Know the news with the 7NEWS app: Download today \u201cIf I had an 18-year-old today and I could convince them, or even invest with them, to put away $250 a month for the next 50 years, they\u2019d end up with over $3 million,\u201d she says.<\/p>\n Her point isn\u2019t theoretical.<\/p>\n Drawing from long-term index performance data, Browne says consistent small investing beats flashy stock tips every time.<\/p>\n \u201cIf we look at what the Vanguard<\/a> index showed over the last 30 years, about 9.3 per cent annual return, $250 a month becomes a fortune. Their age is their superpower,\u201d Browne said.<\/p>\n The lesson, she says, is about behaviour, not brilliance.<\/p>\n<\/p>\n Watch the first episode of the new Money Talks podcast above.<\/p>\n \u201cIt\u2019s not about timing the market. It\u2019s about time in the market. Set it and forget it. Automate it. The key is to start,\u201d she said.<\/p>\n Browne says older Australians shouldn\u2019t opt out either.<\/p>\n \u201cOlder people often say it\u2019s too late for me. But we\u2019re living longer and want to live well,\u201d she said.<\/p>\n \u201cEven if you\u2019re in your 40s, 50s or 60s, you can still learn about investing, ask where your super\u2019s going, and care about how it\u2019s performing. It\u2019s never too late to take interest.\u201d<\/p>\n Take the Vanguard SmartRetire quiz at vanguard.com.au\/smartretire<\/a> to discover the building blocks of a more confident retirement.<\/p>\n For Browne, the power of compounding is both mathematical and psychological.<\/p>\n \u201cOnce you see small wins, you start to trust yourself. You see it\u2019s possible,\u201d she said.<\/p>\n \u201cAnd that builds confidence, which is half the battle.\u201d<\/p>\n She encourages parents to talk about investing early and often.<\/p>\n \u201cEven if you can\u2019t give your kids a financial leg-up with cash, you can give them the knowledge,\u201d she said.<\/p>\n \u201cShow them how to open an account, set up the direct debit, and explain why it matters. That behaviour is the real inheritance.\u201d<\/p>\n Browne admits her mission is as much emotional as financial.<\/p>\n \u201cThe biggest barrier is shame, not ignorance,\u201d she said.<\/p>\n \u201cPeople think they\u2019re bad with money, but they\u2019re really just scared to look. Understanding your money story and starting with $250 a month, that\u2019s how you rewrite it.\u201d<\/p>\n Browne is the author of two popular finance books Budgets Don\u2019t Work (But This Does) and Un**** Your Finances .<\/a><\/p>\n What is the MoneyTalk podcast? <\/p>\n![\"Download](\"https:\/\/7news.com.au\/static\/media\/right-red-arrow.92bca5db.svg\"){kind=icon}
<\/a><\/p>\n