
The Wealth Game: Why 99% Are Benched and How to Get in the Play
Feb 19
6 min read
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Picture this: wealth is a game, but you’re stuck on the sidelines, not because you didn’t show up, but because no one handed you the rulebook, the ball, or even pointed you to the pitch. Most of us trudge through life, waiting for that pension at 70, while a select few are scoring goals in their 30s, 40s, and 50s—living free, sipping cocktails by the sea, or chasing dreams we’re told to delay.
Take my pal Dave, a sparky like me, who grafted for decades only to find his retirement pot was more myth than magic. Why are 99% of us benched? Because the masterclass of the rich doesn’t include us. But here’s the kicker: this isn’t a game just for the elite—it’s wide open if you know how to crash the party.
Today, we’re ripping open the playbook, exposing why you’re not playing, and showing you how to score big, whether you’re dreaming of freedom now or decades from now. Let’s dive in, because the clock’s ticking, and the game’s calling.
The Core of the Problem: Why You’re Not Playing
1. Financial Illiteracy:
Buckle up, because here’s the first slap in the face: most of us don’t even know the rules of the money game! They’ve kept us in the dark, and it starts young.
Educational Systems: Ever wonder why schools churn out kids who can recite Shakespeare but can’t balance a chequebook if their life depended on it? Our classrooms skip the playbook—budgeting, saving, investing—leaving grads clueless about wealth-building basics like compound interest or diversification. It’s like sending players onto the field without teaching them how to kick.
Complexity and Jargon: Financial lingo is the secret handshake of the wealthy. “ETFs,” “dividends,” “margin trading”—it’s a foreign tongue that locks out the uninitiated. Without decoding this gibberish, you’re stuck guessing, not playing.
2. Access to Opportunities:
Think you’re ready to play? Think again—the gatekeepers have a velvet rope, and your name’s not on the list.
High Entry Costs: Want to buy a rental property? Good luck with pocket lint. Wealth-building avenues like real estate or stocks demand big bucks upfront—VIP passes most of us can’t snag.
Banking and Credit: No bank account? No game. The unbanked and underbanked are sidelined, unable to save or borrow effectively. It’s like needing boots for football but being barefoot.
3. Economic Disparities:
Here’s where the field gets uneven—some players start with a head start, and we’re stuck at the starting line.
Income Inequality: Low income means no spare cash to toss into the game—just enough for halftime snacks, not the playbook.
Wage Stagnation: Wages flatlining while prices soar? The ref’s paused the scoreboard for the masses, letting the rich keep scoring.
4. Cultural and Psychological Barriers:
Mindset matters, folks, and ours is tripping us up before we even lace up our boots.
Risk Aversion: Scared of losing your shirt? Without knowing how risk works, you’re not even warming up—just watching from the stands.
Short-term Thinking: Our instant-gratification culture swaps investing for impulse buys—game over before it begins.
5. Predatory Financial Practices:
The game’s got sneaky fouls, and they’re hitting us where it hurts—our wallets.
High-Cost Borrowing: