your FICO score determines what interest rate you will get on many important purchases: a student loan (to pay for your college education), a car, and/or a house.

In comparison to basketball, a foul is an infraction of the rules concerning illegal personal contact with an opponent and/or unsportsmanlike conduct. Basketball players who commit too many personal fouls during the course of a game are said to be in “foul trouble.” This concept is also true for those in the money game. Having a low FICO score or a bad credit rating can quickly get you off the path to “winning at the money game.” To avoid financially fouling out, here are some tips to keep you in the game and out of “foul trouble.”

• Pay your bills on time

• Pay off debt rather than moving it around

• Do not open a lot of new accounts in a short period oftime

• Request and check your credit report from the creditreporting agency once a year

• Closing a credit card account does not make it go away;closed accounts will still show up on your credit report

5

Here is your FICO breakdown

35% = Your history of paying bills on time

What to do: Try to pay 20% more than the minimum balance due. Be smart and pay your bills at least 5-7 days before they are due.

30% = Total balance on your credit

What to do: Reduce your debt-to-credit ratio by paying what you owe or by asking the credit card companies to increase your credit limit.

15% = How long you’ve had credit history.

What to do: When you pay off all your debt, do not cancel your credit card. If you cancel a card, always cancel the newest one first.

10% = New accounts and recent applications for credit.

What to do: Don’t apply for a lot of credit cards or loans in a short period of time. The more recent these inquiries on your credit report the worse for your credit score.

10% = Mix of credit and loans

What to do: Never apply for loans or multiple credit cards all at once. It would be wise to have just one to two credit cards. It is ok having a variety of installment loans such as college loans, car loans, or home mortgages.

6

Free-Throws

“Free-throws always win games. Toward the end of the game, when it became crunch time, we hit some big free throws and that pretty much gave us the game.” Daniel DillonProfessional Basketball Player

As you move up the financial roster, you will quickly realize that achieving success is simple, but like most things, it is not easy. Financial success is simple because it does not require complex calculations to produce results. Anyone with an ounce of determination and discipline can excel but it requires a little sweat equity.

In basketball, free-throws are unopposed attempts to score points from a restricted area on the court. They require concentration and practice. Making these unguarded 15-foot shots in a tight game often separates the winners from the losers. Similar to success at the free-throw line, financial success requires practice.

Saving

One of the most powerful and effective strategies for building wealth is creating a savings account. A savings account is a bank account where you place money in order to save it for the future. To save money effectively, put away 10-30% of your allowance or paycheck into a savings account. In

7

the book, The Richest Man in Babylon, George S. Clason writes, “that what each of us calls our ‘necessary expenses’ will always grow to equal our income unless we protest to the contrary…confuse not the necessary expenses with thy desire, you have more desire than your earnings can gratify” (Clason 37). Saving money is one of the easiest things to do but is often overlooked.

Saving can be done at any point in your life. You can start in two weeks, or two months but the best time is always NOW. The earlier you start, the more you’ll have later.

Tips for Saving Money

• Ask your parents to start a “match saving” program, wherethey match the amount you put in. Say you put $10 in thebank, they can “match” you by putting $10 in the bank.

• Create an allowance, setting a fixed budget for things likeentertainment, eating out, and clothing.

• Keep a record of what you have spent your money on.For the next two weeks, write down every cent thatleaves your pocket. After the two weeks are up, examineyour spending habits and see where you spent the mostmoney. If you notice you spend a lot of money on clothes,for example, try cutting back and saving that money forsomething else, such as your savings account.

8

Investing

There are only two ways to make more money: working more hours or having your money work for you. Why not sit back and watch your money grow? How is this possible you ask? Investing!

Invest by buying assets. An asset is an item of value, such as stocks and bonds. You can purchase stocks and bonds through online brokers. Robert Kiyosaki, the author of Rich Dad, Poor Dad says, “you must know the difference between an asset and a liability, and buy assets. If you want to be rich, this is all you need to know. It is Rule No.1. It is the only rule” (Kiyosaki 58).

