Register For Our Mailing List

Register to receive our free weekly newsletter including editorials.

Home / 51

My 8 rules for both wealth and health

This morning I was doing a workout at the gym, something I have been doing for more than 20 years. Keeping your body in good shape and building your finances requires similar strategies, as exactly the same principles apply to each.

Today, in the interests of good health and wealth for us all, I’ll share the principles with you.

Rule 1. You must have a concrete goal.

It is as pointless to say “I want to lose a few kilos” as it is to say “I want to have more money in the bank”. It is essential to have a specific goal and a timeframe.

Rule 2. Focus on the benefits.

This is what will help you stay on track when the inevitable temptations arise. Shedding a few kilos will certainly improve your health and make you feel better; retiring with a substantial superannuation balance will open up a whole new world of freedom and choice.

Rule 3. It must be a permanent lifestyle change.

Dr Gary Egger of Gutbusters said the word DIET was short for Diabolical Ineffective Expensive Timewaster. Most people who go on a crash diet put all the lost weight back on when the diet inevitably becomes too hard. It’s exactly the same with money. Scrimping and saving for a month is pointless. Becoming wealthy is usually the result of a process of managing your money well over the long haul and letting compound interest work its magic.

Rule 4. Understand the 70/30 rule.

Seventy per cent of a successful weight loss program will be attributable to your eating habits, and thirty per cent to exercise. Seventy per cent of building wealth consists of managing your money to spend less than you earn, while the rest of it consists of good asset selection and tax effective strategies.

Rule 5. Don’t try to do too much too soon.

The reason most New Year’s resolutions fail is that they are normally made in a moment of alcohol-induced euphoria and are not carried through in the harsh light of day. The trick is to start small and build on it. To lose weight you might decide to have two healthy-eating days a week. To get your finances in order you could start with a simple budget coupled with moving your home repayments from monthly to fortnightly.

Rule 6. Expect roadblocks.

There will be times, especially around Christmas, when your budget and your belly will take a battering. By all means, prepare for these occasions to the best of your ability but don’t give up if you have a setback. Just treat it as a period of consolidation while you prepare to start moving forward again.

Rule 7. Keep track of your progress but don’t do it too often.

Both your weight and your portfolio are going to be bouncing around for the rest of your life, and getting excited or depressed because of a good or bad day can put you on an emotional roller coaster which could lead to impulsive and flawed decisions. As long as you are making steady progress towards your goal you are on the right track.

Rule 8. Mix with people who share your goals.

It’s much easier to refuse dessert when nobody else at the table wants it than it is to watch everybody else eating it. It’s easier to live within your income if your circle of friends shares your financial aspirations.

The great thing about having a variety of goals is the way you can make them work together.  Much of our discretionary spending these days is on food and alcohol, and cutting back on these will save you dollars as well as kilos. It may be difficult at first while you are slowly changing lifelong habits but eventually new habits will form. Then you can enjoy the results.

 

Noel Whittaker is Australia’s foremost financial adviser, a well-known media commentator and international best-selling author, including ‘Making Money Made Simple’. He is Adjunct Professor with the Faculty of Business at the Queensland University of Technology. His advice is general in nature and readers should seek their own professional advice before making any financial decisions.

 

1 Comments
Alex
February 27, 2014

Great article, couldn't agree more!

 

Leave a Comment:

banner

Most viewed in recent weeks

Raising the GST to 15%

Treasurer Jim Chalmers aims to tackle tax reform but faces challenges. Previous reviews struggled due to political sensitivities, highlighting the need for comprehensive and politically feasible change.

7 examples of how the new super tax will be calculated

You've no doubt heard about Division 296. These case studies show what people at various levels above the $3 million threshold might need to pay the ATO, with examples ranging from under $500 to more than $35,000.

The revolt against Baby Boomer wealth

The $3m super tax could be put down to the Government needing money and the wealthy being easy targets. It’s deeper than that though and this looks at the factors behind the policy and why more taxes on the wealthy are coming.

Are franking credits hurting Australia’s economy?

Business investment and per capita GDP have languished over the past decade and the Labor Government is conducting inquiries to find out why. Franking credits should be part of the debate about our stalling economy.

Here's what should replace the $3 million super tax

With Div. 296 looming, is there a smarter way to tax superannuation? This proposes a fairer, income-linked alternative that respects compounding, ensures predictability, and avoids taxing unrealised capital gains. 

The rubbery numbers behind super tax concessions

In selling the super tax, Labor has repeated Treasury claims of there being $50 billion in super tax concessions annually, mostly flowing to high-income earners. This figure is vastly overstated.

Latest Updates

Investment strategies

Trump's US dollar assault is fuelling CBA's rise

Australian-based investors have been perplexed by the steep rise in CBA's share price But it's becoming clear that US funds are buying into our largest bank as a hedge against potential QE and further falls in the US dollar.

Investment strategies

With markets near record highs, here's what you should do with your portfolio

Markets have weathered geopolitical turmoil, hitting near record highs. Investors face tough decisions on valuations, asset concentration, and strategic portfolio rebalancing for risk control and future returns.

Property

Soaring house prices may be locking people into marriages

Soaring house prices are deepening Australia's cost of living crisis - and possibly distorting marriage decisions. New research links unexpected price changes to whether couples separate or silently struggle together.

Investment strategies

Google is facing 'the innovator's dilemma'

Artificial intelligence is forcing Google to rethink search - and its future. As usage shifts and rivals close in, will it adapt in time, or become a cautionary tale of disrupted disruptors?

Investment strategies

Study supports what many suspected about passive investing

The surge in passive investing doesn’t just mirror the market—it shapes it, often amplifying the rise of the largest firms and creating new risks and opportunities. For investors, understanding these effects is essential.

Property

Should we dump stamp duties for land taxes?

Economists have long flagged the idea of swapping property taxes for land taxes for fairness and equity reasons. This looks at why what seems fairer may not deliver the outcomes that we expect.

Investing

Being human means being a bad investor

Many of the behaviours that have made humans such a successful species also make it difficult for us to be good, long-term investors. The key to better decision making is to understand what makes us human and adapt.

Sponsors

Alliances

© 2025 Morningstar, Inc. All rights reserved.

Disclaimer
The data, research and opinions provided here are for information purposes; are not an offer to buy or sell a security; and are not warranted to be correct, complete or accurate. Morningstar, its affiliates, and third-party content providers are not responsible for any investment decisions, damages or losses resulting from, or related to, the data and analyses or their use. To the extent any content is general advice, it has been prepared for clients of Morningstar Australasia Pty Ltd (ABN: 95 090 665 544, AFSL: 240892), without reference to your financial objectives, situation or needs. For more information refer to our Financial Services Guide. You should consider the advice in light of these matters and if applicable, the relevant Product Disclosure Statement before making any decision to invest. Past performance does not necessarily indicate a financial product’s future performance. To obtain advice tailored to your situation, contact a professional financial adviser. Articles are current as at date of publication.
This website contains information and opinions provided by third parties. Inclusion of this information does not necessarily represent Morningstar’s positions, strategies or opinions and should not be considered an endorsement by Morningstar.