Book Review: Financial Freedom by Grant Sabatier
Book Overview
• Title: Financial Freedom: A Proven Path to All the Money You Will Ever Need
• Author: Grant Sabatier
• Genre: Personal Finance, Financial Independence, Wealth-Building
• Publication Year: 2019
• Publisher: Avery (an imprint of Penguin Random House)
Grant Sabatier’s Financial Freedom is a comprehensive guide to achieving financial independence and retiring early (FIRE). The book challenges traditional financial advice and emphasizes that anyone, regardless of their current income level, can achieve financial freedom much faster than they might think. Sabatier himself went from being broke to having a net worth of over $1 million in just five years, and in this book, he shares the exact strategies he used to achieve that.
Key Concepts and Detailed Explanations
1️⃣ Rethinking Time and Money
One of the book’s foundational ideas is that money is time—not just a means to buy things but a way to buy back your freedom. Traditional financial advice suggests saving a small percentage of your income over a 40-year career, but Sabatier argues that you can accelerate wealth-building by optimizing your income, savings, and investments.
Lesson: Every dollar you earn has the potential to grow exponentially. The key is to maximize both your earning potential and your investments to reach financial freedom as quickly as possible.
2️⃣ The 7 Levels of Financial Freedom
Sabatier outlines seven stages of financial freedom, from complete dependence on a paycheck to true financial independence:
1. Clarity: Understanding your financial situation and setting clear goals.
2. Self-Sufficiency: Earning enough to cover your expenses without outside help.
3. Breathing Room: Having extra savings to handle emergencies.
4. Stability: Paying off debts and creating a strong financial foundation.
5. Flexibility: Saving enough to have options, like taking a break from work.
6. Financial Independence: Having enough investments to cover your living expenses indefinitely.
7. Abundant Wealth: Having more money than you’ll ever need.
Lesson: Progressing through these levels requires intentional effort in increasing income, saving aggressively, and making smart investments.
3️⃣ Maximizing Income
Sabatier believes that most people focus too much on cutting expenses and not enough on increasing income. He shares strategies such as:
• Negotiating a higher salary
• Starting a side hustle or freelance work
• Creating passive income streams through real estate, dividends, and online businesses
Lesson: There’s a limit to how much you can cut from your budget, but there’s no limit to how much you can earn. Investing in skills and business opportunities can dramatically speed up financial freedom.
4️⃣ The Power of High Savings Rate
A key takeaway from Financial Freedom is the importance of saving and investing aggressively—often 50-70% of your income. Sabatier explains that the more you save and invest, the faster you can escape the traditional 40-year work cycle.
Lesson: The faster you increase your savings rate and put money into assets that appreciate over time, the sooner you can become financially free.
5️⃣ The Role of Investing
Sabatier emphasizes that investing is the real key to financial freedom. He explains different investment strategies, including:
• Index Funds: Low-cost, long-term investments in the stock market.
• Real Estate: Buying rental properties to generate passive income.
• Business Investments: Starting or acquiring income-generating businesses.
Lesson: Simply saving money isn’t enough; investing is what allows your wealth to grow exponentially over time.
6️⃣ Escaping the 9-to-5 Mindset
The book critiques the traditional idea of working until retirement at age 65. Instead, Sabatier encourages readers to think creatively about their time, careers, and the value they place on financial independence.
Lesson: Achieving financial freedom allows you to make life choices based on your passions and purpose, not just on financial necessity.
Final Thoughts
Financial Freedom by Grant Sabatier is an eye-opening guide that challenges conventional wisdom about money, work, and retirement. By following his principles—maximizing income, saving aggressively, and investing wisely—anyone can dramatically shorten their path to financial independence.
Who Should Read This Book?
✅ Young professionals looking to fast-track their financial growth
✅ Anyone interested in the FIRE (Financial Independence, Retire Early) movement
✅ Entrepreneurs and side hustlers looking to boost their income
✅ Investors who want to maximize their wealth-building potential
Final Rating: ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐ (5/5)
This book is a must-read for anyone serious about financial freedom. It’s practical, engaging, and filled with actionable strategies to help you take control of your financial future.
