Do you ever lie awake at night asking yourself:
“Am I making the right financial choices for my future?”
“Will I ever be financially free?”
These are the questions many career professionals wrestle with, even here in Switzerland, a country often associated with financial wealth.
On paper, expats and local professionals alike may look “well-off.” Salaries are high, opportunities are strong. But reality tells a different story: between rent, health insurance, childcare, transportation, and high living costs, much of that income disappears quickly.😅
Without financial literacy, you can be earning more than ever yet still feel financially stuck.
I know because I’ve been there too. After months of nonstop work, I once looked at my accounts and realised I hadn’t actually moved closer to my goals. The money was coming in, but it wasn’t being managed with direction. And I’m not alone… a colleague once told me she felt embarrassed admitting that, despite her great role and salary, she had no savings after three years in Zurich.
Turns out, the problem wasn’t income…
It was not knowing the financial rules of the game here.
Know Yourself Before You Compare
One mistake I’ve noticed among professionals like us is comparing our financial journey with others. It happens so easily, your colleague buys a new car, a friend posts about their investment wins, or someone in your network talks about buying property in Switzerland. Suddenly, you feel behind. But the truth is, those comparisons are unfair.
Why? Because money isn’t one-size-fits-all. Your financial path depends on your goals, your personality, and your current stage in life. If you don’t first understand yourself, it’s easy to feel like you’re “behind” when in reality, you may just approach money differently.
So ask yourself: what type of person are you?
Here are a few examples:
- The Analytical: Loves research, spreadsheets, and options. But risks “analysis paralysis.” The challenge is to act, not just plan.
- The Spontaneous: Seeks freedom and flexibility, often struggles with rigid budgets. Automating savings or setting flexible rules works better.
- The Security-Seeker: Values stability above all. Great at saving, but may miss opportunities to grow wealth through smart risks.
- The Visionary: Always thinking about the big picture. Motivated by goals like early retirement or entrepreneurship, but can overlook the small daily habits.
- The Social Spender: Finds joy in experiences, generosity, or being with people. Needs to balance connection with long-term priorities.
Each type has strengths and blind spots. The key is to build a system that works with your nature, not against it.
(If you’d like to explore this further, send me a message and I’ll send you the link to the article “How Your Personality Shapes Your Financial Literacy.” It’s a fascinating read that may help you see yourself in a new light.)
More Practical Steps You Can Take
- Track your spending for 30 days. Numbers bring clarity.
- Choose one priority: savings, debt, or investments. Focus creates progress.
- Automate what you can: savings, transfers, reminders.
- Talk openly about money with your partner, peers, or mentors. Financial literacy grows in dialogue.
- Align your financial plan with career goals. Learn to negotiate not just salary, but also pension and benefits that matter in Switzerland.
- If you’re going through a tough financial season right now, I hope this email gives you at least a little perspective, clarity, or even comfort. You’re not alone in this… many of us have been there. And step by step, you can find your way to stability and confidence.
If you want more professional guidance from me, book a clarity call here.
@Advanced Talent
Know Your Financial Values with the Professional Success Power Cards here.
Use promo code : PowerCards10 for the members only.
The Power Cards, covering Values & Strengths, and Teamwork & Communication, is a practical tool to start meaningful conversations. It will help you:
- Clarify what financial values matter most to you.
- Practice the words you’ll need in money conversations at work or at home.
- Build confidence in aligning money choices with life priorities.
Because financial literacy is no longer just about money. It’s now about creating a life in Switzerland (or anywhere) where your hard work truly translates into freedom.
To your financial freedom and career success,
Adelina Stefan
Founder of Advanced Talent LLC
Senior Intercultural Career & Transformational Master Coach
Website theadvancedtalent.com
