If we’re honest, the process of investing isn’t exactly thrilling.

Choosing funds. Setting up monthly contributions. Checking performance. Staring at numbers and charts and trying to feel something - anything. It’s not surprising that the process of investing for many can feel dull and uninspiring.

And you know what? That’s okay. Investment charts were never meant to put a spring in your step. But the outcome of investing? That’s where the magic lives. Because investing isn’t really about funds or percentages. It’s about what that money becomes in the real world.

It’s a family trip to Norway, creating memories you’ll talk about for years.
It’s a new car that takes you on adventures with your children, or one day, your grandchildren.
It’s finally signing up for that pottery course you’ve always fancied.
It’s being able to support a local charity that genuinely needs help.

This is what investing touches at its core: family, friendships, experiences, and causes close to our hearts.

So yes, the numbers matter. The charts matter. But they’re not the point. They’re just the tools that help us get where we want to go. After all, there’s little value in building wealth if we never actually use it.

A More Balanced Approach

When we see investing through this lens, it naturally changes how we approach financial decisions.

Instead of treating every decision like a maths problem to be optimised, we open the door to something more human. We allow space for what matters emotionally, not just what looks good on a spreadsheet.

This approach brings a few powerful benefits. First, it forces us to slow down and take stock. That pause alone often leads to better decisions. Second, it helps us ask better questions. Questions that broaden our thinking and uncover options we might have missed if we were only focused on performance charts and projections.

Because real life isn’t black and white. Everything is a trade-off, and most situations have more than one “right” answer.

Charts vs. Hearts

We often see big financial questions approached purely from the “charts” angle, even though they’re loaded with emotional and lifestyle implications.

Questions like:

• What funds should I invest in?

• When can I stop working?

• Should I start my own business?

• Can I help my son with a deposit for his first home?

• I'd love to take the family to South America - can I make it work?

• When should we downsize our house?

• How much should I really be investing each month?

On the surface, these look like financial calculations. But dig a little deeper and you’ll find hopes, fears, dreams, and values sitting just beneath them.

Anyone can try to work through these questions alone. But I've found that couples, in particular, get enormous value from having an independent third party guide the conversation - someone who helps balance both the technical side (the charts) and the emotional side (the hearts).

Because Money Is Emotional

Whether we like it or not, money is emotional. Making it. Saving it. Spending it.

So the next time you’re faced with a financial decision, challenge yourself to look beyond the numbers. Ask what elements of the decision won’t show up on a chart, but matter deeply to you and your family. Do that, and you’ll likely end up with fewer long-term regrets and a far more fulfilling life.

Money isn’t just a maths equation. Not everything needs to be perfectly optimised. For me, it’s hearts over charts. Because while money is important, it’s the real-life outcomes - the experiences, opportunities, and memories it creates - that should truly excite us. 🩷