Why Some People Just Seem Less Rattled.
- Jun 2
- 3 min read
In the world of finance a lot has happened during this year, including new wars started and new budgets handed down. So change it all around us.
When things are changing our gut instinct is to do something. Some people research everything, call everyone and make decisions. But then there’s people who don’t do any of that. Are they being neglectful or just cutting the noise out. It’s very human to feel like we have to do something but it can also be the thing that gets in the way.
Knowing what matters to your plan and what is just noise is definitely a skill. It sounds simple but it can actually be quite hard.
Four Kinds Of People.
The first is the researcher. Something happens and they read everything: every article, every commentary, every opinion. Information starts to feel overwhelming but can look like diligence from the outside. At some point, the information overload turns into “information paralysis” and everything freezes.
The second is the mover. A change gets announced and a decision gets made; quickly, before there's been real time to understand what actually applies to them. It feels like getting ahead of things but its really just getting ahead of the thinking. The decision happens before the understanding does.
The third is the waiter. Something significant happens and they file it away. You'll deal with it when things settle but there's always a reason the timing isn't quite right. They never quite settle the way you picture they will.
The fourth is the caller. Something shifts and their first move is to pick up the phone to a friend, a family member, someone they trust to help them make sense of it. The person on the other end usually doesn't know their full picture, and what feels like getting clarity is sometimes just getting reassurance. The decision is made, just with someone else's reaction standing in for actual understanding of what applies to them.
None of these are character flaws. They're our defaults, part of who we are, and it's tough changing that. Most of us reading this already know which one we are. The good news is you don't have to change it. That's part of what a good adviser is actually for, holding the steady view when your default is pulling you in another direction.
What The Steady Ones Have In Common.
The people who handle uncertain periods well have one thing in common. They know what their financial picture is supposed to do and why each part is there. So when something happens externally, they can work out pretty quickly whether it actually affects them, and if it does, what to do about it.
That doesn't come from being calm by nature or particularly decisive. It comes from having set things up clearly in the first place. When you know what everything is for, the other stuff stays outside.
The Bit Nobody Talks About.
Staying disciplined with your finances when things get noisy isn't really a personality trait. It's not about being naturally calm under pressure or having a huge appetite for risk. More often, it comes down to whether you’ve done enough work on your overall picture to know what actually needs attention and what can be left alone.
That work is usually pretty unremarkable. There’s no big moment where it suddenly feels “done”. It just means that when markets move or life changes, you’re not reacting from scratch.
And if outside noise quickly turns into inside noise too, that’s usually worth paying attention to. Because it can be a sign the picture isn’t as clear or as aligned as it should be.
The best time to get clarity on it is before things get noisy. The second best time is now.
This advice is general in nature and does not take into account your objectives, financial situation or needs. You should consider whether the advice is suitable for you and your personal circumstances.