When Steve Maxwell graduated from college, he had an engineering degree and a high tech job -- but he couldn't balance his checkbook. "I took one finance class in college but dropped it to go on a ski trip," says the 45-year-old father of three, who lives in Windsor, Colorado. "I actually had to go to my bank and ask them to teach me how to read my statement." 

One of the biggest obstacles to making money is not understanding it: Thousands of us avoid investing because we just don't get it. But to make money, you must be financially literate. "It bothered me that I didn't understand this stuff," says Steve, "so I read books and magazines about money management and investing, and I asked every financial whiz I knew to explain things to me." 

He and his wife started applying the lessons: They made a point to _ . They never bought on impulse, always negotiated better deals (on their cars,cable bills, furniture) and stayed in their home long after they went for an expensive vacation. They also put 20 percent of their annual salary into investments. 

Within ten years, they were millionaires, and people were coming to Steve for advice. "Someone would say, 'I need to refinance my house -- what should I do? 'A lot of times, I wouldn't know the answer, but I'd go to find it and learn something in the process," he says. 

In 2003, Steve quit his job to become part owner of a company that holds personal finance seminars for employees of corporations like Wal Mart. He also started going to real estate investment seminars, and it's paid off: He now owns $ 30 million worth of investment properties, including apartment complexes, a shopping mall and a quarry. 

"I was an engineer who never thought this life was possible, but all it truly takes is a little self education," says Steve. "You can do anything once you understand the basics." QUESTIONS:

Q1:
1. What type of degree did Steve Maxwell have?
2. Steve Maxwell earned what degree?
3. What degree did Steve Maxwell get?
Q2:
1. Did Steve Maxwell have a high-tech job?
2. Did Steve Maxwell work in the tech industry?
3. Did Steve Maxwell also have a tech job?
Q3:
1. Why did Steve Maxwell drop his finance class?
2. Why did Steve Maxwell drop out of his finance class?
3. Why did Steve Maxwell abandon his finance class?
Q4:
1. How many children does Steve Maxwell have?
2. How many kids does Steve Maxwell have?
3. Steve Maxwell is a father to how many children?
Q5:
1. How old is Steve Maxwell?
2. What is Steve Maxwell's age?
3. Steve Maxwell is how old?
Q6:
1. When did Steve Maxwell quit his job?
2. In what year did Steve Maxwell leave his job?
3. When did Steve Maxwell leave his tech job?
Q7:
1. Is Steve Maxwell a multi-millionaire?
2. Does Steve Maxwell have millions of dollars?
3. Has Steve Maxwell become a multi-millionaire?
Q8:
1. How long did it take for Steve Maxwell to become a millionaire?
2. Steve Maxwell became a millionaire after how many years?
3. How long did Steve Maxwell take to become a millionaire?
Q9:
1. Do people come to Steve Maxwell for advice?
2. Do people ask Steve Maxwell for his advice?
3. Do people seek Steve Maxwell out for advice?
Q10:
1. How much of his annual salary does Steve Maxwell put into his investments?
2. Steve Maxwell invests what percent of his annual salary?
3. Steve Maxwell puts how much of his annual salary into investments?
