How to Invest in Your 30s and Build Wealth for the Future

Your 30s can feel like everything is accelerating at once. Paychecks finally start climbing, and your career gains some momentum. Maybe even a growing family enters the picture. While these life events can be really exciting, they also might bring a sense of unease or uncertainty surrounding how prepared you are for the future.

Financial perfection is not the goal at this stage of life (or any stage of life, for that matter). It’s the perfect time, however, to build systems that keep your money working in the background as life gets busier. The goals that made sense to you at twenty-five might not fit your reality at thirty-five, and that’s okay!

Let's talk about how to set up your finances for the decade ahead, without overcomplicating things.

Set clear financial goals for your 30s

Something I’ve learned over the years is that talk is cheap. If a goal matters to you, get it out of your head and onto paper. Start with the big-picture questions. “What's most important to me right now?” It might be building an emergency fund, saving for a down payment, or finally making some long-overdue retirement contributions.

Your next step is to make it specific. Telling yourself to “save more" probably won’t cut it. Without structure, you’re bound to fall off the wagon at some point or another. Try giving yourself a target and a timeline to solidify the intention—even a range works. Something like "I’m going to save 5-10% of my income monthly so I can invest in 6-9 months" gives you direction without demanding perfection.

Once you've got some clarity on your goals, you can set up your accounts to match. Consider opening two separate savings accounts at different institutions. Use one for essentials, like housing, insurance, and groceries. Keep the other for unexpected expenses such as car repairs, travel, or medical costs. This intentional separation creates a buffer that protects your long-term investments from getting raided every time you hit a roadblock.

Take advantage of retirement account benefits

Do you have “free money” available to you through your workplace? If your employer offers a retirement account match, max it out! That's an automatic 100% return that you won't find anywhere else in the investing world.

Next, it’s important to understand the difference between a traditional IRA and a Roth IRA. With a traditional IRA, you contribute pre-tax dollars now and pay taxes when you withdraw in retirement. When it comes to a Roth IRA, you pay taxes on contributions today, but withdrawals in retirement are tax-free. You might think of it like farming: do you want to pay taxes on the seed or the harvest?

If you have a high-deductible health plan, another beneficial move is to open an HSA. These accounts offer triple tax advantages that many people miss. Contributions to your HSA are tax-deductible, the growth is tax-free, and withdrawals for qualified medical expenses are also tax-free. You can let it grow as a long-term investment, not just a medical spending account. It’s not too good to be true, I promise!

Once you've maxed out tax-advantaged accounts, you can then consider opening a low-fee brokerage account for mid-term goals.

How compound interest builds wealth in your 30s

Compound interest isn't exactly the most exciting to talk about, but your thirties are prime time for it to work because you've likely hit your stride both personally and professionally. For most people at this stage in life, an 80-20 stock-to-bond allocation makes sense, with a small international component for broader exposure.

Consider allocating a small portion to speculative investments, such as options or cryptocurrency, if that aligns with your risk tolerance; however, keep the core investments straightforward and stress-free. Additionally, automating your contributions will take the guesswork out of the equation. You can rebalance once or twice a year and then step back and let time work in your favor.

Calculate the true cost of homeownership vs renting

When it comes to buying versus renting, skip the emotions and focus on the math. Add up all after-tax costs: mortgage, property taxes, insurance, HOA fees, and maintenance (typically 1-2% of the home's value annually). Don't forget to factor in closing costs and how long you plan to stay in the area.

Compare that total to your current rent. Renting gives you flexibility to move. Buying builds equity and potential appreciation. Both can be smart choices depending on your situation. There's no universal right answer here, and your situation, goals, and dreams are unique. You don’t have to live exactly like your neighbor…

How to increase your income to accelerate wealth building

Your ability to earn drives everything else. The stronger your income, the more flexibility you have to save, invest, and build wealth.

How can you earn more? Level up your skills. Take a certification course. Join a leadership program. You can also find a mentor who's been where you want to go. One book or idea can shift your life trajectory. The key isn't just learning… It's applying what you learn consistently.

Simplify your finances with tools to track assets, debts, and investments

If your finances feel scattered across multiple accounts with different goals, take a load off. You can simplify things by creating a centralized view that lists your assets, debts, contributions, and priorities. This can be a simple spreadsheet, Folio in your Fruition account, or even a notebook. The format matters less than having clarity, so pick what works for you.

When unexpected money comes in (think: bonuses, tax refunds, or windfalls), you can assign a purpose to that money before it arrives. Deciding in advance what percentage goes to debt, savings, and spending will prevent you from blowing that cash on something that doesn’t help you long-term. And when life inevitably shifts, set guardrails: how much cash runway do you need? What's the cost? When will you reassess?

Structure is the medicine to reduce anxiety when it comes to investing. Setting clear rules, automating, and keeping things simple will help you build momentum that carries you through any noise. Most importantly, your financial system should reflect the life you want to live! So ask yourself, “What do I envision for my future, and what is my plan to get there?”