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Financial Longevity: Increase Your Wealth Span, Spend Money Guilt-Free, and Gain the Confidence to Enjoy Your Bigger Future

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If you could live for a hundred more years, would your resources survive too?

People are living longer than ever, but most are not financially prepared for their longevity. Whether you live to fifty or one hundred fifty, your lifespan will be less fulfilling if your wealth span does not match.

In Financial Longevity, wealth management expert Michael Merlin demystifies the complex world of financial planning, offering a clear roadmap to increase your wealth span and enjoy a bigger, more fulfilling future. Whether you're just starting your financial journey or looking to verify you're on the right track, this book is your essential guide.

Michael identifies three “financial diseases” that cause short wealth spans and provides simple, actionable strategies for treating each. You'll learn how
Maximize your wealth span and secure your financial futureSpend money guilt-free while still growing your assetsEnjoy your bigger future with confidence
Don't let financial complexity hold you back from living your best life. Take the complex and make it simple.
Start your journey to financial longevity today!

104 pages, Kindle Edition

Published February 24, 2025

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27 people want to read

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Displaying 1 - 30 of 41 reviews
Profile Image for Grady.
Author 51 books1,823 followers
March 20, 2025
‘Understanding yourself and your view of finances is invaluable’ – A must read!

Georgia author Michael Merlin is the founder of Merlin Wealth Management and guides families on matters of financial, estate, investment, and philanthropic planning. In this short but valuable book he supports gaining knowledge into early and continuous financial education, assuring comfort in retirement years, and in providing a solid legacy for heirs. Referencing history opens the gates for his discussion of the ‘financial diseases’ that can alter quality longevity: undisciplined (compulsive) spending, infective investment philosophies (get-rich-quick schemes), and ailments from external sources. Merlin’s manner of introducing concepts and providing advice is so accessible that everyone reading this volume will benefit from his practical - and wise – advice, on subjects such as getting rid of high-interest debt, creating an emergency fund, savings, and investments, and the value of a comprehensive plan assisted by a financial advisor.

‘Start early, understand credit and debit cards, and controlling impulses‘ are presented as themes that that affect us all. Add to those ‘tasks’ the importance of upgrading our investment philosophy and heeding his ‘financial longevity’s ten-point investment discipline’ and the author delivers accessible and sound advice that is invaluable for all readers. Superb, and important, book.
Profile Image for Maria Paula Castellanos Monroy.
814 reviews19 followers
April 4, 2025
Practical

I thought that life expectancy was falling, however, the opposite is happening; it is going up and this simple fact changed my perspective on life because it allowed me to realize that there are many things that I have not planned for such as my finances, thank goodness I found this book that has allowed me to structure my finances and feel less anxious when thinking about my future.
Although this book tries to demystify a little bit so much planning, it is true that it allows you to organize yourself much more in a practical, simple way that fits your lifestyle. The book proposes strategies to maximize your finances for the future, teaches you how to spend money without guilt and gain much more confidence.
I think this book is one of the best books I have read since I became an adult and since I discovered how to manage my personal finances, without a doubt, it took away my guilt and gave me such practical advice that I had to give this same text to my siblings as a gift.
Read it and I'm sure it will be as useful to you as it was to me.
Profile Image for Liz.
1,397 reviews33 followers
March 7, 2025
Not only has the Coronavirus had devastating effects on the economy of many people and families around the world, but in my opinion, it has also represented a strong blow to the economy of countries, companies and families.
Without a doubt, I believe that one of the most relevant lessons that can be drawn from the financial crisis is the lack of knowledge and information of a large part of the population on basic issues in economics and personal finances, which limits their ability to make responsible, conscious and competent decisions, in other words, a lack of financial education.
I firmly believe that books like this make us grow and expand our horizons towards financial education, a subject that many people put aside because of their day-to-day life, but what would happen if we thought about the future? Without a doubt, we would get more out of our economy.
Profile Image for Píaras Cíonnaoíth.
Author 143 books206 followers
March 25, 2025
Blueprint for a Wealthier Tomorrow...

