It's simple, they just use debt to buy assets and cut out all debt to buy consumer products (cars, clothes, vacations etc) that go down in value. They essentially trade a worthless, ever depreciating currency to buy valuable, scarce things that often produce cash-flow.
The Bottom Line. Personal loans typically won't be considered income and, as such, cannot be taxed, with one main exception: Should a lender cancel part of a borrower's personal loan debt, then the canceled portion is considered taxable income.
The ultra-wealthy have long exploited a loophole in the way the tax system conceptualizes what is and is not “income.” By using highly appreciated assets as collateral for loans, they can access vast amounts of capital without paying taxes on those gains—immediate cash, with no taxable event.
As a business owner, there are a few ways you can raise money through debt. You can take out loans from banks and other financial institutions. You can also issue bonds to investors. The goal is to achieve favorable financing terms, which are primarily achieved through lower interest rates.
Ninety-three percent of millionaires said they got their wealth because they worked hard, not because they had big salaries. Only 31% averaged $100,000 a year over the course of their career, and one-third never made six figures in any single working year of their career.
You can enhance your financial position and create long-term wealth by leveraging debt to invest in appreciating assets such as real estate, consolidate high-interest debts to improve cash flow, use high-yield savings accounts or borrow to acquire profitable businesses.
Others will object to taxing the wealthy unless they actually use their gains, but many of the wealthiest actually do use their gains through the borrowing loophole: They get rich, borrow against those gains, consume the borrowing, and do not pay any tax.
In fact, many wealthy people can and do "live off the interest." That is, they put a chunk of their fortune in a relatively safe collection of income-generating assets and live off of that—allowing them to be more adventurous with the rest.
They avoid debt
In fact, 73% of millionaires surveyed in the US have never carried a credit card balance,1 while 56% of active credit card accounts in the United States currently have a balance. One big exception is mortgages, and even some of the super-rich use mortgages when buying their homes.
A personal loan doesn't generally qualify as taxable income because it's a form of debt that must be repaid. Even though you receive all the funds at once, it's not considered income if you pay it back as agreed. That's true even if you use the proceeds for personal needs, such as paying for an emergency expense.
Personal loans generally aren't taxable because the money you receive isn't income. Unlike wages or investment earnings, which you earn and keep, you need to repay what you borrow. As a result: You don't report the money you borrow.
Though personal loans are not tax-deductible, other types of loans are. Interest paid on mortgages, student loans, and business loans often can be deducted from your annual taxes, effectively reducing your taxable income for the year. You shouldn't need a tax break to afford a personal loan.
The short answer is that this simple action provides liquidity and enables the super-rich to invest their wealth in other opportunities where they can potentially make even more money. Earning passive income doesn't need to be difficult.
Several popular banks, like JP Morgan, Bank of America, Wells Fargo, Citi Bank, and Goldman Sachs, offer private banking options that provide millionaires with wealth management advice and services.
They stay away from debt.
Car payments, student loans, same-as-cash financing plans—these just aren't part of their vocabulary. That's why they win with money. They don't owe anything to the bank, so every dollar they earn stays with them to spend, save and give! Debt is the biggest obstacle to building wealth.
It has become especially popular because it can potentially be a gateway to millionaire status. The famed wealthy entrepreneur Andrew Carnegie famously said more than a century ago, “Ninety percent of all millionaires become so through owning real estate.
$3,000 X 12 months = $36,000 per year. $36,000 / 6% dividend yield = $600,000. On the other hand, if you're more risk-averse and prefer a portfolio yielding 2%, you'd need to invest $1.8 million to reach the $3,000 per month target: $3,000 X 12 months = $36,000 per year.
If a millionaire doesn't budget properly and starts spending on personal chefs, expensive cars, and other luxury amenities, they may quickly run out of money. Sometimes millionaires, especially new millionaires, feel they have so much money that they lose perspective on what they can afford.
They focus on income generation
The richest people don't only invest for growth, but they also invest to generate more income. They diversify their investments and find new streams of income. They know how to turn their assets into income-generating machines, therefore achieving wealth, even if the economy takes a dip.
Personal loans can also be used to build wealth by making renovations or improvements to a property that increases its value. Using a personal loan for home improvement gives you fast access to cash without tying up your home's equity. Some lenders offer repayment terms as long as 144 months for home improvement loans.
Here's a little secret: Compound growth, also called compound interest, is a millionaire's best friend. It's the money your money makes. Seriously.
Kiyosaki: Debt Isn't Always Bad
The difference between the rich and poor, according to Kiyosaki, is how they think about debt. The wealthy understand the difference between good and bad debt — and then use good debt to increase their fortunes faster.