Look, I’m gonna level with you…
I used to be that guy. The one who’d sit through boring as hell seminars in stuffy conference rooms, nodding along as some suit in a $87 tie told me about ‘diversification’ and ‘long-term growth strategies.’ I’d leave feeling important, like I’d just been let in on some big secret. Then I’d go home and… do nothing.
That was back in 2017. I was 32, working a decent job in marketing, and honestly, kinda clueless about money. I trusted these ‘experts’ because, well, they had fancy titles and PowerPoint slides. But here’s the thing: they were wrong. Or at least, not right for me.
Last Tuesday, I was having coffee with an old friend, let’s call him Marcus. He’s a financial advisor—good guy, knows his stuff. We got to talking about how much the game has changed in just five years. He said, ‘People used to come to us for answers. Now they come with their own ideas, their own research. It’s like night and day.’
‘Yeah,’ I told him, ‘and honestly, it’s about time.’
My wake-up call
About three months ago, I was at a conference in Austin. Some big-shot banker was up there talking about how ‘you can’t beat the market.’ I mean, come on. That’s like saying you can’t beat a marathon if you don’t train. Bullshit.
I raised my hand. ‘With all due respect,’ I said, ‘I’ve seen alot of people beat the market. Not every time, but enough to make a difference.’ The guy just smiled and said, ‘Well, that’s just anecdotal evidence.’
Which… yeah. Fair enough. But here’s the thing: so is his ‘you can’t beat the market’ crap. It’s all anecdotal until it’s not. And frankly, I’m tired of these so-called experts acting like their opinions are gospel.
Do your own damn research
I’m not saying ignore everyone. But I am saying: don’t take anyone’s word for it. Not mine, not some banker’s, not some YouTube personality’s. Do your own research. Ask questions. Lots of them. And if someone can’t give you a straight answer? Walk away.
I started doing this about two years ago. I’d spend hours reading, asking stupid questions, making mistakes. But I was learning. And that’s what matters.
Take cryptocurrency, for example. I remember sitting with a colleague named Dave, over coffee at the place on 5th. He was telling me about some new coin he’d invested in. ‘It’s gonna be huge,’ he said. ‘You gotta get in now.’
‘Yeah, but what’s it actually do?’ I asked.
He looked at me like I’d just asked him to solve quantum physics. ‘Uh… it’s a coin? You buy it, it goes up, you sell it, you make money.’
I didn’t buy in. Not because I’m some crypto genius, but because I didn’t understand it. And if you don’t understand something, you shouldn’t invest in it. Period.
Actionable advice? Here’s some
First off, stop watching the news for financial advice. Seriously. They’re not there to help you. They’re there to sell ads. If you need a good laugh, though, check out accessories trends must have items—honestly, it’s hilarious how much people spend on nonsense.
Second, start small. You don’t need to drop $10,000 into some hot new stock. Start with $100. Buy something you understand. Watch it. Learn from it. Then do it again.
Third, stop being afraid of losing money. You’re gonna. It’s gonna happen. But that’s how you learn. I lost $2,114 on a bad stock pick last year. Sucked. But I learned more from that than I did from any seminar.
Fourth, diversify. But not just in the way those suits tell you to. Diversify your knowledge. Read books, take courses, talk to people who know more than you. And for the love of god, stop putting all your eggs in one basket.
A quick tangent: physicaly impossible
You know what’s physicallyy impossible? Understanding why people still use robo-advisors. I mean, come on. You’re gonna trust an algorithm with your money? An algorithm that’s probably programmed by some 22-year-old intern who’s never even balanced a checkbook?
I get it. It’s easy. But easy isn’t always better. And honestly, if you’re gonna trust a robot, you might as well just throw your money out the window and see where it lands.
Back to the point
So here’s my take: take control. Stop waiting for someone else to tell you what to do. Start making your own decisions. Start learning. Start failing. And for god’s sake, start enjoying it. Because money is just a tool. And if you’re not using it to build the life you want, then what’s the point?
Anyway, I gotta run. My wife’s making dinner, and if I don’t help with the dishes, I’m never gonna hear the end of it. (She’s right, by the way. I’m a mess in the kitchen.)
About the Author
I’m Sarah, a senior editor with more opinions than sense. I’ve been writing about finance for way too long, and honestly, I’m still figuring it out. But that’s the fun part, right? When I’m not writing, I’m probably arguing with my husband about Bitcoin or trying to teach my kids the value of a dollar. Spoiler: it’s not going well.
