Invest in Yourself First – The Best Return on Investment Most People Ignore

When most people think of investing, they picture the stock market, real estate, or retirement accounts. While those can all grow wealth, there is one investment that often gets overlooked but consistently delivers the highest return: investing in yourself. Your skills, knowledge, health, and personal growth have a compounding effect that no market downturn can erase.

The truth is that money follows value. The more you grow in ability and discipline, the more opportunities you create to earn, save, and multiply wealth. Investing in yourself is not about spending money on education; it is about prioritizing the areas of life that make you sharper, healthier, and more capable of generating long-term success.

Why Investing in Yourself Pays Off

• Increases Earning Potential: Learning new skills can lead to higher pay, promotions, or new income streams.

• Financial Decisions: Financial education helps you avoid costly mistakes and maximize opportunities.

• Builds Resilience: Personal growth and mental health investment prepare you to adapt in uncertain times.

• Boosts Confidence: The more you know and the better you feel, the more confident you can pursue opportunities.

Practical Ways to Invest in Yourself

1. Education & Skills

• Take a course, certification, or workshop in your field.

• Learn money skills like investing, budgeting, or tax planning.

• Read one book a month to expand your thinking.

2. Health & Wellness

• Prioritize regular exercise and nutrition; your energy is your greatest asset.

• Invest in preventative care instead of paying for expensive treatments later.

• Protect your mental health through rest, therapy, or mindfulness practices.

3. Financial Growth

• Set aside money for personal development in your budget.

• Collaborate with a coach or mentor who can accelerate your progress.

• Build systems (automated savings, budgeting apps, tax strategies) that free up mental bandwidth.

4. Relationships & Networks

• Attend conferences or networking events to connect with people who can open doors.

• Invest time in mentors and peers who challenge you to grow.

• Surround yourself with financially disciplined people; habits are contagious.

Stocks rise and fall. Markets change. But the growth you create in yourself is permanent and transferable across every season of life. Whether it is upgrading your skills, improving your health, or expanding your mindset, the return on self-investment is unmatched.

The smartest money move you can make is not always in a portfolio, it’s becoming the kind of person who can build wealth no matter the circumstances.

Wall Street Isn’t Warning You, But This Chart Might

Vanguard just projected public markets may return only 5% annually over the next decade. In a 2024 report, Goldman Sachs forecasted the S&P 500 may return just 3% annually for the same time frame—stats that put current valuations in the 7th percentile of history.

Translation? The gains we’ve seen over the past few years might not continue for quite a while.

Meanwhile, another asset class—almost entirely uncorrelated to the S&P 500 historically—has overall outpaced it for decades (1995-2024), according to Masterworks data.

Masterworks lets everyday investors invest in shares of multimillion-dollar artworks by legends like Banksy, Basquiat, and Picasso.

And they’re not just buying. They’re exiting—with net annualized returns like 17.6%, 17.8%, and 21.5% among their 23 sales.*

Wall Street won’t talk about this. But the wealthy already are. Shares in new offerings can sell quickly but…

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_{*Past performance is not indicative of future returns. Important Reg A disclosures: masterworks.com/cd.}