Young investors urged to start early, stay ‘boring’

Binaya Dahal

Journalist

17 July 2026

InvestmentMarkets’ Darren Connolly has urged young Australians to ignore the narrative that they have already missed their chance to build wealth, saying it remains within reach for those who start early and stay consistent.

The chief executive of the Queensland-based marketplace platform, Connolly said many Generation Z and Millennials have been led to believe they are financially behind unless they own multiple investment properties, creating unnecessary pressure and discouraging them from investing altogether.

“For years we’ve celebrated the property millionaire who has an investment portfolio of twenty houses,” he said.

“That’s an extraordinary story, but with the average Australian home now worth more than 1.1 million dollars expecting young people to replicate these types of strategies ignores reality.”

Connolly said that time remains the biggest advantage available to younger investors, with compounding allowing small investments to grow significantly over decades.

“If you’re in your twenties and thinking about getting started, you haven’t missed the opportunity,” he said.

“In many ways, you’re standing at the best possible starting line. The greatest mistake young Australians can make isn’t starting too late, it’s waiting for the perfect time to begin.”

However, Connolly warned against making decisions based on emotion, saying it often leads inexperienced investors into the biggest traps.

“Social media is a go-to for many younger investors, and while it can provide foundational information, it has also created a generation that feels like everyone else is getting rich overnight,” he said.

“The FOMO mindset can push people towards speculative investments, concentrated bets and chasing trends. Investing should never feel like you’re buying a lottery ticket.”

Instead of chasing the next big winner, Conolly said young investors would benefit in the long run by sticking to proven investing principles.

“Most successful investing isn’t exciting. It’s consistent. Start small. Save consistently. Invest regularly. Diversify properly. Keep your costs low,” he said.

“Then give your portfolio time to do what markets have historically done over long periods. It sounds boring, but boring is often incredibly successful.”