You aren't alone if you've found yourself considering attending a wealth building seminar. Thousands of people attend them each year. Do they work? Can they really give you the wealth building tools you need to become financially successful? Yes and no.

The key to successful wealth building seminars is two-fold. They must not only offer a genuine, detailed plan for wealth building that can work for the typical person (that is, the average individual who doesn't have lots of expendable income to start with), they must also offer a plan that includes a solid foundation before the money starts coming in.

Don't Get Rich Quick

If you attend a wealth building seminar that's all about getting rich quick, you will come away disappointed. These don't face the realities of current debt, financial obligations and the realities of daily living. Attending a wealth building seminar that focuses on preparation as well as making money will give you much better results.

A successful wealth building seminar should cover:
• Eliminating your current debts and understanding your financial needs
• Diversifying your wealth building strategies over time to protect yourself
• Having a solid plan to follow so that you can self-monitor your progress

There are many different types of wealth programs, from real estate investing seminars to ones on how to play the stock market. The topic itself isn't nearly as important as the quality of the content. You can have a so-so program on wealth building through real estate or you can have a knock-your-socks-off real estate investing seminar that walks you through absolutely every step to financial freedom.

Experience is the Best Teacher

Experience is one indication of a good seminar. Check the background of the speaker and the company. Has this person used the program himself or herself, or did he merely develop it theoretically? You should learn from someone who has actually used the wealth building system they are teaching and can show you the results.

Many wealth building seminars are given by successful entrepreneurs who have also written books on the subject. If you would like to learn more about what a particular seminar or wealth strategy entails, try reading a book authored by the person giving the seminar first. This will give you some insight into how their program works, their personal wealth building philosophy and whether it will fit your own lifestyle. As an added bonus, you'll go into the seminar with a solid foundation to build upon.

Reading a book is not a substitute for the dynamics of a good wealth building seminar, however. Seminars go into far more depth and give you and others the opportunity to ask specific questions. They also provide a variety of examples and will give you time to work through scenarios and discuss wealth building strategies. Above all, the motivational force can be phenomenal in a well-designed wealth building seminar, giving you the push you need to truly begin living your dream.