The Path: Accelerating Your Journey to Financial Freedom

by Peter Mallouk, Tony Robbins (Primary Contributor)

#1 Wall Street Journal Bestseller!

Accelerate your journey to financial freedom with the tools, strategies, and mindset of money mastery.

Regardless of your stage of life and your current financial picture, the quest for financial freedom can indeed be conquered. The journey will demand the right tools and strategies along with the mindset of money mastery. With decades of collective wisdom and hands-on experience, your guides for this expedition are Peter Mallouk, the only man in history to be ranked the #1 Financial Advisor in the U.S. for three consecutive years by Barron’s (2013, 2014, 2015), and Tony Robbins, the world-renowned life and business strategist. Mallouk and Robbins take the seemingly daunting goal of financial freedom and simplify it into a step-by-step process that anyone can achieve.

The pages of this book are filled with real-life success stories and vital lessons, such as…
• Why the future is better than you think and why there is no greater time in history to be an investor
• How to chart your personally tailored course for financial security
• How markets behave and how to achieve peace of mind during volatility
• What the financial services industry doesn’t want you to know
• How to select a financial advisor that puts your interests first
• How to navigate, select, or reject the many types of investments available
• Success without fulfillment is the ultimate failure! Financial freedom is not only about money—it’s about feeling deeply fulfilled in your own personal journey

“Want an eye-opening guide to money management—one that tells it like it is and will make you laugh along the way? Peter Mallouk’s tour of the financial world is a tour de force that’ll change the way you think about money.” —Jonathan Clements, Former Columnist for The Wall Street Journal and current board member and Director of Financial Education at Creative Planning

“Robbins is the best economic moderator that I’ve ever worked with. His mission to bring insights from the world’s greatest financial minds to the average investor is truly inspiring.” —Alan Greenspan, Former Federal Reserve Chairman

“Tony is a force of nature.” —Jack Bogle, Founder of Vanguard

Genres: Finance, Nonfiction, Personal Finance, Business, Self Help, Money, Personal Development

320 pages, Hardcover

First published October 13, 2020

Reviews

[Eduardo Rosas · Rating 4 out of 5]

If you have read Peter’s or Tony’s other books this will sound a bit repetitive. If you haven’t though, this is a great book that may not go into a lot of details, but certainly covers some key topics.
The last two chapters can be especially beneficial to those of us who have a very good idea of how to invest, but often find it hard to enjoy ourselves as we build our wealth.

[Jen Loong-Goodwin · Rating 4 out of 5]

Well respected boutique money manager for ppl I look up to wrote this book

First 7 chapters important in setting stage for how to decide what to save for, build your investment principles, and fundamentals to financial planning. However would argue too much Of it was US-lens focused that may not be as helpful for intl clients

Chapters 8 onwards is great for annual reread

Good promo to use their team at Creative Planning for wealth mgmt

Editorially, can do with less quotes, less footnotes, to read bit easier, but maybe just a personal preference.

[Shabab Shahriar khan · Rating 4 out of 5]

Good entry point to the investing world with some sound advice. The more interesting stuff starts from Chapter 8, I'd only recommend the chapters by Tony Robbins in the beginning.

Bombarded with quotes throughout much of which isn't really needed to assert the point being discussed. Very US/North America focused overall so you'd have to sift out the principles instead - more so if you care about halal investing. 3.5 stars.

[Paul Botterill · Rating 3 out of 5]

I read this book because it was contributed to by Tony Robbins, who a lot of other authors have recommended. The investment advice in this book is good. However, I gave it just three stars for two reasons. Firstly and mostly because there is a lot of stuff in there trying to sell the authors company; that is not what I look for in a book. Secondly much of the advice is based upon American financial products and artefacts, which is fine but not as relevant to me in the UK.