Financial Assets

• Bank Accounts

• Mutual funds, stocks, and bonds

• Business Investments

Physical Assets

• Rental properties

• Commodities (gold, silver, etc)

• Antiques and Collectible (artwork, stamps, coins, etc.)

9

Passing

“As we look ahead into the next century, leaders will be those who empower others.”Bill GatesFounder of Microsoft

To become successful, you must network with people who

are going to support you rather than stop you from achieving

your goals. Statistics show that your income, the amount of

money you make yearly, will reflect the average income of

your five closest friends. If you are surrounded by people

who save and invest, you are likely to do the same. In essence,

they are passing on financial excellence. Since many of us

may not know or live near a millionaire, you can gather sound

financial tips and information from your local library. The

library is filled with the writing of, and about, successful indi-

viduals who are willing to share their attitudes, approaches,

and behaviors in becoming successful.

Basketball is a team sport where passing the ball creates

scoring opportunities for all members of the team. As players

on teams assist one another, you must pass on your financial

knowledge to your friends and family. It’s not the transfer of

10

dollars that turns a person into a millionaire; but rather -- the

transfer of knowledge.

Russell Simmons, co-founder of Def Jam Recordings and

author of Do You!: 12 Laws to Access the Power in You to

Achieve Happiness and Success, champions the belief of

assisting others in financial empowerment. He states, “piling

up zeros in your bank account, or cars in your driveway, won’t

in and of itself make you successful…in order to be truly

affluent, you must always let what you have received flow

back into the world.” (Simmons 224).

Listed below are some books that will assist you in “winning

at the money game.”

List of Top Financial and Self-Help Books

• Think & Grow Rich by Napoleon Hill

• The Richest Man in Babylon by George S. Clason

• Rich Dad, Poor Dad by Robert T. Kiyosaki

• Young, Fabulous and Broke by Suze Orman

• Rule #1 by Phil Town

• The Millionaire Next Door by Thomas J. Stanley

11

Boxing Out

“A farmer needs to protect his crops from bunnies, birds, and bugs…Although they are cute and cuddly, they are thieves to a farmer”Robert KiyosakiAuthor and Motivational Speaker

The easiest way to build wealth is by spending as little of

your money as possible. Now don’t get me wrong, this is a

very difficult task in our consumerist society. Living below

your means is the best way of monitoring your spending and

making cuts where possible. Most importantly, living below

your means keeps you out of debt.

“Boxing out” is a technique used in basketball to obtain

rebounds. A player boxes out another player by positioning

himself between the other player and the basket in order

to block his opponent; therefore, you should box-out finan-

cial opponents from taking your money. The most common

financial opponents are ATM fees, bank overdraft fees, and

late payments on your credit cards. These opponents may

seem insignificant but they can quickly take you off the path

to “winning at the money game.” You worked hard for your

money so take care of it.

12

Tips for Boxing-Out Financial Opponents

• Check your credit score periodically

• Plan when you take money out from the ATM so you don’tget charged a fee

• When purchasing, do your homework so you don’toverspend

• Rent your video games or movies since you may use themfor a short period of time

• Eat in! Cook at home or pack a lunch

• Use your library card more often

• Get a job! When you earn your money, you value it

13

Follow-Through

“I’ve missed more than 9,000 shots in my career. I’ve lost almost 300 games. 26 times, I’ve been trusted to take the game winning shot and missed. I’ve failed over and over and over again in my life. And that is why I succeed.”Michael JordanProfessional basketball player

If you desire a wealthy life, it’s your money habits and not

always a high-paying job that often makes the difference.

