The wealthy continue to see significant income and wealth gains while the majority of people are experiencing stagnant living standards. Income inequality is one of the most significant financial stories right now, and there's no end in sight.
Last week, Federal Reserve Chair Janet Yellen said, "The extent of and continuing increase in inequality in the United States greatly concern me."
There's no doubt that income inequality is bad whether you identify as poor, middle class or wealthy. The sustained rise in inequality is years in the making, and at its highest level in the past hundred years according to some estimates.
Despite all the doom and gloom around income inequality, there is some good news. Just last week, a new Credit Susie report predicted the world's millionaire population will surge 50 percent by 2019. Here in the U.S., a 40 percent uptick in millionaires is predicted.
Most people in middle class America focus on lack and limitation so they would rather just complain about how bad it is, instead of doing something to claim their fair share. But if you go by the Credit Susie report, it basically says that now is the best time to become a millionaire. How can that be?
The streets are paved with gold right now and there are so many opportunities available. Making money has never been easier because there are so many problems waiting to be solved. Finding solutions to problems that people are willing to pay for has always been the number one way to acquire wealth.
Case in point, look at the popular show Shark Tank. Entrepreneurs pitch wealthy investors on their products and inventions that will solve a problem and make life easier for people. And the wealthy investors love it because they know the right idea at the right time can yield millions on their investment.
Money is in abundance in corporate America and Canada as well. Both corporate America and Canada are desperately seeking solutions, and are willing to pay for help dealing with unprecedented problems around leadership, customer service, strategic planning, team building, incentive compensation structure and many others.
The wealthy are paying more for personal services, too. It's a perfect time to start a lawn care service, maid service, handyman business, pool cleaning company, grocery shopping service, etc.
The majority of people believe they'll never be able to acquire large sums of money, and they settle for less than their fair share. The truth is, acquiring financial freedom is hard work, but most people are a lot closer to it than they realize.
Nobody likes income inequality, that's why it's time to stop blaming, start acting and begin expecting more. It's a great time to become a millionaire. The choice is simple: continue to see money as negative and through the eye of fear and scarcity, or start seeing money as a positive force through a consciousness of freedom, possibility, opportunity and abundance.
If you don't know where to begin, start here:
• Create a written vision for what you want your life to look like five years from now.
• Revisit your financial goals and increase them by at least 50%, even if you don't know how to achieve them. This will force you to expand your thinking and expectations.
• Create a daily plan of action that will move you closer to building financial independence.
• Think about what you want and what you are willing to sacrifice to get it. Your discipline and dedication must match your desire.
• Make a list of the freedoms you will gain when you are wealthy to keep you motivated.
The bottom line: the gap between the wealthy and everyone else is expanding rapidly. Nobody knows with certainty what the market, jobs report or overall economy will look like tomorrow or next week or even next year. One thing is for certain: you can make the decision today to become one of those new millionaires that was predicted by Credit Susie.
Start focusing your mental energy where it belongs: on the big money!