
Revised and Expanded 2025 Edition. Instant New York Times Bestseller. Seen on “Hasan Minhaj Doesn’t Know.”
The Proven Guide from the Godfather of Financial Independence—now comprehensively updated and expanded. New edition includes: updated data, FAQ, a Simple Path to Wealth Punchlist, Resources & Tools.
“Beautifully written, a simple book that will have a profound impact on your life.” —Morgan Housel, author of The New York Times bestseller The Psychology of Money
What if the path to wealth isn’t about timing the market or picking hot stocks, or even about paying someone else to do it for you? What if it’s actually about following a radically simple plan that’s not only easier to implement, but also more lucrative than the alternatives?
Drawing from fifty years of investing experience, and born out of a series of letters the author wrote to his daughter, The Simple Path to Wealth has become foundational to the FIRE (Financial Independence, Retire Early) movement, inspiring hundreds of thousands of readers to reimagine their relationship with money and freedom. The real-world success of Collins’ approach is documented in Pathfinders, his collection of stories from readers who have transformed their financial lives using his method.
Whether you care deeply about money, or never want to think about it at all, you’re living in a culture of spending. Everyone’s telling you that handing over your cash for this gadget, this potion, this lifestyle is the key to happiness. Meanwhile, the reality is that happiness is more likely to come from having the financial freedom to live the life you really want.
Whatever your relationship with money, you will be heartened by Collins’ essential insight, which is that simplicity beats complexity every time.
This comprehensive guide covers everything from debt elimination to optimizing retirement accounts, all while exposing the marketing myths and investment industry practices that keep most people from building real wealth. Collins shares specific, actionable strategies for both wealth-building and wealth-preservation phases, with a straightforward approach to asset allocation that anyone can implement.
Collins’ direct, often irreverent style makes complex financial concepts crystal clear, giving readers the tools and confidence to take control of their financial future.
More than just another investment book, The Simple Path to Wealth is a blueprint for financial independence – showing readers how to break free from the financial industry’s traps and live life on their own terms.
From the Publisher


ASIN : B0DQJMVM59
Publisher : Authors Equity
Publication date : May 20, 2025
Edition : Revised
Language : English
Print length : 320 pages
ISBN-13 : 979-8893310474
Item Weight : 14.4 ounces
Dimensions : 5.5 x 1.2 x 8.25 inches
Best Sellers Rank: #894 in Books (See Top 100 in Books) #1 in Retirement Planning (Books) #3 in Introduction to Investing
Customer Reviews: 4.7 4.7 out of 5 stars (15,503) var dpAcrHasRegisteredArcLinkClickAction; P.when(‘A’, ‘ready’).execute(function(A) { if (dpAcrHasRegisteredArcLinkClickAction !== true) { dpAcrHasRegisteredArcLinkClickAction = true; A.declarative( ‘acrLink-click-metrics’, ‘click’, { “allowLinkDefault”: true }, function (event) { if (window.ue) { ue.count(“acrLinkClickCount”, (ue.count(“acrLinkClickCount”) || 0) + 1); } } ); } }); P.when(‘A’, ‘cf’).execute(function(A) { A.declarative(‘acrStarsLink-click-metrics’, ‘click’, { “allowLinkDefault” : true }, function(event){ if(window.ue) { ue.count(“acrStarsLinkWithPopoverClickCount”, (ue.count(“acrStarsLinkWithPopoverClickCount”) || 0) + 1); } }); });


Jaybird –
Hands down, the best Personal Finance book
Review: The Simple Path to Wealth by JL CollinsJL Collins’ The Simple Path to Wealth is an invaluable guide for anyone looking to take control of their finances, build long-term wealth, and ultimately achieve financial independence. Written in a refreshingly straightforward and no-nonsense style, Collins distills complex financial concepts into practical, actionable advice that readers can easily grasp, regardless of their experience with investing or personal finance.The core message of the book is simple yet powerful: live below your means, invest in broad-based index funds (specifically, Vanguard’s Total Stock Market Index Fund), and let time and compounding do the heavy lifting. Collins is a strong advocate for what he terms “F-You Money,” a concept that focuses on building wealth not just for the sake of luxury, but for the financial freedom to live life on your own terms.One of the book’s greatest strengths is its clarity. Collins takes the intimidation out of investing by avoiding unnecessary jargon and presenting his