Five steps to slowly gaining financial security

• Feeling in a big rush to get wealthy?
• As the gap between rich and poor increases, many Americans want to "keep up with the Joneses" in terms of material goods but also face pressures to get ahead in their careers, save for retirement, and set their children on the path toward success.
• American society is more cutthroat than ever, and it takes not only great skill and smarts to get ahead, but often a willingness to cut corners, says David Callahan, a PhD and author of The Cheating Culture.
• "How do you get rich slow when you need $600,000 to buy an entry-level house in Westchester?"
• Best-seller lists are clogged with books that explain in great detail how to Start Late, Finish Rich, or become The Millionaire Next Door.
• Christopher Zook, chairman of CAZ Investments in Houston, recommends borrowing money only to purchase a home or fund your education.
• Tom Taulli, co-founder of CurrentOfferings.com, says the investors he knows who are reaping the greatest rewards now are the ones who made some small investments in tiny startups and then forgot about them.
• 3. Diversify your investments By purchasing a mix of assets and holding them through market cycles, you can take enough risk to actually earn a decent return on your investments -- but won't get hurt too badly by a meltdown in a specific stock or asset class.
• 4. Keep your nose clean Too many people today try to get ahead in life by cutting corners -- cheating on an exam, cooking the books, or stealing an idea from a colleague, says Callahan.
• A growing body of academic research shows that an individual's level of happiness usually doesn't improve with a rise in income.