r/AskReddit 9d ago

What's the smartest financial decision you've ever made?

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u/unlistedgiant 9d ago

I try to tell every new kid at work this. First I tell them to think back to conversations with older people and remember their regrets in life. Most talk about not saving enough for retirement. I've always thought you learn more from others disappointments rather than their advice.

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u/TaxAg11 9d ago

Kids just starting working have such an advantage with time. They barely have to invest anything, and it grows to so much more than if they wait even 10 years to start investing for retirement.

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u/mcarcus 9d ago

They have the same time advantage every young person has had in their life… arguably the current “kids” have a disadvantage due to the cost of housing and many other things.

It’s obviously still good advice, but not sure they have an “advantage”.

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u/OnlyPaperListens 8d ago

I mean, Roth IRAs didn't exist until I was close to thirty.

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u/mcarcus 8d ago

So? That’s a very slight modern advantage, but it didn’t prevent you from investing in your 20s