Investor Mindset vs “Pensioner Mindset”

Like it or not, all successful person in the world will tell you that: the key of your success is in your head. In particular: it’s in your mindset. In other word, in order to be successful you need to have the correct mindset.

Mindset is simply the mental attitude of our thinking. It is how our brain react or perceive if there is an event. We did not build our mindset overnight. Our mindset is formed through our education, knowledge, experience, environment and habit throughout our life. But once you know what’s wrong with your mindset, with conscious effort and understanding, your mindset can be changed without tremendous effort.

Since you want to be successful with investing, then you need to have the investor mindset. But at the same time, you also need to avoid the “pensioner mindset”.

We will explore these 2 totally different mindsets. The “pensioner” mindset versus the Investor mindset (or often also dubbed as “millionaire” mindset – as most of the millionaire, excluding the one just win the lottery or inherited wealth, would have this mindset). Let us begin…

The Pensioner Mindset

Now, before all the retiree in the world got angry to me, let me explain what I mean. The “pensioner mindset” refers mainly to a believe that once you reach pension age, then the government/state have to look after you. It’s sad but true, most of the pensioner will agree to that believe. How about you ?  Yes, you are retired, but you can be a “self funded retiree” not “pensioner”. Remember “pensioner” means a person that receive periodic payment from government.

No, it’s not and it should not. It is your life, so be responsible and take care of yourself. If the government may has something for you as pensioner, then be gracious and accept it just as a token of appreciation of your contribution to the country not as your main life support. If you are now a pensioner and you rely fully on your government pension, then probably only little you can do, we cannot turn back in time because more effort need to be done on previous years. Don’t you know that the population is getting bigger and life expectancy is getting longer? Hence, sooner or later, there will be no government in the world that can afford to fully funded all pensioner. The pension money will getting smaller and smaller in percentage.

Again, of course,  not all pensioner adopt this kind mindset, but most of them do. But although it’s called “pensioner” mindset, this kind of mindset is already also adopted my much younger person who does not understand (yet) the importance of millionaire mindset.

The Investor Mindset / The Millionaire Mindset

This is the mindset that see all the problem as it is, not worse than it is and not better than it is. This mindset has nothing to do with ‘positive thinking’ or some sort. It is just see everything the way everything is. No pre-judgement. The persons who have this mindset usually is very familiar with the concept risk and reward. They know how to mitigate risk to minimum. If they don’t know, they will find out until they satisfied with the knowledge. And they take full responsibility of what they did. Their decision, their money, their responsibility.

Which one is which

Let see the differences

	Pensioner Mindset	Investor Mindset / Millionaire Mindset
If there is a new stuff that seems to be very good	“if it is too good to be true, usually it is – stay away from it”	“wow, that’s very good opportunity – I better check out the detail and fact now”

Yes, there are a lot of scam out there, but there is also genuine good opportunity. So, if it looks good, check it out first – who knows it’s the opportunity that you always waiting for.

	Pensioner Mindset	Investor Mindset / Millionaire Mindset
If all has been explained and just need action	“if you can give me 100% guarantee that it will work , then I will do it”	“yes, I know the risk and reward. Let’s do it”

Sounds familiar ? There is no such guarantee in life. In matter of fact, you yourself will not be able to guarantee that you will be still alive tomorrow. That’s how risky life is. So, in every opportunity, know the risk, know the reward. If it’s still okay, just do it !

	Pensioner Mindset	Investor Mindset / Millionaire Mindset
About work and retirement	“You just need to work until 65 years old then the government will look after you”	“I will achieve my financial freedom and retire at 50 – so I don’t have to work anymore and have my lifestyle for the rest of my life”

Don’t you want a financial freedom where you don’t have to work anymore (and if you are working that’s because you want to and because you have to)? That’s not going to happen unless you act now to make it happen. The secret is investing. You need to invest and invest until you have reached your goal.

	Pensioner Mindset	Investor Mindset / Millionaire Mindset
About everything else	“I am too young” / “I am too old” or “I don’t have enough money” or “I don’t have enough education”	“I know it’s not easy, but I will make it happen!”

Money, age, and education are the common excuses for people with “pensioner mindset” to justify about NOT doing something. Stop making excuses! Make it happen!