Learn from My Best and Worst Financial Decisions

You can probably picture it: Sitting at the kitchen table or in the home office alone or with a partner or child to do the often-dreaded financial review: Going through your all of your bills and accounts and seeing where you stand.

Sometimes these financial regroups are a relief — thinking, finally, that debt is gone, or our investments are paying off. Other times, however, these sit-downs cause stress and regret around spending or other financial choices.

We’ve all been there. Although these sit-downs are sometimes painful, they are essential — especially considering the price of not doing them.

According to new data from New York Life, nearly 70% of Americans have made a financial decision they regret*. Americans’ most common financial regrets include:

• Not starting to save for retirement.
• Relying too much on their credit cards.
• And neglecting to keep up an adequate emergency fund.

Survey respondents said their average recovery from these financial faux pas took anywhere from a couple of years to nearly two decades. For example, the average age at which Americans say they erred in terms of saving for retirement is 34, and the average age of recovery for that problem is 45. The good news is that Americans can and are recovering from their financial regrets, but the impacts can reverberate well into their financial futures.

Seeing this data has called to mind my own financial choices over the years that taught me (sometimes the hard way) how to approach a protection-first financial plan.

The highlight reels

My best financial decision, perhaps ironically, came well before I even considered leaving the restaurant business and becoming a life insurance agent. That decision? Purchasing a whole life insurance policy. This was the first financial product I owned after establishing a savings account. Over the years, this policy has reassured me that my family is protected should the worst happen while also providing emergency cash, acting as a revolving line of credit of sorts by accessing the policy’s cash value (accessing the cash value reduce both death benefit and available cash surrender value). It became the backbone of my financial decisions and gave me peace of mind to make other choices, knowing I had protection in place.

Another money move I’m proud of is maximizing my company’s 401(k) match. This is vital to growing my retirement fund and receiving the full benefit afforded to me as an employee. Retirement planning can be nuanced and overwhelming at times, but the 401(k) benefit is something to be put to use as an earned part of employment; don’t miss the opportunity to receive “free” money through a company match to have on your side for the years ahead.

My ‘ouch’ moment and road to recovery

Hindsight being 20/20, my personal worst decision was purchasing a home in 2007 … only to lose a significant amount of its value in 2008 when financial markets took a nosedive. Of course, I realize that you can’t predict the future in order to time any purchase — whether it’s stocks or a home — but it’s impossible not to regret my purchase for a couple of reasons:

• I missed the boat on a HELOC. In the past when purchasing a home, I would typically open a home equity line of credit shortly after closing to have available in the event of an emergency. However, in this case I had forgotten to do so, and then no longer qualified once the real estate market crashed. This could have been a helpful way to lock in rates and options in case of an emergency, like the recession.
• I went by conventional wisdom without questioning it. The conventional advice I’d always received about a home being the “safest” asset and being better than renting didn’t quite ring true, teaching me a big lesson. I’m not alone — 42% of adults surveyed also received the advice that “buying a home is better than renting.” That’s not always the case. As a result, I now take real estate in stride, considering the personal impact and economic environment before making any big decisions. (And when I recently relocated to New York, I opted to rent an apartment while I adjust to my new routine and surroundings.)

When it comes to financial decisions, I’ve learned it’s important to focus on the progress made to overcome the less-than-desirable outcomes. By tracking my victories (big and small) and learning from the more challenging situations, I have a better understanding of what I’d like the financial future for myself and my family to reflect and how to achieve it.

For those Americans identifying and overcoming their financial regrets, having a plan in place will enable them to get back on track faster and with a clearer picture of their goals in mind. Don’t be afraid to get started. You’re not alone, and there are many resources available to help guide you along the way.

*These findings are from a poll conducted by Morning Consult on behalf of New York Life from August 20-24, 2019, among a national sample of 2200 adults. The interviews were conducted online and the data were weighted to approximate a target sample of adults based on age, race/ethnicity, gender, educational attainment and region. Results from the full survey have a margin of error of plus or minus 2 percentage points.

This article is for informational purposes only and should not be construed as an investment advice or solicitation for any particular financial instrument.