Investing Through Life's Seasons: 20s, 30s, 40s and Beyond

Your 20s: buy habits, not assets. Your biggest asset is time. Automate any amount into a money market fund, learn the vocabulary, make your mistakes small. A modest monthly amount started at 23 beats a large one started at 35, compounding is rude like that.

Your 30s: buy growth. Income rises, responsibilities rise faster. Fight lifestyle inflation by automating raises into investments before you feel them. This is the decade for equities, education funds that mature with your children, and the home deposit plan.

Your 40s: buy balance. Peak earning years. Max out retirement vehicles, diversify across asset classes, and across borders if you can. Start shifting some growth assets toward income-generating ones.

50s and beyond: buy certainty. Capital preservation beats growth chasing. Bonds, income funds, paid-off property. The question changes from 'how much can this grow?' to 'how reliably does this pay?'

Whatever your season: the Wealth & Goals planner puts your numbers on your timeline.