How your health and wealth are closely connected

Did you know there’s a clear and direct link between physical, mental and financial wellbeing, recognised by medical and economic professionals? Here we explore what this link is all about and how strengthening your finances might even change your life.

Ever feel stressed or out of control when your finances are out of order? You’re not alone. Studies show that 34 per cent of people say their financial situation negatively affects their mental health¹.

In a global survey² over 80 per cent of respondents say the rest of their life is much more manageable when their finances are in order, while 70 per cent say good financial wellbeing positively impacts their physical health.

And there’s more. In one study, cardiologists found that blood pressure and glucose levels among the overall population increase during recessions³; in another, people reported that the fitter their financial affairs, the more likely their health was good⁴.

This proven connection between financial, physical and mental health can be compared to tent poles in your life. If one pole falls over, it puts a strain on the others. And if the other tent poles aren’t sturdy enough, there’s a risk the whole tent will collapse. Put simply, if one or two key areas in your life aren’t sturdy, the others may well suffer.

So how do we make sure our financial health is strong enough to support our physical and mental health?

Just like a dietitian advises on eating well, a personal trainer helps on getting fit and a counsellor on resolving problems, a qualified financial planner can help with financial fitness and wealth planning. Think of them as your money coach.

Financial planners like AIA Financial Wellbeing’s Matthew McGilvray have set the wheels in motion for others, making sure their money is working hard for them, in turn reducing stress in their lives.

He’s noticed an increase in the number of people in their 20s, 30s and 40s seeking a helping hand from financial planners. And he’s adamant that other areas of a person’s life – particularly mental and physical health – tend to improve after seeking out a financial expert.

“Everyone who comes to see me ultimately wants the trifecta, so they can have the best life possible,” he says.

“It’s why I spend time understanding each person’s goals in life, so I can help them join those dots between physical, mental and financial health.”

Life milestones that matter

A trigger for getting some financial help is often a big change in life, like buying your first home and dealing with a mortgage for the first time. Or it could be the arrival of your first baby, prompting the need to set something aside for schooling.

Whether it’s people starting out on their financial journey in their 20s to 30s, young families in their 30s to 40s looking to get ahead, or mid-lifers in their 40s and 50s aiming to build on their foundations, each needs to spend a bit of time mapping out the best path to ensure they reach their goals in life, Matthew says.

“It’s often these milestones in life that give people the impetus to seek financial advice to ensure their money is working hard for them, and to check that their superannuation is building over time.”

For others, the advice journey may be around specific issues, like tax or superannuation.

“These elements of our financial lives aren’t often taught at school, so people don’t know how a mortgage works, or how superannuation works,” Matthew says. “They’re left trying to muddle along and try and figure it out themselves.”

Other times it may be a small question requiring some expert advice, or as big picture as supporting a client literally starting from scratch.

“Some clients know where they want to be in their five-year future and just need a hand getting the systems and structures set up to achieve that,” Matthew says. “While others have no idea what they want, and so we get to work on defining that.”

Whatever the goal, often it only takes a few small adjustments to help give clients a sense of control. “Very quickly, you can literally see that weight of stress melt away,” Matthew says. 

Enjoying a better life

When Matthew calls to check on his clients’ progress, he often discovers they’ve enjoyed improvements in other parts of their lives. “Once they’re on track with their financial goals, they’ve got a real spring in their step,” he says.

Beyond financial advice, Matthew’s also a keen proponent of making the time for exercise two to three times a week, believing in its power to help with the financial side of life through reduced stress levels and a better ability to make smart decisions.

“It makes sense,” he says. “If you’ve got less mental stress and you’ve had that time to work on your physical wellbeing, you’re going to stress less about the contents of your bank account.” 

Often, Matthew adds, people are surprised to learn just how simple it can be to achieve a greater sense of happiness and contentment, compared with how difficult they may have imagined the journey.

“The fact is, you really don’t need that much to have a fantastic life. It often comes down to simply laying the financial foundations, and then following through.” 

Reference

¹ Mercer – Mental Health at Work 2018
²  Apis 2020 white paper, The Convergence of Financial and Physical Wellness, a New Paradigm
³ https://www.marcus.com/us/en/resources/personal-finance/physical-and-financial-health
⁴ Manulife Financial Wellness Index 2016