The Hawk and the Mouse - Saving for Retirement

There once was a hawk, ferocious and swift. He was young and agile with many years of life to hunt the open ranch lands. In a nearby field, a mouse scurried about the ground. The hawk saw the hurried motion and swept speedily toward the rodent.

Just as the hawk's shadow engulfed the smaller rodent, the mouse fell to its back and begged, "Please, Mr. Hawk, spare me my life!" This surprised the hunter and he landed beside the mouse.

"Why should I spare your life? I am hungry today."

"It's always about today, isn't it?" answered the mouse. "Do you ever think about tomorrow?"

"Tomorrow? Well, that's just another day to flap my wings. I will eat then, too."

The mouse scratched his chin and replied, "But one day you will be old and gray. You will have chiseled claws. You should prepare for the future now or starve later."

"I do, I do. I am building a grand nest as we speak. You see, I fly low to the highway's hot pavement in search of lost dollar bills everyday. I find a dollar a day and add it to my nest. I am constantly constructing my nest egg."

The proud hawk looked toward the mouse for a reply. The mouse shook his head and stated, "I will make a deal with you, hawk. If after fifty years, you have saved more money than me, not only will I give myself up for your feast, I will lead every mouse in this field to your nest."

The hawk did not take long to consider the proposition. He knew he could cover more ground flying than the mouse could crawling. He would be able to locate twice as many lost dollar bills and thus build a much larger nest. The hunter concluded that in fifty years, he would have a great feast.

Years ticked by and every day the hawk collected two dollars. On each given day, the mouse found one dollar and invested it wisely. Fifty years later, the bird of prey lived in a large nest made of twigs, mud, and dollar bills. He was feeble and sickly. And although his nest equaled that of $36,500.00(1) , along with a few very nice tree limbs, he knew the mouse would have less. He no longer invaded the far stretching fields, but took comfort in knowing he would soon have his great feast. As the hawk glared down from his perch, he saw the mouse. The mouse was alone.

"So, hawk, how much money do you have?"

"Just under $37,000(1) . And you?"

"I have $508,462(2), you fool. You see, I invested my $365 wisely every year. I dollar cost averaged into the market and utilized well-diversified mutual funds over the course of all these years. I am the victor and you have no feast."

The hawk collapsed into his nest and was never seen again. The mouse lived a happy life and provided handsomely for his family. He passed along a bit of advice to those who asked about saving: "The individual most accountable for your future financial welfare, is the one you see in the mirror today."

*Hypothetical investment for illustration purposes only.

(1): Based on a savings of $730 each year for fifty years with no interest.

(2): Based on a savings of $365 each year for fifty years earning 10.5% annually.

Wardlaw has been involved in the fields of investments and insurance for over twelve years. The author's belief is that familiar life elements best illustrate practical investment strategies; not typical investment jargon. For comments and questions, please contact the author at tools2invest@yahoo.com.

---

Methods Of Raising Instant Cash

The inability to come up with the necessary cash when... Read More

Get Rich Doing What Others Dont

"The quickest way to wealthThat I've found to be true;Is... Read More

Plan For Wealth

One very important wealth creating habit is to set up... Read More

Virtual Millionaire Strategy Exposed

Let's begin this lesson with a definition of the term... Read More

Financial Planning For Singles

Financial planning often gets a bad rap. Part of the... Read More

Warren Buffet: Wisdom from the Worlds Richest Investor

In light of the dominant mindset overshadowing the market these... Read More

The PDQ? Factor

It's the beginning of a brand new year: a time... Read More

Does the Moon Have Covers?

Recently, one late winter night, my four-year old son and... Read More

Anthony Robbins 12 Reasons Why People Dont Get Wealthy

According to Wallace Wattles, in his popular wealth treatise called... Read More

The Mathematical Formula For Making Money

No matter what markets you serve; what products you sell;... Read More

Building Wealth: A Wealth Building Strategy Is More Than Simply Diversifying Your Investments

Wealth - an abundance of values. Each of us determines... Read More

8 Tips for Keeping More of Your Hard Earned Money

Masters degree not required...just a little common sense, a $5.00... Read More

Cost Averaging - It Makes Sense (Dollars & Cents)

It's no secret that the market goes UP...the market, goes... Read More

Thieves Continue to Pull Off the Biggest Heist in History?Until Now!

Imagine being able to steal untold millions of dollars in... Read More

Q and A: Financial Independence Tips For Women From Coni Cecil

As a woman Netpreneur, I sat down via e-mail with... Read More

Investment Techniques For Creating Passive Income

There are many wealth creation strategies and investment techniques available... Read More

Money Myths Of The Poor

From tender age, we were exposed to myths about money... Read More

What Do You Mean By Diversity?

The word 'diversity' is a unique one. It can represent... Read More

Simple Tips on Saving

Simple tips on saving can very often make quite a... Read More

The 11 Best Money Saving Ideas of All Time - Part 1

At any time in history, no matter what the current... Read More

How to Grow Your Very Own Money Tree

Okay. So money doesn't really grow on trees. Unless you... Read More

The Truth About Setting Up A Wealth-Pump Business: The Passive Income Myth Exposed

In theory the idea of generating additional (and passive) business... Read More

My Entrepreneurial Fire-I Grabbed My First Million Before I Got Too Old

My First Million took me exactly 27 months to achieve.... Read More

Wealth Creation and Mortgage Planning - Two Great Tastes that Taste Great Together

What if I were to tell you that almost everything... Read More

The Predicament of the Newly Rich

They are the object of thinly disguised envy. They are... Read More

A College Degree or an MBA is NOT NEEDED to be Financially Free

Look at Forbes' top 10 United States wealthiest people. Notice... Read More

The Underlying Belief System

Many of us do not consider the underlying belief system... Read More

How To Grow Your Mental Power and Let Your Brain Make You Rich

No one has complete control over their thoughts. But with... Read More

Use Feng Shui Coins To Increase Your Income

Feng shui coins can allow you, among other things, to... Read More

The Philosophers Stone

"If you know how to spend less than you get,... Read More

Retirement Planning the Offshore Way

Retirement Planning the Offshore Way Why do so many of... Read More

Residual Income - 3 Ideas for Long Term Profits

A residual income is one that comes in no matter... Read More

Simple Strategies to Making Financial Gain

Now is a great time to make it a habit... Read More