Suze Orman Fan Club Blog Community

Suze Orman blazed onto the financial scene back in 1997 with her book The Nine Steps to Financial Freedom.  At the time, I had been intently studying investing, money and reading every author possible on the subject of finance.  Orman’s refreshing, down to earth style of writing set out a series of easy steps for people to follow to become financially secure.  However,  wonderful as that is, perhaps the most profound idea that she presented is that money likes to gravitate toward people who respect it.

Why is that concept profound?  Because even though it may have been said before, no one said it more clearly.  Consider the importance of personifying something so common as money, a thing that eludes some people and nestles in the pockets of others.  Not only did she give life to an inanimate object, that very object is in multiples!  It has existed for thousands of years, and yet the principles of managing and respecting money has remained the same.

I don’t remember whether I read her  concept of respecting money or heard it first on an interview.  I do remember Orman’s vivacity and conviction.  At the time, her principles were second nature to me, except for the idea that money gravitated toward people who respected it. The very idea made me analyze the people in my life and their relationship to the wealth.

It was easy to look at the millionaires in my life and see who respected money.  One is an old man who is near and dear to me.  If I were to ask him to tell me how much money he has, he could tell me where it is invested, what he has hidden off in boxes, what he has in his wallet, what something cost in 1929.  That respect carried itself into his every day frugal living, even until this day when he cuts out coupons and shops during sales.  This respect for money has given him the opportunity to contribute to various charities, to help sponsor young people in a local parochial school, and travel worldwide.

Another millionaire friend made her money as a businesswoman.  She confided in me one day that she knows she is blessed but that, “at any time one lawsuit could wipe me out.”  She has a financial planner, but took care to learn enough about working with futures and made good money in the market.  For her, money is a reward not only for a job well done, but for the contribution she has made to her community.  She is generous in many ways, often ways which few people see.  She has always respected money, but keeps it in perspective with her faith.

Once when I saw Orman on television, my husband was sitting with me listening to her as well.  “Check your wallet,” Orman urged.  “See what you have in there.  Are your bills all in a proper order?  Do you know how much you have?”  I looked at my husband and we both knew the answer.  I knew what was in my wallet and it was neat and tidy.  He folds up cash and stuffs it into his pocket, sometimes even loses it.  Her comments didn’t change his ways, but it made me all the more aware of how couples are probably more successful if they agree on how to handle their money.

There’s no doubt that Suze Orman is best at promoting her books, television shows, and anything else that will make her wealthy.  That is the logical outcome for anyone offering valuable insight into any asset.  But I hope she knows how that idea of respecting money, of animating this humble means of exchange is profound and true.

Visit Beth Rose’s Wear Many Hats for a different perspective for the informed investor.

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