Most people will earn more than a million dollars over their

lifetime but few will become millionaires. Why is it so hard for

people to follow through with their goals? Why do some stick

to their goals while others falter easily? Well, it all has to do

with habits which are the product of repetition. Over time,

our habits become unconscious and automatic; therefore, it

is important to develop and practice sound financial behavior

such as saving and investing. In numerous talks he has given

to college and university business schools, legendary investor

Warren Buffett often employed the adage, “the chains of

habit are too light to be felt until they are too heavy to be

broken” to describe the dangers of bad financial habits that

do not become apparent until it is too late.

14

The most practiced skill in basketball is shooting. Every player

loves to shoot the ball. Whether it’s a lay-up, free-throws or

jump shot proper mechanics can make success automatic.

Great shooters often get more playing time and even small

improvements in your shooting form can help you score more

points and win more games. There’s a saying in coaching that

“a good follow-through solves a host of shooting problems.”

Follow-through is important because the ball will always go in

the direction your arm is pointed. Developing correct basket-

ball shooting technique makes the game of basketball easier

because if you can’t shoot--you can’t score.

The road to financial independence is never easy. You will

face many obstacles in life. Most people want to be wealthy,

yet many lack the persistence and focus it demands. Like a

great shooter in basketball, you must follow through with

your shot as well as with your wealth building goals. Regard-

less of how big or small your current financial goals are, you

have the ability to accomplish them if you choose to persist

and win the game!

15

THE SQUAD

1st Quarter:

SWISH!

Patrick Giel rebounded his free-throw and walked fifteen feet

back to the white line. Looking up at the rim, he dribbled

twice, breathed deeply, composed himself, and shot the ball

towards the rim.

SWISH!

The houses surrounding Collin’s park were red brick sepa-

rated by white wood fencing. Patrick glanced down at his

watch for a second time. “Where are they?” he thought.

There were five of them --the Squad, as they were called in

the neighborhood: Patrick Giel (PG), his sister Samantha (SG),

Stephen Faris (SF), Pamela Fields (PF), and Cesar (C). Each

member of the Squad possessed a special ability. The Giels

were clever while Stephen’s agility and Pamela’s determina-

tion balanced things out. Cesar’s towering size was beneficial

and supportive.

“We’re here!” yelled Stephen Faris from a few yards away.

16

Patrick turned and saw his friends approaching from all direc-

tions. The Squad greeted each other.

“The Heat Wave Summer Tournament is in a couple of weeks.

We should enter!” said Patrick enthusiastically. Basketball

was a sport the group frequently played.

“I don’t know. We don’t even have jerseys to play in,”

mentioned Samantha. Though they could not afford to buy

jerseys individually, they could team up.

“We can save up for them,” began Patrick with a simple

thought. “We could start in two days or two weeks, but let’s

start NOW, guys. The earlier we start the more money we will

have later.”

Stephen agreed, “I’m down! Let’s keep a record of what we

spend our money on. I’ll write down every cent that leaves

my pocket.”

Pamela smiled and spoke encouraging words to her friends,

“I could ask my parents to match my savings.”

“What do you mean?” Cesar interrupted.

“At my mom’s job, they match the amount of money she

saves each month and then they put it into a savings account

or an investment account,” said Pamela.

17

Motivated, Cesar stepped forward and replied, “I’ll put myself

on an allowance for things like candy, magazines, and food --

even if it is only $5 a week. It will surely make a difference.”

“Great! We can do this!” Patrick said.

The street lights flickered, signaling curfew was approaching.

The Squad exchanged goodbyes and went their separate

ways.

2nd Quarter:

The next morning, Samantha excitedly woke up and got

ready for her job as a summer camp counselor. She navigated

her way from Washington Avenue to Crescent Elementary.

As she marched towards the school, she observed something

interesting. Children in her neighborhood were spending all

of their allowance buying gum, sodas, magazines, and toys.

Michael, a bright-eyed 9-year-old ran past her. He flashed a

big smile and dribbled his basketball towards the elementary

school. Michael was preparing for youth league try-outs. He

had established a great habit of coming in early and practicing

his basketball fundamentals: dribbling, shooting, and passing.