Michael Merlin addresses the important gap between expanded lifespans and fragile wealth spans in Financial Longevity, helping those unprepared to fund their future. The author explains complex financial ideas into manageable steps, helping readers align their finances with their lives. His advice eliminates spending and saving worries and replaces them with sustainable wealth growth. He prescribes discipline and flexibility to treat three widespread “financial ailments” that threaten long-term stability. Readers learn to maximize wealth over decades, spend without regret, and confidently retire. His technique simplifies complexity, helping people to create a financially free and happy future. This book is informative and enlightening for anyone seeking to transcend uncertainty and restore control. Highly recommended.
Profile Image for Eric F.
294 reviews3 followers
April 5, 2025
Financial Longevity made me realize how important it is to learn to manage money well so it lasts a long time. With people living longer these days, it's not enough to just save a little bit of money here and there. You have to think about the long-term because you might need that money to last for many years. Learning how to make your money last throughout your life is super important, and that’s what this book does well. It shows that saving is not enough, you need a plan to make sure your money can support you as you get older.

What really stood out to me was how Merlin explains managing your money without feeling like you’re giving up everything you enjoy. You don’t have to stop having fun or buying the things you like, but you need to be smart about how you spend and save so your money lasts longer.
Profile Image for Guy Wheatley.
Author 8 books19 followers
April 9, 2025
At age 67, I can look back at my life and see the wisdom in the advice in author Merlin’s book. I’m far from destitute. My house and cars are paid for. No major debt. We have no trouble paying utilities or buying food. Insurance and modest savings have handled our medical needs so far. But there are no Caribbean cruises or tours of Europe in our future. Looking back at my life, I’m convinced there could have been if I’d followed the principals in this book.
The thing that really gets me is that so much of it is really just common sense. But those ideas and priorities just don’t jump at you at age 24. People just starting their financial and professional lives need examples and mentors to encourage them.
Young people are not likely to reach for this book on their own. I would encourage parents and other mentors to get them a copy.
Profile Image for Steven Finkelstein.
995 reviews12 followers
February 28, 2025
It’s undeniable that humans are living longer. However, if you can’t accumulate enough wealth to support yourself for the entirety of your life, that is going to make its latter stages much more difficult. That’s why it is necessary to create a financial blueprint that will put you in the best possible position to thrive.

The author of this book explains how you can do that. He painstakingly lays the groundwork for how you can set up a financial ecosystem that will cover all of your expenses not just for the present, but the future as well. Anyone who is concerned about their financial future and who needs practical advice for how to manage it would do well to read this excellent book and implement the strategies contained therein.
Profile Image for Diana.
392 reviews7 followers
March 6, 2025
Financial Longevity by Michael Merlin is an excellent book to learn a lot more about money management. The author not only talks about how to grow wealth, but something even more important: how to make sure our resources last as long as our life. One of the things I liked most about the book is the clarity with which Merlin explains financial concepts that usually seem difficult to understand, however, he explains them with a precision that makes them very understandable. I really like the book because it has clear examples, very effective strategies and an optimistic approach. Financial Longevity not only offers financial education, but also peace of mind and confidence for the future. I definitely recommend it for those people who want to take control of their finances.
Profile Image for Almiria.
757 reviews10 followers
March 6, 2025
We are living longer than ever and modern medical science promises more improvements in our life spans, but do we actually have the financial resources to live longer? In Financial Longevity, Michael Merlin discusses this critical new issue. How much will we enjoy our longer lives if we don’t have the resources to actually thrive? In this book, you’ll learn how to plan for a long and fulfilling life with financial stability, including how to increase your wealth span and grow your assets. This book is particularly useful for beginners and those at the start of their investment journey. It has plenty of solid advice and explains financial concepts in clear and accessible terms that a layperson can understand easily.
Profile Image for Marina  Lujan .
935 reviews15 followers
March 6, 2025
I have long been concerned about not only creating wealth but also making it last. This book surprised me with its clarity and practical approach. Merlin explains in a simple way why many people face fleeting periods of wealth and how to avoid them. Beyond the theory, I found it incredibly appealing because he provides practical advice on how to maintain steady financial growth and how to spend guilt-free.

