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.
Found another way around this?
Share your steps and trade-offs so fellow engineers don't have to reinvent the wheel. No account required.
- 1Refusing to discuss finances with familyDid this help you?
- 2Doing independent financial researchDid this help you?
- 3Taking advice only from people who have achieved the financial goals you wantDid this help you?
- 4Setting up automated investing to bypass emotional decision-makingDid this help you?
- 5Consulting friends with more financial experienceDid this help you?
- 6Learning to invest independently and reading financial booksDid this help you?
In their words
Unedited, grouped by where they were said, most upvoted first within each place, 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 ↗
“I’d like to understand if, and to what extent, the bank is ripping me off, and, more importantly, what I should do about it.”source ↗
“If it makes you feel better - I did the same thing, except for five years. While working for Vanguard.”source ↗
Where this came up
People with this problem also raised
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- 7How to respond to unsolicited parenting advice
- 2How to deal with a family member who constantly complains about money
- 2How to handle family criticizing my weight for the wedding
- 6How to find a judgment-free financial advisor for mid-life wealth building