His older brother, James, followed behind, only coming to

play. James rarely practiced his fundamentals, unlike Michael

who would always make ten free-throws before and after his

18

practice sessions. Michael knew something special. He knew

making these unguarded shots often separates the winners

from the losers.

For the first time, Samantha noticed the difference between

someone who practices on a regular basis versus someone

who just plays for fun.

After the day ended, Samantha’s boss handed her a paycheck.

Inquisitively she asked, “Mr. Shaw, what can I do to make my

check last longer?”

With a pleasant smile he said, “There are only two ways to

make more money, Sam. Either you work more hours or you

save and invest.”

Still a little confused, Samantha asked how this could be done.

“By investing, you put your money to work. You can sit back

and watch your money grow. Wealth depends on how well

you can practice good habits such as saving and investing,”

added Mr. Shaw.

3rd Quarter:

“Hey dad, how was work?” yelled Stephen from his bedroom

window.

Mr. Faris mumbled pleasantries to his son and headed inside.

19

Once inside, he popped his shoes off and walked to the

kitchen. A kiss on the cheek for his wife and a seat at the

dining room table was his normal routine.

After Stephen finished his homework, his thoughts immedi-

ately turned to the Heat Wave Summer Basketball Tourna-

ment. Stephen burst into the kitchen, “I got it! I figured it

out, mom and dad,” he exclaimed. “I can invest the money I

get from my allowance to open a savings account.” Mr. Faris

smiled wide upon hearing such a wise statement from his

son.

Mrs. Faris jumped in, “Stephen, it’s not how much money

you make but how much money you can hold on to. Every

day you have to protect your money from different financial

opponents.”

Confused, Stephen asked, “Financial opponents?! What’s

that?”

Mr. Faris replied, “For us adults that includes ATM fees,

impulse buys, bank overdraft fees, and late payment on

credit cards.”

Now seated at the table with his parents, Mrs. Faris asked her

son, “Stephen, If you wanted to get a rebound in basketball,

what would you do?”

20

Stephen was puzzled but answered, “I would box-out my

man.”

“Exactly, so you should also box-out financial opponents from

taking your money.” she said.

Later that week, while on the phone with Cesar, Stephen

shared what his parents had told him. “These opponents

may seem small and unimportant but they can quickly have

us sitting on the bench, Cesar. We work hard for our money

so let’s take care of it.”

Stephen instructed the four other members of the Squad to

box-out other financial opponents in their lives. Cesar started

to rent his video games and movies. Pamela started eating in;

she packed a lunch instead of paying for a sandwich and drink

from the cafeteria. Samantha started putting her paychecks

into her bank account. Patrick started watching his money,

putting himself on a budget.

4th Quarter:

The Heat Wave Summer Basketball tournament was a

week away and the Squad only had half the registration fee

collected. The game of basketball allowed Pamela to stay

active and connect with people in her community.

21

“Guys, if we surround ourselves with people who save and

invest, we are more likely to do the same,” Pamela explained.

“But we don’t know any rich people,” Cesar interjected. Pam

was stuck, not knowing what to say to Cesar’s comment.

“He’s right, but even though we don’t live near millionaires,

we do live near a library,” Patrick said.

“What’s your point?” Cesar questioned.

“Well, the library is filled with books. Many of those books

are filled with the attitudes, approaches, and behaviors of

successful people. Let’s find some books that can help us

achieve our goals,” Samantha recommended.

That day the Squad learned a very important lesson -- basket-

ball is a team sport and achieving goals cannot be done alone.

It takes the willpower and drive of a team to be successful.

As the members of a great team assist one another, you

must pass on your financial knowledge to your friends and

family. It’s not the transfer of money that turns a person into

a millionaire but rather the transfer of knowledge.

Their new jerseys were red with black trim. After weeks of

saving and investing, the Squad was minutes away from

playing in the Heat Wave Basketball Tournament. As they

huddled up to take the court, Cesar reminded the group what

22

it took to achieve their goal. “We faced a variety of different

situations and the only thing that worked no matter the

opponent was the fundamentals. Our money fundamentals

of saving, investing, and living below our means made this

possible.”

