Time, is our most valuable commodity.
Why? Because none of us know, how much of it we have.
Yet every year, we spend countless hours doing things we dislike.
And it’s not just doing the task that sucks away our time. It’s thinking about it, weighing up options, worrying about the what-ifs.
So if you could get back 100 hours per year of your time, what would you do?
- Play more golf?
- Spend 4 days extra on holiday?
- Have a lie every Sunday morning?
- Spend more time with your loved ones?
- Read that book you never get around to?
Buying back your time, through outsourcing
I’m a huge believer in outsourcing – paying someone else to do things you’d rather not.
And one of the world’s biggest investment firms (Vanguard) agrees that investors, might be better off outsourcing their financial life as well.
In their 2025 research paper ‘The emotional and time value of advice’ Vanguard found that investors working with a financial adviser:
- Saved 100 hours per year in time.
- Were almost 50% less likely, to experience high levels of financial stress
- And 86% of advised clients, reported great peace of mind.
People feeling most stressed about their finances benefited the most. But even those not stressed at all could have saved over 1 day each year by working with an adviser.
And here’s how the spent the time they saved:
That gives you that time, and presence of mind, to spend it on things you actually enjoy.
Outsourcing could be the quickest way to feel wealthier – do less of what causes you stress, and more of what you love.
It’s not just time, it’s peace of mind too.
I’m quite a practical person, I’ll have a go at most things… But one of the things I simply don’t endeavour to do, is fix my own car.
I know the information is out there, and whilst it could take thousands of hours to learn, that’s not what holds me back.
On balance changing a car part might seem like a small task. The thing that concerns me is the consequences of getting it wrong.
What happens if I’m driving at 75mph and my wheel falls off? I spin into the guardrail, and if I’m really unlucky flip over, and end up in a ditch.
Sure it’s going to be financially painful, but it could also be life ending (and not just for me).
I’d rather know a professional who’s spent over 10,000 hours fixing cars deals with it.
Chances are they’ll do a much better job than I will, after I’ve spent 5 hours reading a manual and watching YouTube.
It’s time, risk, and peace of mind – something Vanguard says financial clients also massively benefit from too.
Unsurprisingly, those with the highest ratings for peace of mind, worked with other humans.
I guess that means financial advisers are safe from being replaced by AI for a while, but even those working with robo-advisers found some benefit.
Where do most DIY investors go wrong?
The difference between great retirement planning, and bad retirement planning, is rarely obvious in advance.
It’s measured when you’re spending your later years thinking “I wish I had the chance to….” instead of “that’s everything on the bucket list done”.
When it comes to money, people often confuse safety, with cash in the bank.
Often, your money not growing beyond our ever increasing cost of living (thanks to inflation) is the biggest risk.
Cash that doesn’t grow, destroys long-term wealth as it’s eaten by inflation.
It’s only matched by focusing on investing in “what’s working now” – you know what Dave down the local pub is telling everyone about, instead of choosing time tested strategies for building wealth.
Having the right asset allocation from day 1, can ensure you’ve got the right balance between growth and comfort.
It can be a short-cut to a successful retirement – instead of learning from your mistakes.
Looking for help to start your investing journey?
Are you an expat with over £150,000 to invest? Arrange your complimentary initial consultation today.