[Tim G · Rating 5 out of 5]

An absolute standout for financial commonsense and wisdom.
This book will undoubtedly move to one of my most recommended books.
For all the lures, distractions, and glittery advertisements of differing mediums promising endless wealth, this book provides the absolute true north.
This book most certainly is not a get rich quick scheme, Peter Malouk even indicates his promises are of a boring alternative, but an alternative, which aligns you to a future of financial freedom.
The premise of this book is to provide understanding and focus, towards a diversified, long term investment strategy. This would be overseen by a financial advisor, but an advisor that can be safely picked by following Peter's detailed checklist of what an advisor should have, and, if certain things are being promoted through the advisor, exactly why they should be avoided.
The investment strategy will encompass a managed fund, comprising of index funds, bonds and possibly some real estate investment trusts, to support and enable your financial goals.
This book was absolutely of benefit to me, as my investments have included a managed fund through a certified financial planner, and while my investment strategy has followed as indicated, I was feeling myself drawn further afield, to some of the more speculative investment offers, littering my YouTube ads and friend 'recommendations.' Fortunately, I could take resolve that my current 'boring' investment strategy, is a wise and sensible choice.
This book distills and dilutes all the get rich quick schemes, and while they have worked for some, the book explicitly details why there is a very high chance they will not work for the majority.
The real estate investment chapter also provided some revealing insights, particularly on how a house is your home, and will not always translate to a high returning investment, particularly in comparison to a diversified portfolio.
The biggest appeal for this book is the simplicity in the crucial information, the analogies are very cleverly done and really aid in instilling smart investment strategies.
If I haven't indicated this strongly enough, I will reiterate, this is an absolute worthwhile, beneficial and educational read, and will strongly support and enable some very wise investment decisions.
Finally, for what ever reason I had an indifference to Tony Robbins, im pleased to say his chapters in this book are so well put together, simple, impactful statements and thought provoking ideas. My opinion of Tony Robbins has completely flipped, and I loved that I garnered that from this book.
The highlights I made from this book were abundant, so I have attempted to capture the best:

'As humans, we were born with the instinct to move in herds, follow the crowd, and seek the safety of consensus.'

'If you are attracted to a particular investment, I recommend that you challenge it rigorously. How could this investment go wrong? If this investment were to lose money, how would it happen? And what risk does the investment present?'

'If you could choose only between owning stock in any of the worlds greatest companies or owning the building they operate out of, which would you pick? Sophisticated investors would pick the stock every time.'

'Comparison is the thief of joy'

[Katerina Molchanova · Rating 4 out of 5]

I really enjoyed parts written by Mallouk: there were new concepts even for me (if disregard advertisement of advisors - understandable, as it's his business), but all sections written by co-authors are really off the place.

[Daniel Fernández · Rating 5 out of 5]

Excelente libro, muy claro, al grano y retoma incluso parte de la psicología del dinero, lo difícil es personal, descubrir que no existen fórmulas mágicas inmediatas para crear riqueza hay que perseverar con paciencia e iniciar desde niño si te es posible.

[Siebe Briers · Rating 3 out of 5]

Part 2 of the book (about a third of the content) is not useful for non-Americans. The other parts do include interesting content.

[Isabella Zapata · Rating 4 out of 5]

The Four Rules of Investing

RULE#1: Have a clearly defined plan - failing to plan is planning to fail
- financial independence means that as of today, you could quit your job, live the lifestyle you want, and never have to work for the rest of your life.
- the path that leads to financial independence has five basic steps: creating a net worth statement, developing a financial plan, running projections, and monitoring your process.
Step 1: create a net worth statement: it simply outlines your assets and your liabilities. Your assets are everything you own, valued at what you would received if each was sold today. Your liabilities are everything you owe if you were to pay them off today. The difference between you assets and your liabilities is your net worth
Step 2: know your financial goals, and develop a financial plan: a financial goal must be both specific and realistic.
Step 3: run a projection: you need to know if you are preparing effectively to reach your goals.
Step 4: Determine if you need to adjust your goal: planning to have surplus helps ensure that there are sufficient assets to meet your needs in the face of uncertainty. It allows a cushion for any unexpected expenses. You should always have a clear understanding of where you are today financially: which assets are bringing you wealth, which assets are taking wealth away from you, and how much time you have to reach your financial goals.
Step 5: construct a customized portfolio

RULE#2: Build a portfolio that aligns with your goal

RULE#3: Revisit the plan

RULE#4: The ultimate rule: don't mess it up

Chapter six talks about managing risk, the author explains different types of insurance policies: car, home, health, etc.