IT’S GAME TIME!

23

Summary

The BasicsBasketball scouts are responsible for finding talented players to play for teams at the high school, college and professional levels. In addition to being knowledgeable of the game, scouts evaluate the strengths and weakness of potential players in shooting, passing, dribbling and scoring. Think of your credit report/FICO score as a scouting report for banks and credit card companies to evaluate your financial strengths and weakness in handling credit. Do your best so you can be “selected” for the best interest rate on your credit cards, car loan, and home mortgage.

Free-ThrowsCompound Interest. Einstein called it the “eighth wonder of the world.” The earlier you start saving, the less money you will need to save each week or month to get to the same result. The miracle of compound interest is time. Compounding simply means earning interest on interest.

What would you rather have? A $1 million dollars right now or a penny doubled every day for 30 days?

Day 1 (1¢) Day 7 (64¢) Day 14 ($81.92) Day 21 ($10,485.76) Day 28 ($1,342,177.28) Day 30 ($5,368,709.12)

If you picked the $1 million you let go of about $4 million in the long run.

Like shooting free-throws, the practice of saving and investing is simple but not easy. You must continue to practice and have your money work for you.

24

PassingAn inheritance is the acquisition of a possession, condition, or trait from past generations. The best way to receive a “financial” inheritance is by reading and becoming an active library user. Books are blueprints to intellectual and financial growth. Replicate the expertise, wisdom, and skills possessed by the most talented and successful people by opening up a book.

Boxing-OutWhat’s draining your wallet? Impulse purchases from TV advertisement or a lack of planning are the main culprit in ruining your budget. Use the 1-hour rule when you see something that you want. Make yourself wait an hour or even a day before purchasing it. The longer you wait the less likely you will be tempted to purchase something you don’t need .It takes discipline to succeed financially.

Follow-ThroughMotivation is in the mind; follow through is in the practice. Many people give up on their goals because they are too big. Breaking your big goal into smaller ones will make them easier to achieve. It’s difficult to become a millionaire overnight but if you take positive wealth building action each day success is within arm’s reach.

25

Words of Inspiration

“You don’t play against opponents, you play against the game of basketball.” Bobby KnightHall of Fame basketball coach

“Great teamwork is the only way we create the breakthroughs that define our careers.” Pat Riley Head coach of five NBA championship teams

“When I was young, I had to learn the fundamentals of basketball. You can have all the physical ability in the world, but you still have to know the fundamentals.” Michael JordanRegarded as the greatest basketball player of all time

“When it comes to team dynamics — on a basketball court or in a corporate setting — maintaining a positive atmosphere is crucial.”Rick PitinoThe only men’s coach in NCAA history to lead three different schools to a

Final Four and the only coach in the NCAA to lead two different schools to

an NCAA National Championship.

26

Winning at the Money Game

“One of the most important tools you can have in your financial tool kit is a strong FICO credit score.” Suze OrmanThe most recognizable financial gurus in the country. Young, Fabulous and Broke, You've Earned It, Don't Lose It, and The Laws of Money are

among her 12 popular books.

"Money habits are one of our most learned behaviors."Mellody HobsonPresident of Ariel Capital Management, LLC, a Chicago-based mutual fund company and investment management firm.

