If time travel were possible, then half of Brits would choose to go back and tell their younger selves to ‘Start saving as early as possible’ (48%).
This sentiment is even stronger among women and those over 50, with 51% of each group wishing they could stress the importance of saving early.
‘Take care of your health’ (41%) and ‘Find a job you love’ (36%) emerged as the second and third most popular advice options among time-travellers. Interestingly, ‘Spend more time with family’ was only a top-three choice for 20% of respondents.
The survey also revealed the financial topics that individuals wish they’d learned more about at a younger age, with ‘Investing and growing wealth’ (22%) and ‘Retirement planning’ (17%).
Dr. Tom Mathar, Head of Aegon’s Centre for Behavioural Research, comments on the findings: “Unless you’re Doctor Who, time travel may not be possible. But what we do today can shape our future in meaningful ways.
“Our findings highlight how difficult it is to balance present needs with future security. A majority, especially women and those over 50, look back with some sense of regret, wishing they had started saving earlier. This suggests that financial planning isn’t just about building wealth. It’s also about making better trade-offs throughout life.
“Our recent Second 50: Addressing the gender pensions gap report outlines the unique financial hurdles that women often face, whether due to career breaks, longer life expectancy, or societal expectations around money management.
“Whilst financial education plays a crucial role, what may be even more important is longevity education: helping people to understand how their financial, health and lifestyle choices interact over a longer life. Different life stages bring different financial priorities, and a more holistic approach is needed to support people in making informed decisions.
“Recognising this need, Aegon will soon be launching an educational hub, as well as a podcast, designed to help individuals navigate these trade-offs: between financial security now and financial security in the future, and between living well today and preparing for a fulfilling later life.”
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