Chapter seven explains the estate planning: everything you should have ready for after your passing: will, estate, incapacity planning, distribution of assets, avoiding probate, minimizing or eliminating estate taxes

the third part of the book talks about the market. it explains what a market correction is, bear markets, bull markets, different types of asset classes: cash, bonds, stocks, real state, commodities, alternative investments, private lending, private real estate, cryptocurrencies

Part IV is about the climb. how to build and manage your portfolio

To make sure you are on the path to financial freedom:
1. build a financial plan outlining your goals
2. Determine the asset allocation most likely to get you the return you need to achieve your goals
3. Take a global approach to your portfolio
4. Diversify to avoid company and industry risk
5. Consider working around your current holdings that have significant taxable gains
6. Determine which investments to buy in taxable and non taxable accounts
7. Rebalance, tax-harvest, and monitor your portfolio
8. Revisit your financial plan every year, and make adjustments to your portfolio as needed.

[Harry Harman]

from 2000 through the end of 2009 (a full ten years), the S&P 500 produced a whopping 0% return; this became known as the “Lost Decade.

Burt Malkiel, who authored the famous book, A Random Walk Down Wall Street. He explained that if during the Lost Decade, you were diversied in US stocks, foreign stocks, emerging market stocks, bonds, and real estate,3 you would have averaged 6.7% annually—all during a period that included the tech bubble, 9/11, and the 2008 nancial crisis.

Many Americans own iPhones, but why not own Apple? Many Americans nd Amazon boxes on their doorstep every day, but why not own the powerhouse retailer?

misguided intervention (e.g., selling during volatile times and putting your cash under your mattress).

Assume for a moment that you are going to buy a sandwich shop. What do you care about? As a newly minted small business owner, the most important factor you care about is anticipated earnings. If you buy the shop, you are doing so because you believe the prots earned will justify the purchase price with a good return. To arrive at this conclusion, you would likely look at every factor that could aect your ability to make money from this sandwich shop. For example, if interest rates are low, you could make lower payments on your loan, thus making the shop more protable. In this case, interest rates matter only because they aect your anticipated earnings. Commodity prices will also likely matter, as oil, cheese, ham, and bread are all commodities that vary in price. If oil prices go up, you will pay more to have the food delivered to your shop every day. Rising food costs will also increase your expenses. While low interest rates could increase your bottom line, increases in commodity prices could eat away at your bottom line, and both aect your anticipated earnings. Consumer condence matters too because if consumers think their nancial world is collapsing, they will forgo your $8 sandwich and make the kids a PB&J at home. at will drive down sales, which would lower your earnings.

companies selling alcohol did just ne because people tend to drink when they are depressed (and when they are happy, which is why alcohol is considered recession proof). Another interesting fact? e stock market as a whole tends to move up well before a recession is over.

Double something 10 times, it’s a thousand times better. Double it 20 times, it’s a million times better. Double it 30 times, it’s a billion times better.

[Brian Sachetta · Rating 5 out of 5]

Financial planning is undoubtedly confusing, but this book makes it relatively simple and straightforward. It breaks down the rules of investing as well as all the different asset types you could theoretically put in your portfolio. And, more importantly, it tells you why you should or shouldn’t hold some of those assets.

I think the best thing about this book is that while it makes high-level investment recommendations, it does so only in a broad fashion, letting readers know that different asset classes are going to work better for different people depending upon where they are in life and what their financial plans are.

It covers everything from investing to taxes to estate planning, allowing you the opportunity to create a fully comprehensive financial roadmap. After reading it, I feel like one will have everything they need in order to succeed monetarily and strive toward financial freedom.

The book does get a little technical or in-the-weeds at times, but it still articulates things in a way such that even someone who isn’t a financial planner can understand and follow along.

While I really did enjoy this one, I do have two minor complaints, the first being that I wish there were more Tony Robbins in it. In total, he only accounts for two chapters and just north of twenty pages; this book is mostly a Peter Mallouk production. Secondly, if you’ve read “Money: Master the Game” or “Unshakeable,” you will discover a good amount of repeat information here.

Regardless of those factors, however, I still give this one very high marks for its standalone value and ability to help readers make sense of a difficult and confusing subject.

