The only financial advice that matters has nothing to do with money

March 31, 2026 — 3:59pm

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Occasionally, I’ll get asked something like – “What would you tell your younger self?” For most people who work in the financial space, common answers tend to be things like: “Start investing as soon as possible.” “Save more, spend less.” “Get on top of your superannuation.”

Those are valid answers. Any one of those things can add a solid six-figures to your net worth long term if you start young enough. But none of those would be my answer.

Now, generally, I believe you do the best you can at any given moment, given your level of awareness and circumstances. So, I don’t see a lot of point in regretting your past.

However, if I’m playing along, my answer would be: I’d tell myself – “The life you want is going to require you to change how you think about yourself and the world, quite significantly.”

So much of the focus is on the external actions you have to take – learn X strategy, sign up for Y tool, read Z book. So, I was prepared for figuring out that part.

The bit I was woefully unprepared for was how much I would have to change myself – my core beliefs about myself and the world,........

© The Sydney Morning Herald