Neil here. I’ve got a new statistic on my mind this week.
In its annual Survey of Household Economics and Decisonmaking, the Federal Reserve reported on Monday that only 45% of adults with less than a high-school diploma responded that they’re doing “at least OK” financially.
In contrast, 89% of adults with a bachelor’s degree or higher reported the same.
To some people, this may not seem like a shocking statistic. We’ve learned to perceive opportunity and stability as luxuries, reserved for those with the most education, exclusive access, and, usually, a lot of money.
But I don’t buy into that line of thought.
It goes against everything I’ve learned – and seen – as an angel investor. Let me explain.
I’ve been active in the startup world for nearly two decades. I’ve founded several companies, invested in early-stage startups, and met some of the greatest entrepreneurs and angel investors in the game.
Now, were all of those people highly intelligent, and well-versed in their fields? Of course. But, did each of them have a formal education or degree? You’d be surprised to learn the number of business professionals around the world that don’t.
In fact, experts estimate that a whopping 300,000 people have made angel investments in the past two years in the U.S. alone. It would be tough to bet that every single one of them had a degree.
Take some of the biggest names in the tech world, even: Bill Gates, Mark Zuckerberg, Steve Jobs… all massively successful entrepreneurs with net worths in the billions.
Another thing they have in common?
They all dropped out of school to pursue their business ideas.
And now, they’re regarded as some of the most successful – and wealthy – people in our recent history.
They were able to do this for a couple reasons, but one of them stands out to me.
Angel investing is one of the very best ways to build up your generational wealth and potentially multiply your net worth many times over. But some of the most important things you need to know about investing and building your wealth can’t be taught in a classroom. These are the things you can only learn through experience.
And the world is never short of learning opportunities if you know how to find the right resources. The number of resources out there for new angel investors is growing every single day. You can find them in your personal life and network, at your current job, in books and libraries… you’re even using one right now on the Angels & Entrepreneurs Network.
These tools, resources, opportunities – they allow you to break down the barriers of the angel investing world and build up your own wealth, no matter your net worth, income, or formal education background.
Angel investing is no longer just a game for the ultra-rich or PhDs. You don’t have to be a part of the 1%or have an Ivy League degree to invest in startup companies and make impressive returns. In fact, if you can do your research and spare as little as $50 to get in on the ground floor of a company you really believe in, you could be on your way to life-changing gains in a matter of five years.
With the right tools, anyone can build wealth and make their investing goals a reality… as long as you know how to use them.
That’s one of the best things about America. The walls around success have come down, and now with a dream, drive, and determination, you can achieve wealth and success beyond your wildest imagination.
And then, once you’ve reached your version of success, you can be a resource for the fresh, new entrepreneurs who are starting out in the same place you did. The cycle allows everyone to win.
That cycle is what I thrive on as an angel investor: helping other people find success so that they can make me rich… and I’ve recently landed on a deal that’s got the potential to do exactly that.
I’m talking about the type of technology that only comes around once in a generation and completely changes people’s lives – and possibly an entire $19 billion market – for the better.
This tech is emerging in a space that’s typically dominated by VCs, so the opportunity for angel investors to get in first is something that can’t be ignored. Especially when past angel investors have seen similar tech startups in the sector kick back 225X their investments by the time the companies exited.
And the best part? Anyone can get in on the deal, so you’re going to want to check this out.
That’s all I have for you today. I’ll be back soon with another update.
Until next time,
(Signature)
Neil Patel