I definitely came away from this book with a few suggestions that I intend to implement, like improving the way I structure my long-term financial planning and increasing my awareness of my investments. Anyone who wishes to enjoy life without risking their future stability should read it, in my opinion.
Profile Image for CarlitasFox.
1,485 reviews28 followers
March 8, 2025
An excellent guide
“Financial longevity” is an informative and helpful book penned by Michael Merlin. Nowadays, people live longer than before, so this read prepares them for the future. It delves into essential aspects that will give readers some clues about how to maximize the money and think about a figure financial plan.
Everything is explained in detail together with examples to help people organise their time and administer their money. It's a question of analysing the incomes and the possibility of investing money during the years that will come.
I dare say that it’s an excellent guide for people because it gives them confidence and provides a roadmap to do a variety of activities to boost their incomes. Without a doubt, I recommend it.



Profile Image for Brenda.
1,357 reviews25 followers
March 8, 2025
It is a helpful guide and very easy to read and follow, it talks about how to make money that lasts long. I like that the book explains why focusing on financial planning is actually very important to find that security and a more comfortable future.

The one thing that stands out the most is the simple way of communicating the author has, making money topics in a very simple and understandable way. Also explaining the common mistakes made by people helped learn some tools and tips to avoid them.

To conclude, I think the book has good financial information to build a more stable future, it is not meant for experienced people, but to everyone willing to work and manage their money with confidence.
Profile Image for Rodrigo J.
392 reviews5 followers
March 28, 2025
Financial empowerment

This book has caught my attention because it encourages us to rethink and reflect on our future, as well as the peace of mind we want to have throughout the years. It teaches us how to plan financially so that we can continue enjoying life without major financial worries. It is about changing our mindset, becoming more organized, and forecasting a better tomorrow.

The author makes us think not only about how to grow our wealth but also about how to live without financial regrets, be at peace, and have the confidence to make decisions that allow us to enjoy the future while continuing to work towards long-term financial well-being.

I found this book incredibly interesting and useful.
Profile Image for Maps  R.
403 reviews9 followers
March 31, 2025
Nowadays, there are lots of books talking about financial freedom and how to achieve it, but what is the difference with this book? This book is a guide to self-discovery; you will understand your relationship with money. Often, we feel guilty about spending money, but this book will free us from those negative emotions when talking about money and finances. I like how the author educates the reader, and my favorite part is recognizing the financial diseases—how to recognize them and attack them. Finance is a must-learn topic, and healthily, this book provides key insights for you to grow as a human and learn about your relationship with money while approaching your financial freedom in the best way possible.
Profile Image for AMR CAMI .
376 reviews11 followers
April 2, 2025
This awesome book has become one of my favorite guides that looks at how to achieve this long term financial security that I always wanted. The author discusses topics such as sound investment techniques, effective retirement planning, and the importance of acquiring a habit of disciplined savings. The author's prose is concise and clear, making these complex financial concepts into an essay language for readers of every degree of financial acumen. The book is complemented by real life examples and practical tips, providing readers with tangible steps to secure their financial future. Overall, this financial book is a helpful guide for anyone who wishes to maximize their financial health and make plans for a secure and prosperous tomorrow.
Profile Image for Camilo.
404 reviews4 followers
April 4, 2025
Great Book

Faced with the speed of today's world, the high professional and social competition make the individual often feel very pressured, among the factors that put the most pressure on the individual is the economic issue. To have well-being and a solid and calm economy that allows him to have a dreamed life has become a great challenge, a challenge, which in turn, this book faces in a unique way, shows and teaches the individual how to live in a calm way financially speaking but at the same time shows the reader that it is also possible to indulge without feeling guilt. This book is becoming more and more relevant and important, highly recommended for any type of person, especially for youth and young adults.
Profile Image for L Becerra.
396 reviews9 followers
April 7, 2025
Great tool!

