What defines true financial success? Perspectives vary widely. Warren Buffett once remarked, “I measure success by how many people love me,” while Jeff Bezos believes that true success comes from creating more than you consume. While there is no universal standard for financial success, certain core habits and behaviors consistently distinguish those who achieve it.
In this article, we examine six key habits that can guide you toward greater financial success.
One of the best habits to build is financial confidence. Many people define financial confidence by how much money you have (e.g., having money gives you financial confidence). But it’s actually the opposite. Feeling confident in your ability to save money, build wealth, and make wise financial decisions is what brings financial confidence (and ultimately financial success), not the other way around.
Making the conscious mindset shift from one of cynicism and doubt to one of determination and confidence can make a huge difference in your ability to achieve your goals. In fact, recent research suggests that a positive outlook on your own ability to accomplish something makes you more likely to actually accomplish it.
Don’t be afraid to dream big financially. You have the power to achieve your goals by proactively planning, dreaming, and strategizing. Think of your most lofty financial goal and break it down into smaller substeps. Does it sound impossible to save $100,000 in five years? Think of saving $20,000 every year instead. It’s easy to get discouraged when it feels that substantial progress is so far away. So, try acknowledging and celebrating small milestones along the way. This can help you stay motivated to keep working toward your goals.
Another great way to achieve financial success is through improving your financial literacy. It sounds cliche, but there is a reason the saying “Knowledge is power” is so commonly quoted. As with any topic, the more you know about finance, the more likely you are to make wise financial decisions. Sure, you can hire financial professionals to advise you along the way (see point #6), but nothing beats having a sense of agency over your own finances. You can rely on professionals, but you should also rely on yourself to grow your financial understanding and improve your financial literacy.
Reading books by financially successful people, listening to podcasts, reading magazines like The Economist and Kiplinger’s, or taking a financial education course are just a few ways to take your financial future into your own hands and improve your chances of achieving financial success.
You’ve probably heard it said that wealthy people avoid debt like the plague. Financially successful people live by this concept, understanding that credit should be used sparingly and not as a way to live beyond your means.
Credit can be a useful financial tool when purchasing large assets that will appreciate and bring value down the line (like a house), but it can be a slippery slope if used for everyday expenses or things you don’t need. Avoid overburdening your finances with credit card debt, and if you do use credit, make sure the balance is paid off every month. Revolving credit card debt is the quickest way to rack up interest charges and fees that can take years to pay off, which makes it exponentially harder for you to achieve true financial success.
Try shopping without your credit cards and planning ahead for large purchases instead. Minimizing the amount you have to borrow and creating a repayment plan are two ways to avoid the trap of everyday debt.
While you do want to follow the good financial habits of successful people, you don’t want to get caught up in thinking that your life needs to look exactly like theirs. This is especially true when you are working toward a certain lifestyle. You won’t be able to afford that lifestyle right away, so don’t feel pressure to keep up with the Joneses.
In today’s social-media-driven age, it can be tempting to compare yourself to your peers, feeling pressure to surround yourself with nice furniture, designer clothes, expensive cars, grand vacations, and the latest technology. But these items will only set you back in your quest for financial success, especially if they were funded with everyday credit (see point #3).
Financial success is often built from doing the things that other people don’t want to do: tracking expenses, minimizing your spending, saving and investing religiously, etc. These small habits, when done consistently over time, will generate compounding growth and provide the framework you need for financial success.
There are many ways a financial plan can be derailed. Whether this comes in the form of investment risk (hello, market volatility!), health risk, auto, liability, or homeowner risk, properly managing these potential obstacles is one of the most important ways to safeguard your accumulated wealth and build financial success. You can have a sizable amount saved, but it can be wiped out in an instant if you get sick, get in an accident, or experience any number of financial curveballs life may throw.
The good news is that though there are seemingly endless risks out there, many of them can be mitigated through proper insurance and estate planning. Get in the habit of regularly checking your insurance coverage amounts to ensure they’re adequate enough to safeguard what you’ve already built. Consider an estate plan to keep your wealth safe in the event of incapacity or death, and don’t forget that making sure you are adequately covered now will save you time, money, and energy in the future.
Though many of these points mention the importance of building your own financial confidence and literacy, working with a financial professional is also a great way to achieve financial success. Not only are financial advisors a good resource for additional financial education, they can also help you stay on track and hold you accountable to the goals you want to achieve.
Advisors have access to industry tools, technology, and continuing education that make tracking, implementing, and projecting the overall state of your financial plan much easier and much more accurate than if you were to do it completely by yourself. Consider working with an advisor you trust to maximize your potential to achieve financial success.
Are you prepared to advance to the next stage of your financial journey? For independent professionals such as real estate agents and tech consultants who have reached meaningful success and wish to optimize their financial outcomes, strategic guidance can make all the difference.
At Wealth Advocate Group, we help clients cultivate disciplined financial habits, address tax complexities, and build confidence in their long-term financial plans. To explore how we can support your objectives and guide you toward greater financial success, call 440-505-5751 or email jcohen@Wadvocate.com to schedule an appointment.
Jason Cohen is Chief Operating Officer and wealth advisor at Wealth Advocate Group, LLC, an independent, fee-based wealth management company. Jason has 15 years of experience and spends his days managing firm operations, including portfolio trading and analysis, training of new advisors, financial plan production, and client relationship management. Jason specializes in serving real estate professionals and other independent contractor business owners, helping them navigate their unique financial challenges, such as unpredictable cash flow and tax issues, so they can pursue financial independence. Jason has a bachelor’s degree in public management from Indiana University and is a CERTIFIED FINANCIAL PLANNER® professional and believes that everyone should have access to comprehensive financial planning. He is passionate about doing his best for his clients and setting others up for success. Outside of the office, you can find Jason staying active in a variety of sports and spending time with friends and family. Learn more about Jason by connecting with him on LinkedIn.
When you link to any of the websites mentioned, we make no representation as to the completeness or accuracy of information provided at these websites. The opinions found therein are those of the author(s) of the article or website.
