If the Indians wanted to buy back Manhattan

There's the story that, if the Indians wanted to buy back Manhattan, they would have had to pay more than $2.5 trillion by January 1, 2000. That's what the $24 sale price in 1626 would have compounded into at 7 percent annual rates. And the clock keeps ticking.

Next year, Manhattan's theoretical value jumps by $175 billion (7 percent of $2.5 trillion). The following year, another $187 billion is added. The year after that, $200 billion, and so on.

Letting wealth accumulate and compound unfettered and, if possible, untaxed is a potent formula individuals should use to increase their standard of living.

It goes without saying that to an investor, the power of compounding is paramount.