Book Overview
• Title: Financial Freedom: A Proven Path to All the Money You Will Ever Need
• Author: Grant Sabatier
• Genre: Personal Finance, Financial Independence, Wealth-Building
• Publication Year: 2019
• Publisher: Avery (an imprint of Penguin Random House)
Grant Sabatier’s Financial Freedom is a comprehensive guide to achieving financial independence and retiring early (FIRE). The book challenges traditional financial advice and emphasizes that anyone, regardless of their current income level, can achieve financial freedom much faster than they might think. Sabatier himself went from being broke to having a net worth of over $1 million in just five years, and in this book, he shares the exact strategies he used to achieve that.
Key Concepts and Detailed Explanations
1️⃣ Rethinking Time and Money
One of the book’s foundational ideas is that money is time—not just a means to buy things but a way to buy back your freedom. Traditional financial advice suggests saving a small percentage of your income over a 40-year career, but Sabatier argues that you can accelerate wealth-building by optimizing your income, savings, and investments.
Lesson: Every dollar you earn has the potential to grow exponentially. The key is to maximize both your earning potential and your investments to reach financial freedom as quickly as possible.
2️⃣ The 7 Levels of Financial Freedom
Sabatier outlines seven stages of financial freedom, from complete dependence on a paycheck to true financial independence:
1. Clarity: Understanding your financial situation and setting clear goals.
2. Self-Sufficiency: Earning enough to cover your expenses without outside help.
3. Breathing Room: Having extra savings to handle emergencies.
4. Stability: Paying off debts and creating a strong financial foundation.
5. Flexibility: Saving enough to have options, like taking a break from work.
6. Financial Independence: Having enough investments to cover your living expenses indefinitely.
7. Abundant Wealth: Having more money than you’ll ever need.
Lesson: Progressing through these levels requires intentional effort in increasing income, saving aggressively, and making smart investments.
3️⃣ Maximizing Income
Sabatier believes that most people focus too much on cutting expenses and not enough on increasing income. He shares strategies such as:
• Negotiating a higher salary
• Starting a side hustle or freelance work
• Creating passive income streams through real estate, dividends, and online businesses
Lesson: There’s a limit to how much you can cut from your budget, but there’s no limit to how much you can earn. Investing in skills and business opportunities can dramatically speed up financial freedom.
4️⃣ The Power of High Savings Rate
A key takeaway from Financial Freedom is the importance of saving and investing aggressively—often 50-70% of your income. Sabatier explains that the more you save and invest, the faster you can escape the traditional 40-year work cycle.
Lesson: The faster you increase your savings rate and put money into assets that appreciate over time, the sooner you can become financially free.
5️⃣ The Role of Investing
Sabatier emphasizes that investing is the real key to financial freedom. He explains different investment strategies, including:
• Index Funds: Low-cost, long-term investments in the stock market.
• Real Estate: Buying rental properties to generate passive income.
• Business Investments: Starting or acquiring income-generating businesses.
Lesson: Simply saving money isn’t enough; investing is what allows your wealth to grow exponentially over time.
6️⃣ Escaping the 9-to-5 Mindset
The book critiques the traditional idea of working until retirement at age 65. Instead, Sabatier encourages readers to think creatively about their time, careers, and the value they place on financial independence.
Lesson: Achieving financial freedom allows you to make life choices based on your passions and purpose, not just on financial necessity.
Final Thoughts
Financial Freedom by Grant Sabatier is an eye-opening guide that challenges conventional wisdom about money, work, and retirement. By following his principles—maximizing income, saving aggressively, and investing wisely—anyone can dramatically shorten their path to financial independence.
Who Should Read This Book?
✅ Young professionals looking to fast-track their financial growth
✅ Anyone interested in the FIRE (Financial Independence, Retire Early) movement
✅ Entrepreneurs and side hustlers looking to boost their income
✅ Investors who want to maximize their wealth-building potential
Final Rating: ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐ (5/5)
This book is a must-read for anyone serious about financial freedom. It’s practical, engaging, and filled with actionable strategies to help you take control of your financial future.