Avoiding debt isn’t what keeps people wealthy, using it the right way does. Most people are taught to stay away from debt. But the wealthy use strategic debt to buy income-producing assets, not liabilities. Example, instead of saving forever, they let the bank fund 95 percent of a rental property, put down 5 percent, and let the rent cover the payment. Now the tenant is paying off the asset while it grows in value. The goal isn’t to be debt-free. The goal is to be debt-smart. | William Gomez