“I always say, decisions I make, I live with them. There's always ways you can correct them or ways you can do them better. At the end of the day, I live with them.” LeBron JamesAn American professional basketball player for the Los Angeles Lakers of

the National Basketball Association. The youngest NBA player in history to

receive the Rookie of the Year Award. MVP for 2006-07, 2008-09,

2009-2010, 2011-12 and 2012-13

“Give yourself permission to change your mind, and start small.” Chelsea FaganWriter and founder of the blog The Financial Diet

27

Winning at the Money Game

“Financial peace isn’t the acquisition of stuff. It’s learning to live on less than you make, so you can give money back and have money to invest. You can’t win until you do this.” Dave RamseyFinancial author, radio host, and motivational speaker

“Every time you borrow money, you’re robbing your future self.”Nathan W. MorrisPersonal finance expert, author, speaker, and financial coach

“We don’t have to be smarter than the rest. We have to be more disciplined than the rest.”Warren BuffettAmerican business magnate, investor, and philanthropist. He is

widely considered the most successful investor of the 20th century

“Empty pockets never held anyone back. Only empty heads and empty hearts can do that.”Dr. Norman Vincent Peale, Minister and author of The Power of Positive Thinking

Every time you play anything, there's a chance that you can win. There's no reason not to compete no matter what you're playing. Maya April Moore is an American professional basketball player for the Minnesota Lynx of the Women's National Basketball Association.

28

Winning at the Money Game

“Teamwork is really a form of trust. It’s what happens when you surrender the mistaken idea that you can go it alone and realize that you won’t achieve your individual goals without the support of your colleagues.” Pat SummittHolds the most all-time wins for a coach in NCAA basketball history of

either a men’s or women’s team in any division.

“Talent is God-given. Be humble. Fame is man-given. Be grateful. Conceit is self-given. Be careful.”John WoodenHead coach at UCLA he won ten NCAA national championships in a 12-year

period—seven in a row

“An investment in knowledge pays the best interest.” Benjamin Franklin

One of the Founding Fathers of the United States

“Wealth consists not in having great possessions, but in having few wants.” EpictetusSage and Stoic philosopher

“It’s not how much money you make, but how much money you keep, how hard it works for you, and how many generations you keep it for.”Robert KiyosakiInvestor, author, and financial literacy activist

29

Winning at the Money Game

“Know what it costs to be you. By this I mean fixed costs and variable costs — your walking around money. Then ask yourself, How can it cost less to be you?” Joe McLeanFounder of Intersect Capital

“Debt erases freedom more surely than anything else.”Merryn Somerset WebbEditor in chief of UK personal finance magazine Money Week, radio and television commentator in financial matters

“Don't think about what's going on now. Think about what has to happen in the future."”Shaquille O'NealAn American former professional basketball player who is a sports analyst on the television program Inside the NBA on TNT. He played for six teams over his 19-year career in the National Basketball Association. O'Neal is regarded as one of the greatest basketball players of all time. NBA's MVP 1999-2000

“Creating wealth comes down to discipline. One or two small decisions can make a big difference over time. Every dollar invested today is worth potentially 10 times that 30 years from now.”Allison Vanaski Senior financial planner and VP of Investments with Arcadia Wealth Management

About the Author

Shawn Geegbae spent his childhood and formative years living in Northern

Virginia. At Syracuse University, Shawn became a member of the national

service fraternity, Alpha Phi Omega, and was selected as a Ronald E. McNair

Achievement Scholar. After graduating with a B.S. in Finance from the

Martin J. Whitman School of Management, Shawn later worked on Wall St.

as a commodity broker. In 2014, Shawn authored Winning at the Money

Game (WATMG) which uses sports concepts to teach financial literacy in a

way that’s fun, engaging, and empowering.

With more than 400 million fans worldwide, basketball provides a unique model for teaching financial concepts in a more interesting and understandable way. The examples and metaphors featured in Winning at the Money Game: Your financial playbook to success highlight fundamentals and strategies for preteens and young adults.

When it comes to applying basic money management and financial skills to our lives, the current situation is that some of us are still warming the bench. The burden of college loans, overwhelming credit card debt and a lack of savings gives the appearance that we have mastered all the wrong rules of the game.

Winning at the Money Game: Your financial playbook to success is ideal for those who are in the early stages of taking control of their finances. By incorporating basketball into financial situations, positive behaviors can be encouraged. Whether you are on the basketball court or investing for the future, success demands the same level of dedication.