Why uncertainty might not be a bad thing

Last month, I spoke about the importance of detail - how part of my job is to stay on top of the moving parts so you don’t have to worry about them – upcoming tax year end being one example.

That’s still true. But this month, I want to make a different point - one that might feel counterintuitive: uncertainty isn’t always a bad thing. In fact, I think it’s underrated. Let me explain…

Somewhere along the way, we’ve come to believe that we should have it all worked out. That uncertainty means something’s gone wrong. But life doesn’t work that way. Whether it’s the markets, the Spring Budget, or what’s going on in your own life - there’s always something unexpected around the corner.

I see this with my clients all the time. One person is worried about geopolitical tension. Another is worried about Chancellor Rachel Reeves’ potential changes to the ISA limits. Someone else isn’t worried about any of that - they’re focused on a health concern instead. It’s all personal and relative.

That’s why financial planning isn’t about perfection or prediction. In fact, I often say the plan is out of date the moment we finish writing it. And that’s not a flaw - it’s the point. The plan gives us something to flex from. It gives us options. It gives us control. Because if there was no uncertainty, there’d be no need to make decisions. No need for autonomy. No opportunities to adjust course and take advantage of changes.

In investing, this is especially true

As Dimensional puts it in their latest article: “If there was no uncertainty, returns would be predictable - and there would be no difference between putting your money in a savings account or investing in the stock market.” In other words, the risk is what makes the reward possible. If markets didn’t wobble, they also wouldn’t grow. It’s the same reason we cheer during a football match - we don’t know how it’s going to end.

But here’s the other side of it - uncertainty makes us stop and think. About what matters. About how we want to live. And that’s where the real power of financial planning comes in. Not just in helping you have money - but helping you use it well.

As you’ll no doubt know, I’ve always believed that the goal is to put life into your money, not just money into your life. That’s because, at a certain point, it stops being about the numbers. Not completely, of course - but beyond a base level of financial security, more money doesn’t automatically equal more happiness.

The research backs this up: once our basic needs are met, the relationship between wealth and wellbeing gets more complex. That’s where I come in - not just to help you grow your money, but to help you figure out what you want it for.

I’ve worked with many people facing big decisions, such as whether to retire early. From a purely financial perspective, the ‘right’ answer might be to wait - to avoid a small actuarial reduction or give investments a few more years to grow. But that’s not always the right answer for them. Some clients feel a huge lift at the idea of more time with family, less stress, or the ability to travel while they’re fit and well. That emotional value - the joy, freedom, and peace of mind - can outweigh the financial hit.

And the truth is, two people with the same pension, same income, same options can come to two completely different conclusions. Because what makes us happy is deeply personal.

So I don’t just look at what’s ‘optimal’ on paper - I work with you to understand what really matters. What would make your day-to-day life better? What would you regret not doing? When you answer those questions, you start to see that managing your money well isn’t about chasing the biggest possible pot - it’s about using what you have in a way that feels good and meaningful.

That’s what financial planning is really about. And when we accept that there’s no single right answer, uncertainty stops being the enemy. It becomes a space for possibility. 

I’ve also had clients who want to spend everything before they go - one even told me they just want to die with nothing but a clean shirt on their back. Others want to leave a legacy. There’s no right or wrong. But when you give yourself permission to define what happiness looks like for you, you’ll often find you already have more choice than you thought.

That’s what I help clients do - build a plan that reflects the life they want to live. One that recognises things will change, and gives them the tools to respond when they do.

So yes, uncertainty might feel uncomfortable. But it’s also where the possibilities live. And if you're feeling unsure right now - whether it's about the markets, your spending, or just what happens next - remember: you don't have to have it all worked out. You're not off track. You're just in the middle of your story. And I’m here to help you keep writing it.