How to stop following bad financial advice from family
Accepting flawed guidance from well-meaning relatives leads to intense, long-lasting regret and missed financial opportunities that can persist for years. Recognizing this mistake leaves people grappling with deep self-blame over choices they wish they could undo.
What people tried
Every workaround mentioned in the threads below. We haven’t tested any of them — and nobody here is claiming they worked.
- 1Refusing to discuss finances with family
- 2Doing independent financial research
- 3Taking advice only from people who have achieved the financial goals you want
- 4Setting up automated investing to bypass emotional decision-making
In their words
Unedited, most upvoted first, each linked to the thread it came from.
“I'm 38 now and I genuinely cringe thinking about this.”source ↗
“I will never forgive myself for this”source ↗
6StardustDrift7 · r/personalfinance · 6,143 upvotes
“If it makes you feel better - I did the same thing, except for five years. While working for Vanguard.”source ↗
TheDaug · r/personalfinance · 162 upvotes
Where this came up
People with this problem also raised
- 2How to deal with a family member who constantly complains about money
- 2How to handle family criticizing my weight for the wedding
- 2How to find a judgment-free financial advisor for mid-life wealth building
- 7How to handle family demanding to pay for wedding beauty and expenses
- 9How to help aging parents with massive debt and no retirement savings
- 2How to buy a house with family without getting trapped