-Brian Sachetta
Author of “Get Out of Your Head”

[Nathan Borg · Rating 3 out of 5]

The Path, written by Peter Mallouk with sections from @tonyrobbins , talks about some fundamentals when planning to be financially independent.

Overall it was good. There was a lot of discussion about insurances (death, estate) to ensure that if anything does happen, you'll be prepared. This discussion was of course pretty bland, but interesting nonetheless.

There is a focus on creating that path to financial freedom, discussing the main option of shares, but also all other aspects such as asset allocation, diversification, and much more.

While it was good, it felt a little bit empty compared to a book like #unshakeable from Tony Robbins. This book talked about what there was available, but lacked any certain path (which of course is difficult because everyone's situation is different). There was a lot more that could have been included, but it has some alright information.

I listened to the audiobook, and I wasn't a fan. It was read by Peter as well, but it would have been much better to hire a professional audiobook reader / voice-trained narrator. It was super bland hearing it, with a monotone voice and without any breaks between sentences.

Content 4/5
Audiobook 2/5

If you were looking for a more comprehensive book about financial independence, read Unshakeable by Tony Robbins (which Peter also contributed towards).

[Florian Bador · Rating 5 out of 5]

An excellent book on managing finances and growing them.
What I love the most about it is that Peter Mallouk found the perfect sweet spot where we get just enough information to learn a great deal on many topics, yet not too much so that it makes the book too long or too detailed.
It goes from investing mechanics and its psychology to portfolio diversification, from will and what happen when you die to being intelligent about taxes and retirement. It covers a broad range of financial topics for everyone to learn the 20% responsible for the 80% of great results.
Tony has a couple of chapters on psychology, both psychology of money and life, pretty much everything he talked about in his seminars and videos but summarized and worded better than ever because he now had so many years to put his ideas into words that everyone gets.
Quite frankly I don't even see any way this book could be better. You might not be totally into wills and trusts yet if you're single and alone for example but hey, having this sort of topic summarized well in 2 or 3 pages is wonderful so we can already learn just enough in a few minutes to keep these ideas in mind for when they will be needed.
Highly recommended to pretty much anyone, there's for all ages, all careers and all economics.

[Jules · Rating 1 out of 5]

Rudimentary advice for retirement and “wealth building”, no information that will expound upon a financially affluent person’s thinking. Boring writing in my opinion, Peter’s writing is repetitive, boring and all over the place. Tony’s writing sounds like it’s supposed to be enthusiastic and motivating, and it’s just lack luster and sounds improvised like there was no though behind the writing at all.
As far as information, I’ve gotten most of this from blogs and other books. I’m only 20 and the retirement parts of this book are barely scratch the surface considering how much information there is online about the subject. I don’t know why I paid $20 to read about the most basic practices of money management, and to feel like I’m about to fall asleep during it. Maybe, I’m just the wrong reader for this book and it would actually hold some significance for somebody newer to the topics - However, I read “The Psychology Of Money” By Morgan Housel last year, and it was ten times better than this book and talked about most of the same topics + I didn’t have to take 5 espresso shots in order to stay awake during a single chapter.

[Tùng Lâm Phạm · Rating 3 out of 5]

Cảm xúc đầu tiên của tôi sau khi đóng lại những trang cuối của "Đường đến tự do" là sự thất vọng, hay nói đúng hơn là hụt hẫng. Hụt hẫng không hẳn vì nội dung sách không hay, mà bởi tôi đã kỳ vọng rất nhiều ở cái tên đầy uy tín: Anthony Robbins. Tiếc rằng người Coach huyền thoại của chúng ta chỉ xuất hiện thoáng qua, mờ nhạt. Có khi nào Anthony Robbins chỉ góp danh như một cách PR sách, và cuốn sách là một cách PR cho Creative Planning, công ty tư vấn tài chính của Peter Mallouk - tác giả còn lại của cuốn sách?

