Are You Sabotaging Your Wealth Without Realizing It?

By Brian Gubernick

Brian Gubernick, Co-Founder of Metrix Masterminds, has more than 15 years of industry experience. He’s held the role of investor, agent, team owner/leader, multi-state expansion team owner, brokerage operating partner, coach and trainer, and corporate executive. Brian started his real estate sales career by launching his sales team, Homehelper Consultants (HhC), in 2007.

Business is booming, the numbers look great, and you’ve finally hit that income goal you once only dreamed of, maybe $200K, maybe $500K. Either way, you think,

“This is what success feels like.”

And let’s be honest: $500K is a lot of money. Even $200K puts you in the top 1% in many parts of the country. It’s more than your peers make, maybe even more than your parents ever made. It feels good.

At that point, shouldn’t you be satisfied? But then things start to shift. Your spending habits change; the simple things you used to purchase now become bigger ticket items. You start chasing ‘bigger and better’ because you think that’s what you should do based on the increase in your income. You’re not just earning more – you’re spending more to match it.

We’re not against enjoying your success or having nice things. You’ve worked hard, and you deserve to live well. That’s fair. But the biggest threat to long-term wealth? It’s not the market or taxes; it’s lifestyle creep.

It sneaks in slowly. One upgrade here, one indulgence there. Before long, your lifestyle matches or outpaces your income. Those extra dollars that could have been used to build wealth are gone. The real issue is that most of us don’t know what it actually costs to run our lives. We just keep spending more without even noticing.

There’s one shift that will change everything: Know your number. You need to get clear on two questions:

• What does it take to run your household well?

• How much do you need to invest yearly to hit your long-term goals?

If your family can live well on $150K a year, use the surplus can build wealth, not status. Everything above your number is optional: the Italy trip, the Porsche, the custom suits, as long as your financial foundation stays solid.

This is about awareness and delayed gratification. If you keep your lifestyle steady for just a few years, even as your income grows, you will create serious momentum.

In a season of growth, this is your chance to build wealth quietly while others get louder with their spending. Remember: financial freedom isn’t about earning more; it’s about managing your finances wisely.