If you had a time machine… what would you change?

If I could bottle one thing from the people I work with every day, it wouldn’t be investment tips or tax tricks.

It would be the wisdom of retirees.

Because when you sit with someone in their 60s or 70s who’s lived a full life:

Worked hard.

Raised families.

Made choices.

Made mistakes.

Built things.

Lost things.

Lost people they loved along the way.

You hear the same reflections over and over again:

“I wish I spent more time with the people I love.”

“I wish we had bought more property.”

“I wish we started planning earlier.”

“I wish we backed ourselves and started that business.”

“I wish we didn’t sit on the fence for so long.”

“I wish we didn’t make that one big money mistake.”

“I wish I made the most of my time instead of wasting it.”

And here’s the kicker:

Bad financial decisions don’t hurt you for a year or two…

They can quietly limit your options for a decade.

And missed life decisions?

Or loved ones lost?

Those are the ones people feel the deepest.

Last week I sat with a retired couple I’ve known for years.

They said something that stuck with me long after they left:

“We didn’t need a time machine… we just needed to act sooner.”

So here’s my challenge for you this week, no matter your age:

If you did have a time machine…

What’s the one decision you’d go back and change?

Or the decision you wish you had made earlier?

Write it down.

Then list the things you can still do now to change the path ahead.

Because you can’t change the past, but you can absolutely change the next 1, 5, 10, 20, 30 years.

And if it really is too late to change that specific thing?

Then pass the wisdom down.

Share it with someone younger.

Your kids.

Your friends.

Your colleagues.

That one sentence might shift their entire life trajectory.

I do my best to share that wisdom every day.

Because my goal for everyone in our community is simple:

A life well lived.

Retirement with zero financial regrets.

And more time spent with who and on what truly matters.

If you want help turning your “time machine answer” into a real plan, contact us with “Time Machine” and we’ll map out what to do next.

7Wealth Pty Ltd ABN 44609210246 is a Corporate Authorised Representatives and is authorised throughCobalt AdvisersPty Ltd ABN 64 628 654 099 who is an Australian Financial Services Licensee 512550. 7Wealth Pty Ltd is a Credit Representative ofAustralian Finance GroupLtd ABN 11 066 385 822 (AFG) Australian Credit Licence 389087.
This blog contains information that is general in nature. It does not constitute financial or taxation advice. The information does not take into account your objectives, needs and circumstances. We recommend that you obtain investment and taxation advice specific to your investment objectives, financial situation and particular needs before making any investment decision or acting on any of the information contained in this document. Subject to law, Cobalt Advisers Pty Ltd nor their directors, employees or authorised representatives, do not give any representation or warranty as to the reliability, accuracy or completeness of the information; or accepts any responsibility for any person acting, or refraining from acting, on the basis of the information contained in this document.