Tạm gác qua một bên sự hụt hẫng và nghi vấn PR, xét về mặt nội dung thì cuốn sách cung cấp một bức tranh tổng quan về tài chính cá nhân thông qua việc giải thích các khái niệm cơ bản, trình bày một số yếu tố tâm lý trong quản lý và đầu tư cũng như các chiến lược quản lý tài chính. Kiến thức bao quát nhưng không sâu, hợp với những ai mới bắt đầu tìm hiểu về tài chính cá nhân (còn nếu bạn đã tìm hiểu trước đó chắc hẳn sẽ thấy nhàm chán và lặp lại nhiều nội dung). Trong quá trình đọc sách, chúng ta nên biết đối chiếu, sàng lọc thông tin vì có rất nhiều khái niệm, kiến thức chỉ đúng và khả thi tại thị trường Mỹ, không thể áp dụng máy móc ở Việt Nam.

[Jan Tell · Rating 5 out of 5]

The author’s mantra: “What’s wrong is always available, but it takes a directed mind to seek out what is right at any given moment.”

This book is about developing a plan for your version of financial freedom based on your unique needs and goals. More importantly, it’s about creating an extraordinary life. What stood out most to me were the two short personal stories the author shared—powerful illustrations of what it means to live a fulfilled life.

If you're considering working with a financial planner, this book provides key questions to ask and helps you understand what you need in place beforehand. YNAB is particularly helpful in this regard, as it makes your net worth visible and encourages intentionality by giving every dollar a job.

The book also draws a compelling parallel between investing and mindset: just as removing emotion from investing leads to better financial decisions, choosing the right state of mind helps in facing life’s challenges. It provides a clear understanding of how the stock market works, equipping you to make more informed decisions.

[Lorenzo Fiumi · Rating 4 out of 5]

A Complete Path to Financial Freedom for Beginners

This is the fifth book I’ve read or listened to on personal finance, and it’s by far the most comprehensive. It’s designed for beginners, clearly explains every concept, and is enjoyable to read.

What I liked:
1. It covers practically everything — from types of investments to insurance, retirement planning, psychology, and many other important topics.
2. It explains concepts very clearly, even for those with no background in finance.
3. It introduces ETFs (index funds), recommending them as the simplest and most effective way to start investing.

What I disliked:
1. The book is written for a U.S. audience, so some advice may not apply to readers living in other countries (e.g., retirement plan options).
2. Since it targets beginners, it focuses only on basic strategies and recommends hiring a financial advisor (promoting the author’s own firm).

Therefore:
– Read if: you’re new to personal finance and investing.
– Don’t read if: you’re looking for advanced investment strategies.

[Donn Lee · Rating 4 out of 5]

I would give it five stars if it didn’t occasionally (often) feel like a commercial for Peter Mallouk’s company. Still, it’s a very worthwhile read especially if you haven’t yet had any financial planning done, and if you have had some it’s a good refresher; helps open your eyes to any possible bad (or hopefully good) advice you may have been given.

The advice is solid, and other than the few paragraphs of product placement (I suppose if I was a customer of his I actually would feel pretty good) reads very well. Topics such as insurance, something we don’t really enjoy reading, and investing, that we generally do, are covered.

There’s even a little of Tony Robbins (tasteful) rah-rah to break the money money money monotony.

[Howard · Rating 5 out of 5]

Great book on how to deal with money throughout your entire life... and death! He provides a great rundown on financial planning, just using the index funds in the stock market to solidify growth. great points on how to deal with you finances, so that your money is handled properly, even after you die. I like his no-nonsense approach. He simplifies a lot of the financial products that you often hear about and tells you the advantages and disadvantages. Advice on rebalancing cash accounts, watching out for the tax disadvantages of them. Just lots of cool stuff. Great, informative listen.

[Bridget Hathaway · Rating 5 out of 5]

I was a big fan of Unshakeable, Tony & Peter’s first book, which was what initially lit a fire under my booty to get my financial sh!t together. I appreciated that in this book, as opposed to a small snippet at the end of the first, Peter went more in depth with estate planning & insurances. Peter has a bit more humorous & lighter, while still informative, writing style than Tony, I thought. While some of it was repetitive content of Unshakeable, I appreciated that he added the why to every asset of the portfolio also. I think Chapter 13 by Jonathan Clements was my favorite, however. Would recommend to anyone looking to dive into investing/personal finance for sure!