advice in a conversational tone. For instance, he compares investing to owning “your own little business” in the stock market, where you focus on the big picture rather than getting caught up in day-to-day fluctuations. He advocates for simplicity—passive investing in low-cost index funds—and emphasizes the importance of keeping investment fees low to maximize long-term returns.In addition to his investment philosophy, Collins also addresses key financial principles such as avoiding debt, building an emergency fund, and understanding the power of financial independence. His advice is deeply rooted in personal experience, and he shares his own journey with readers in a way that feels relatable and inspiring.Though some seasoned investors might find the content familiar, the book’s appeal lies in its accessibility. Collins strips away the complexity often associated with investing, making it clear that wealth-building doesn’t require fancy strategies or insider knowledge—just consistency, patience, and discipline.However, one potential drawback is that the book’s investment strategy focuses heavily on the U.S. market, which may feel limiting to international readers. Collins acknowledges this but stays true to his message of simplicity, which some may see as a strength rather than a flaw.In conclusion, The Simple Path to Wealth is an excellent resource for both beginner and intermediate investors. It’s especially suited for those looking to develop a solid, long-term financial plan without getting bogged down by the technical details that often overwhelm novice investors. Collins’ simple, effective, and time-tested approach makes this book a must-read for anyone serious about achieving financial independence and living life on their terms.
JenniferPT –
Transformative book that will guide you along your financial path
J.L. Collins provides clear, practical guidance on how to build wealth over time. The focus on low-cost index funds and long-term thinking is refreshing and easy to grasp, even if you’re new to investing, as I am. It’s straightforward and useful, and it’s funny at times, which keeps you moving right along. It doesn’t feel as if you’re reading something that’s good for you – but it’s definitely going to help you stay the course and grow your wealth.
Olivia Rei –
The No-Stress Path to Financial Freedom
Clear, calm, and refreshingly no-jargon. This book shows how low-cost index funds, avoiding debt, and staying the course can build freedom faster than you think. I finished feeling less anxious about money and more confident with a simple, doable plan.
Amazon Customer –
Great Advice for Beginners!
This book is great. It’s straight to the point and gives you the financial advice you need to be set for life without a bunch of extra fluff. Highly recommend. The only reason I didn’t give 5 stars is because it’s very Vanguard-centric. I’m not against Vanguard, but my job set up my 401k with Fidelity so I’ve been using them. But I might start using Vanguard too. Very useful book with simplified and fool-proof advice.
Kindle Customer –
Superb financial education.
I am in my mid 40s, and I am shocked by how uneducated I have been regarding finances despite working hard and saving well.The real reason I never wanted to handle this, was the amount of information I had to learn felt overwhelming. I ended up just having my husband handle all of our finances. But its not an effective way to support your spouse if you leave everything to them. He has been pushing for me to become more familiar with how finances and investments work.This book was a stunningly easy read with enough depth to help me understand the major concepts. It was very helpful to understand why Vanguard has been a path breaker. Agree…..the founder is indeed a hero.I recommend this book to all beginners….if you are 18 — this book is for you, if you are 21 — please get this book, and even if you are older, and you want to get started — get this book. It is simplicity itself and i now am kicking myself for not discovering the first edition that came out 10 years ago.What has changed for me? I will be looking into index funds, expense rations and moving my money to Vanguard when applicable, and also looking into HSAs which I never understood properly until now.This is a great book to plan for retirement no matter how old you are…if you even have 5 years or 10 years left to leverage before retirement — get this book and get going!!!
Lorraine S. –
What an easy and interesting read this is. It’s written in an extremely accessible style that truly anyone can understand, with really good advice. I purchased this book for my kindle at a discount but I would gladly have paid full price for it.