Money Mindset: How to Create Your Wealth Plan in 2026

Rechenda Smith
1 day ago
3 min read

A practical session for business owners and ambitious professionals

Today, our Managing Director, Shane Julian delivered a session called Money Mindset: How to Create Your Wealth Plan in 2026, for the Co.next group at Norfolk Chamber of Commerce - and it was genuinely brilliant to meet so many business owners and career-driven professionals who are ready to take their finances seriously.

If you’re building a business, growing your career, or juggling both, your money can easily become something you react to rather than something you lead with intention.

You might be earning more than ever… but still feel like you’re not fully in control. Or you might be doing “well” on paper, but not actually building long-term wealth in a way that feels secure and sustainable.

That’s exactly why this session matters.

Think of your finances like going to the gym

One of the main comparisons I shared during the session was this:

Managing your money is like going to the gym. It takes consistency, a bit of effort, and a long-term mindset - but the results are absolutely worth it.

Real wealth doesn’t come from one big decision. It comes from the habits you build and the choices you repeat over time.

And the truth is, when you’re busy building a career or running a business, wealth planning doesn’t always feel urgent. There’s always something else that needs your attention first.

But if your long-term goals include:

financial freedom
flexibility and choice
retiring early (or simply retiring comfortably)
protecting your family
building wealth that outlasts your working years…then the planning starts now.

What the session was designed to do

Money Mindset: How to Create Your Wealth Plan in 2026 was designed to be practical, relatable, and action-focused - especially for people who are ambitious, driven, and want a plan that actually fits around real life.

It was about helping people gain a clear path forward.

What we covered

During the session, we worked through the key building blocks of a strong wealth plan, including:

1) Your relationship with money

We talked about how your mindset influences your financial decisions - especially when income increases, life gets busy, or pressure rises.

2) Emergency funds and financial resilience

For business owners in particular, having a financial buffer isn’t optional — it’s part of building stability and protecting your lifestyle.

3) Pensions and long-term planning

We broke down pensions in a way that actually makes sense, and why they’re one of the most powerful long-term tools available when used properly.

4) Property goals and mortgage readiness

Whether it was buying a first home, moving up the ladder, or investing in property, we talked about what you need in place to move forward confidently.

5) Investing and building wealth over time

We covered the basics of investing, the importance of time in the market, and why consistency is often more powerful than trying to “get it perfect”.

6) Credit habits and financial behaviour

We explored how day-to-day decisions can either support your long-term goals — or quietly hold you back.

7) Financial modelling and planning for the futureOne of the most valuable parts of the session was helping people see how small changes now can create huge differences over the next 5, 10, or 20 years.

The biggest takeaway

If I could sum the session up in one line, it would be this:

Your income is only part of the picture - your plan is what creates wealth.

Whether you’re scaling a business, stepping up in your career, or building a family life alongside it all, the goal is to create a financial strategy that supports you - not one that adds stress or confusion.