[Samer · Rating 4 out of 5]

Although I loved the book with all its details about finance and how to invest for financial independence and the excellent addition of self-development chapters in it and the latest chapter about happiness, it is almost the same as the previous book of the series! It is the same as unshakeable!!
I am not sure what and why, but I haven't seen anything different.
If you did not read any of them, go now and read “the Path”, but if it happened and you read the “unshakable” before, so that would be it, save your time and read something else.

[Mark Manderson · Rating 3 out of 5]

Top takeaways:

- Ask if broker or advisor?
- The goal is to have an investment advisor and NOT a broker.
- Ask if registered WITH SEC or FINRA?
- Want SEC only (not dually registered or just a broker.)
- CREATE AM ESTATE PLAN.
- Create plan power of attorney.
- Over confidence effect: The most pervasive and potentially catastrophic bias that most fall victim to. (Thinking you're better, safer, etc than you really are.)
- ANCHORING: When limits are applied or a number is given, that becomes the anchor.

[Anamaria Marinescu · Rating 4 out of 5]

Îmi plac banii dar număratul lor ma deprima :) si cu atat mai mult dispună financiara și de aici poate nevoia de a citi aceasta carte.

E interesanta din păcate cum este de așteptat mult mai potrivita pentru cei ce locuiesc și trăiesc în SUA, chiar dacă perspectiva este globala.

Mi-a placut foarte mult cum se termina și asta pt ca se apropie de filozofia mea de viata. Banii sunt un instrument, scopul lor este acela de a fi cheltuiți și nu de a fi strânși pt posteritate. Pana la urma poți privi acțiunile si ca pe ceva pe care cheltuiesti bani..... :)

[The Imperfect Yogi · Rating 5 out of 5]

Great information. I brought up some of the wealth advisor screening questions he mentioned in a public event. I had no intention of causing drama, but one of the presenters seemed to get a bit uncomfortable. He does not meet all of the "no conflict" criteria and so strongly disagrees with advice from Peter Mallouk, lol. That guy is a definite pass. Glad to have read this book first as I had better knowledge to judge what I was being told/sold.

[Joy Donohue · Rating 5 out of 5]

Great book offering life changing pieces of investment advice along with psychology of what goes into making the kind of financial decisions we choose to make. Current with today’s volatile market conditions too. Great explanations of how to design a winning portfolio no matter how much you have.

Grateful for successful people sharing their keys to success. Learned A LOT. Must read for everyone.

[Pablo Tomičić · Rating 4 out of 5]

es un libro general que te ayuda con los conceptos básicos de planificación financiera, conceptos que es siempre bueno tener presente. Clave tener planificación y metas financiera y no estar volando en el mundo. Creo que es un buen libro para gente que esté comenzando y no sepa mucho. Más allá de la plata que uno tenga o ahorré lo mas clave es definir cual es el objetivo y como lo vamos a lograr.

[Carlos David Montoya V · Rating 4 out of 5]

Un interesante libro sobre como gestionar diferentes componentes de las finanzas personales, con elementos prácticos para desarrollar en diferentes etapas de la vida. Vincula el contexto, los propósitos, las contingencias, los seguros, los sesgos, los activos, la diversificación, la mentalidad, la felicidad y las emociones en la toma de decisiones financieras. Recomendado para aprender un poco más la gestión financiera personal.

[Haniffa Mohamed Riaz · Rating 4 out of 5]

If you’re looking for ideas for investment and how different portfolios have performed over the past 100 years,this book can give you a brief overview. Though the discussion is based on US market, it applies to pretty much to any country in the world. I love the “emotion” topic very much and how it will affect the investor.

[Alec · Rating 4 out of 5]

I enjoyed this book. I was already on board with the whole longterm investing idea pitched by the book, but I was able to learned more about the many types of insurances and estate planning. Some may find this topic to be a snore, but I thought it was interesting. There is value to be found in this book.

[Paige Gordon · Rating 4 out of 5]

This book is a really great one-stop-shop for very in-depth but also actionable information about your finances. Whether you need a good reminder of stuff you mostly already know, or are completely new to the space and need an initial guide to get you started, you can’t go wrong picking this one up.