Lately, I have really enjoyed reading about financial planning and how to maximize my wealth so that I can guarantee a good future for myself and my family. I truly believe that the earlier you start saving and investing, the better your financial future will be. This book has been a great tool to teach me how to achieve long-term financial stability by creating good habits, understanding investments, and being very disciplined.

Although the book has only 86 pages, its content is easy to read and very valuable, allowing you to begin investing and learning about your finances right away.

I think everyone should read this amazing book! In a few years, you will be grateful for the lessons it provides.
Profile Image for Ivan M.
838 reviews22 followers
March 5, 2025
Financial Longevity explains in detail how to maintain profit over the years without compromising your health and lifestyle. It is a great choice for middle-aged readers because this book is best applied with preparation and commitment, it is not an easy fix or a magic book, it is a collection of well-though ideas to make you think about the future.


This subject has been a concern for years, life is so unpredictable and changing that it has been a challenge for me to even think about elderhood. This book opened my eyes in many ways, and I have to recognize that now I feel slightly less scared than before about growing up.
Profile Image for Carlos Perea.
185 reviews2 followers
March 5, 2025
Very Important

Simply amazing! I consider that reading this kind of books is an investment in oneself. Knowing how to manage wealth, your finances and above all to be able to indulge yourself without guilt or fear is one of life's great privileges. I love the concept that the author calls “spend money guilt-free”. I felt identified with this concept because many times the fear of not having wealth or even being poor makes me feel guilty and this is horrible because one should not feel bad for indulging. I found this book to be an impeccable educational and training guide that helps people to mature financially and emotionally. Great book!
Profile Image for Gianfranco.
581 reviews7 followers
March 6, 2025
I never thought about it

Considering pensions is something we young people seem to have to resign ourselves to, well our financial life in longevity should be a priority. Well, this book helps us to understand what is in store for us and gives us the key tools so that we can have peace of mind between now and then. The book has given me some peace of mind because it has made me understand that I am not bad at all in terms of what I have decided financially for the future, but it has also made me correct the course of many things. I was very happy with the advice I received and the interesting perspective this book gave me.
Profile Image for Aneley Sánchez.
988 reviews24 followers
March 7, 2025
Learning about finances.

This book immediately caught my attention because it is about a topic that really affects us all. I have often thought about my financial future, when I am older and no longer working. Michael Merlin offers all the answers to these doubts in his book called Financial Longevity.
I liked it for many reasons; it is simple to read and uses an understandable language, it offers practical tips to apply in our lives and, above all, it provides security to the reader.
It is an excellent way to learn about finances and thus make better and more conscious decisions while achieving financial freedom. It was very useful for me. I recommend it!
Profile Image for Fanny Polchlopek.
230 reviews
March 8, 2025
Everyone should read it now

