The Lazy Man’s Way to Riches

By Mark Skousen
Editor, Forecasts & Strategies

04/03/2025

SPECIAL ALERT:  See my analysis below in “You Blew it!” on Trump’s massive new trade war announced yesterday, and its effect on the economy and your pocketbook. 

“To be successful, you need leisure.” — George Soros

“Plant the tree, and let it grow.” — T. Rowe Price

“Don’t give me timing. Give me time.” — Jesse Livermore

“The best way to put odds in your favor is to invest long-term.” — Dick Davis

All of the above quotations are founding “The Maxims of Wall Street,” under the category “long-term investing.”  See www.skousenbooks.com.

Today’s column is based on my talk at the Investment U conference in Florida on April 1 — the first time I’ve ever spoken on April Fools Day.

The topic of my talk seemed to resonate with the large audience:  “The Lazy Man’s Way to Riches:  My Five Favorite “Buy and Hold” Stocks and Fund that Beat the Market Long Term.” 

They were hungry for an easy formula to beat the market without all the hassles associated with managed accounts and short-term trading services.

It can be done.  This was no April Fool’s joke.

The attendees liked my talk enough to buy two boxes worth of “The Maxims of Wall Street” and to sign up for my newsletter, “Forecasts & Strategies.”

My Formula for Long-Term Financial Success

 When I first started my career as an economist and investor, I ordered a little book I saw advertised in Free Enterprise magazine.

The headline read, “The Lazy Man’s Way to Riches,” by Joe Karbo.  The subhead intrigued me, “Most people are too busy earning a living to make any money.”

Could there possibly be an easy way to get rich?

Finally, the book arrived in my mail box, and I devoured all 100 pages.  At first I was disappointed in that 90% of the book was psycho-babble, which he called “DYNO-PSYC.”  He admonished me to pray every day to be successful and in no time, I would be living in a mansion, driving a Cadillac and owning a Yacht. Needless to say, I was not impressed.

I followed his advice.  I’ve had a successful mail order business ever since called Skousen Publishing Company (www.skousenbooks.com).

Is There a Lazy Man’s Way to Invest?

Could Joe Karbo’s idea extend itself to the wily world of investing?

This chart of annual changes in the stock market shows how challenging investing is:

As the above chart demonstrates, investing appears to be risky, volatile and unpredictable.

However, if you look at this long-term total return chart of the US stock market, there is hope:

The chart above tells a completely different story:  On a cumulative basis, the stock market appears to be bullish, stable and predictable.

Can You Beat the Market?

The above chart suggests that the best “lazy man’s way to riches” is to buy an index fund, and add to that account every paycheck and you are bound to be rich.  Truly, the Lazy Investor’s Way to Riches!

If history is any guide, you’ll earn around 10% a year over the long run — after inflation.

That’s better than most actively managed professional investors and mutual funds.  As Mark Hebner warns, “Most people are beaten up by the market instead of beating the market” (“Maxims,” p. 192).

I showed a chart how most money managers can’t beat the market over the long term, and those who do are often more lucky than smart.

But perhaps there is a way to outperform the market indexes over the long run without a lot of buying and selling.

How?  This chart introduces my favorite way to beat the market and become financially independent. (Courtesy, Ned Davis Research)

This long-term chart (1973-2024) shows that companies that consistently increase their dividends beat the market over the long term by a sizeable margin, while dividend cutters underperform.

As Jeremy Siegel, the Wizard of Wharton and author of “Stocks for the Long Run,” told me, “Dividends are the critical factor giving the edge to most winning stocks in the long run.” (p. 183)

My Favorite “Buy and Hold” Stocks and Funds

After years of experience and doing research, I’ve come up with a half dozen or so reliable stocks and mutual funds/ETFs that pay regular dividends.  Wall Street calls them “growth and income” plays.  The best one that have a proven track record are called “dividend aristocrats.”

One of my conservative “growth and income stocks” is up 300% in the past five years! 

That’s why my monthly newsletter, Forecasts & Strategies, offers — recommendations of “growth and income stocks” that are bound to beat the market over the long run.  I’ve been doing it successfully since 1980, and plan to keep going for years to come.

For more information on my newsletter, go to www.markskousen.com, or call 1-800-211-7661.

Let me end my column with this simple but powerful story found on p. 182 of “The Maxims of Wall Street”:

A young widow inherited a lot of securities from her deceased husband. Not knowing anything about finance, she took a very simple approach to this new found wealth. She kept only those stocks which continued to send her regular dividend checks, and sold any stocks which omitted dividends or which didn’t pay any dividends at all. Over the years, her wealth increased dramatically, and she died a wealthy woman.

“The Maxims of Wall Street,” now in its 11^th edition with 50,000 copies sold, is a perfect companion to my newsletter.

There’s Gold in the Maxims of Wall Street!

You can see why Dennis Gartman, editor of the Gartman Letter, says, “It’s amazing the depth of wisdom one can find in just one or two lines from ‘The Maxims of Wall Street.’ I have it on my desk and refer to it daily.”

Every investor should have a copy of this “Golden Bible of Investing” as Alex Green, the chief investment strategist at the Oxford Club, calls it. He writes:

“Mark Skousen has collected a treasure trove of proverbs, slogans, stories and juicy quotes in the Maxims. He provides plenty of stories and commentary to go with these gems. I refer to it regularly.”

A Financial Quote for the Day

At the most recent Vegas MoneyShow, Kim Githler bought 50 copies to give to her supporters.

Kim told the audience, “It’s my favorite financial book. Every quote is a lesson in finance.”

At the MoneyShow, I met up with one of our new editors at Eagle, Hugh Grossman, who writes the popular “Day Trade Spy” trading service.

He wrote our publisher the following: “I must say, I have a bone to pick with Mark. I bought his book, ‘The Maxims of Wall Street,’ and it kept me glued to it until about 2:30 this morning when I could no longer stay awake… it is just that compelling! Most other trading books are a sure cure for insomnia… not Maxims! Well done, Mark! Getting that book was worth every cent of the trip for me.” Thank you, Hugh.

The Maxims isn’t just a series of financial quotes, but each statement is found in a specific category, such as “growth and income,” “contrary investing” and “penny stocks and gold bugs.”

Plus, there are lots of short stories, including the ever-popular “Rich Man’s Pearls of Wisdom” (five in all).

And plenty of biting humor on Wall Street, such as this line:

“Nothing can make the spirit fly higher than finding a bargain when you’re the buyer. And nothing can make the spirit sink deeper than finding it later a whole lot cheaper.”

–Wendell Brock (Maxims, p. 35)

Readers don’t just read it once and put it on the shelf gathering dust. They keep it in their office or bedroom and read from it regularly.  Like an Investor’s Bible!

Subscribers continue to order multiple copies — including one order last week for a whole box (32 copies) — to give out to friends, relatives, colleagues and clients. It makes the ideal gift.

As Bert Dohmen, editor of the Wellington Letter, states, “Beautifully bound collector’s item, it should be on every investor’s bookshelf and read regularly.”

Despite rising inflation, I’ve kept the price at a bargain: $21 for the first copy, and all additional copies $11 each. They make an ideal gift to your friends, family, and clients, or your favorite stockbroker.  (A full box of 32 is only $327.)

I autograph and number each copy and mail them at no additional charge inside the United States.

Order one or more copies today at www.skousenbooks.com.

Good Investing, AEIOU,

Mark Skousen
Doti-Spogli Endowed Chair of Free Enterprise, Chapman University
Wikipedia
Newsletter and trading services
Personal website
FreedomFest