It’s Never Too Late to Start Investing

Lessons from Regret, Growth, and Taking Control of Your Financial Future

Photo by George Dagerotip on Unsplash

“The best time to plant a tree was 20 years ago. The second-best time is now.” — Chinese Proverb

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A friend of mine mentioned something recently that really resonated with me:

“I lost 15 years by not investing sooner.”

When “Melinda” and her husband first started earning a good income, they entrusted their money to someone recommended by a friend — a Certified Financial Planner who was supposed to help them manage it. Over time, however, not much seemed to happen. Their money remained stagnant, with little growth and no clear direction.

Eventually, Melinda realized that if they truly wanted to build substantial wealth, she would need to step in and take the lead. So she immersed herself in learning — all while reading books, listening to podcasts, and enrolling in online courses. Gradually, she taught herself how to invest.

Now she understands exactly where their money is headed and how to make it grow.

Her only regret? Not starting sooner.

Melinda told me that even back when she was 24, she had started watching videos and listening to finance gurus instead of zoning out in front of the TV. But despite soaking in all that knowledge, she still didn’t feel confident enough to take action — especially after her disappointing experience with the Certified Financial Planner. That setback shook her trust and delayed her progress.

Melinda started dipping her toes into financial learning at age 31, but it wasn’t until she turned 35 that she really got hands-on and took control. Looking back, she sees the years between 1998 and 2011 as a lost stretch — nearly 15 years of keeping everything in cash, sitting in a low-interest bank account while inflation quietly ate away at its value.

It was wasted time, but also a powerful lesson in why it’s so important to take the reins when it comes to your finances.

I can relate to that feeling. When we were newly married, my husband — who has always been quite knowledgeable about investing — recommended I read Making the Most of Your Money Now by Jane Bryant Quinn. The book truly broadened my understanding of investing.

My husband managed our investments for many years, and nowadays we work with a financial planner. That said, I’m grateful I read that book early on, as it gave me a clearer perspective and boosted my confidence about managing money.

I didn’t grow up in a family that discussed investing. My dad never invested any money, and honestly, many people don’t. However, leaving your money sitting in a bank account means it isn’t growing. Inflation gradually erodes its value without us noticing.

The U.S. stock market has delivered an average annual return of about 10% over the past century (source). That’s not magic — that’s compounding over time.

Investing is a way to help your money work for you. It’s how you can grow it steadily over time. My husband often says it’s like having another person working on your behalf.

The good news is, you don’t need to be a financial genius or wealthy to get started.

The most important step is simply to begin.

Beginner-Friendly Investing Books

Here are some helpful books if you’re ready to start learning:

1. Making the Most of Your Money Now by Jane Bryant Quinn

2. The Little Book of Common Sense Investing by John C. Bogle

3. The Simple Path to Wealth by JL Collins

4. A Random Walk Down Wall Street by Burton G. Malkiel

5. I Will Teach You to Be Rich by Ramit Sethi

Disclaimer: This post is intended for informational purposes only and does not constitute financial advice. Please consult with a licensed financial advisor before making any investment decisions.

Are you investing yet? What’s one thing you wish someone had told you about money when you got your first real paycheck?

A version of this story originally appeared on Medium.