Now that I am retired, I do nothing but emphasize to my children how important it is to start thinking about their financial future at a very young age, not to leave their old age to chance, especially when we are living longer and longer. That is why this book is a light full of financial tools not only for the youngest but a real basis for understanding basic notions of finance. For me, being older, it has given me many guides and it has also given me knowledge to pass on to my children. Obviously, I have given the recommendation to all my children, nieces, nephews and I will give it to my grandchildren.
Profile Image for Daniel Moreno.
846 reviews16 followers
March 8, 2025
Maintaining our wealth for the long term is the goal that we all want to achieve, that there are times when we say that we are not capable or do not understand how to do it. Especially without compromising our health and our lifestyle. I really liked this book, since I am starting my working life and also worrying about my future, and this book helped me a lot with this. I really liked it because it gives me the fundamental pillars to achieve my financial goals. I highly recommend this book for all those who want to seek financial freedom. Highly recommended; 5/5 stars for its excellent advice and also for its route.
Profile Image for Melissa Hernandez.
412 reviews17 followers
March 28, 2025
This book was short, but it was written in such a way that our author, , says the point and nails the explanation immediately. Just bam, bam, bam, on information. I do like the Monopoly money example for kids. That's so smart. I appreciate that he clearly states the dos and don'ts and the whys. I wish our schools started this with us as early as possible. I'm sure they could figure out a way to put all of this book into our curriculum. I also appreciate the meme stocks section. Seeing it play out is definitely scary, but really interesting reading the aftermath of it all. Overall, we have to build good money habits. It'll be worth it in the long run.
Profile Image for Yolanda Gomez.
570 reviews9 followers
April 4, 2025
I have always been interested in the whole topic of finances and wealth, but for several years now, I have been looking for tools to secure my future in order to have a secure old age. This reading helped me to understand several issues that I was still not clear about and to start changing certain financial actions that I thought were fine, but that with the author's advice will be better. It is a guide to grow your wealth and guarantee a full life, but it also helps you understand that just because you spend your money you are not doing things wrong, on the contrary, it is part of the flow of money.
Profile Image for Margarita Garcia.
1,040 reviews22 followers
April 4, 2025
Great guide.

If there is one guide on how to manage your money that deserves to be recommended, it's this one. ''Financial Longevity'' will teach you in a simple way how to manage and grow your finances and maintain them over time. It will also teach you financial values, how to have a plan, financial education, and more. One of the chapters that helped me the most was "Non-Negotiable Investment" and "Creating Good Habits." Those chapters were an awakening for me and taught me many lessons. This is a useful book that will change the way you manage your finances and make them solid and consistent over time. I highly recommend it.
Profile Image for Mayra.
613 reviews12 followers
May 5, 2025
Reading Financial Longevity felt like finally sitting down with someone who gets how overwhelming money can be, but also how exciting planning your future should feel. Michael Merlin makes finances approachable and empowering. He invites you to think big about your life, not just your money. His advice about spending guilt-free while still growing wealth helped me relax and rethink my budgeting habits. I never thought about “wealth span” before, but now I realize it’s just as important as health span. This book isn’t just informative; in fact it’s encouraging. It’s perfect for anyone who wants a deeper, more meaningful relationship with their finances.
Profile Image for Lauraforero.
287 reviews2 followers
May 7, 2025
useful

While I’ve read plenty of financial books, this one stands out for its concept of extending your “wealth span.” That idea alone makes it worth reading. That said, some ideas felt familiar if you’ve studied personal finance before. However, Merlin’s delivery is concise and approachable, which makes it perfect for someone new to these concepts. The strength of this book is its structure; clearly laid out, with excellent summaries and actionable advice. The tone is positive and motivating, which I appreciated. Even if you think you’ve got your financial plan in place, this book can help you refine and stretch your goals.
Profile Image for Rocio.
343 reviews4 followers
May 8, 2025

Financial Longevity is one of the clearest financial books I’ve ever read, and I've read many. He cuts through the noise with simple language and doable steps. I appreciated the concept of aligning “wealth span” with “lifespan” as it made me think differently about long-term planning. The three “financial diseases” he identifies really hit home. I’ve been guilty of two! What I liked most was the balance he struck between saving and guilt-free spending. This is about living well and wisely. Whether you’re 30 or 60, this book has something useful for you. It’s a practical and motivating guide I’ll revisit often.
Profile Image for Chico's Mom.
967 reviews9 followers
March 8, 2025
The goal now is to live longer and ensure that we have all the resources to cover us for the duration of our existence and our family's financial safety. This book helps us understand precisely how that can be done. It's not just saving up and investing but also developing good spending habits and spending money on the experiences and things in life that will keep us happy, healthy, and stress-free. Enjoying your legacy is another thing, what's the use of all that money if you won't be able to enjoy it? According to this book, it will help you live longer. And I like the idea of philanthropy. It's not just good for your soul; it also gives you a purpose.
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