News & Trending Money News

15 Key Qualities That Financially Successful People Swear By

These ideas can push you closer to financial and personal success.

Retirement Plans for the Self-Employed
Updated Sept. 24, 2024
Fact checked

We receive compensation from the products and services mentioned in this story, but the opinions are the author's own. Compensation may impact where offers appear. We have not included all available products or offers. Learn more about how we make money and our editorial policies.

It can be difficult to figure out where to start and what makes someone more successful than someone else.

And if you’re trying to boost your bank account to achieve other financial goals, it can be a real challenge to find out what’s going to work for you.

So what are some things that could make you more successful than others? Here are a few traits of successful people you may want to consider cultivating in your life.

If you’re over 50, take advantage of massive discounts and financial resources

Over 50? Join AARP today — because if you’re not a member you could be missing out on huge perks. When you start your membership today, you can get discounts on things like travel, meal deliveries, eyeglasses, prescriptions that aren’t covered by insurance and more.

How to become a member today:

  • Go here, select your free gift, and click “Join Today”
  • Create your account (important!) by answering a few simple questions
  • Start enjoying your discounts and perks!

Important: Start your membership by creating an account here and filling in all of the information (Do not skip this step!) Doing so will allow you to take up 25% off your AARP membership, making it just $12 per year with auto-renewal.

Become an AARP member now


Consistency

pressmaster/Adobe elegant woman sitting at table using laptop

It’s hard to stick with the same thing over and over again, but consistency could pay off when you’re trying to find success.

You may be called on for new challenges at work because leaders know you will turn in good work every time or that you can be relied on to get the job done on a deadline.


Dedication

NDABCREATIVITY/Adobe multi-ethnic employees joining hands

Committing to a particular purpose can build your reputation as someone who believes in your work and will be there each and every time to get it done.

Your loyalty to your company or commitment to saving money can pay off with dedication.

Focus

Chanelle Malambo/peopleimages.com/Adobe african american man working from home using laptop

Don’t let distractions get in the way of finding success. Things like fancy vacations or fun cars might pull you away from your goals to flourish financially.

Instead, remember to focus on what you want to accomplish and keep your eye on the prize.

Resolve $10,000 or more of your debt

Credit card debt is suffocating. It constantly weighs on your mind and controls every choice you make. You can end up emotionally and even physically drained from it. And even though you make regular payments, it feels like you can never make any progress because of the interest.

National Debt Relief could help you resolve your credit card debt with an affordable plan that works for you. Just tell them your situation, then find out your debt relief options.1

How to get National Debt Relief to help you resolve your debt: Sign up for a free debt assessment here. (Do not skip this step!) By signing up for a free assessment, National Debt Relief can assist you in settling your debt, but only if you schedule the assessment.

Try it


Discipline

lovelyday12/Adobe man putting pennies in jar while writing on notebook in background with calculator and penny stack on table

You have to be disciplined when it comes to setting a goal and staying with it.

Maybe you want to set aside a certain amount of money each week in a high-yield saving account or invest it so you can retire early.

Your discipline to stick with those plans each week can put you on a path to financial success.

Grit

Ali Safarov/Adobe businessman in office at night working on laptop

Your financial journey is always going to be easy. You may face setbacks like losing your job or a downturn in the stock market, putting your retirement investments in the red.

But your determination and grit to dig in and push through the hard times can get you to success on the other side.


Luck

Yuliia/Adobe happy man doing freelance work at café using laptop

Sometimes, it’s just a little luck that comes your way and gives you a boost. But how can that be a key thing to make you successful?

It’s what you do with that luck that counts. Put yourself in a position to have luck come your way so you can capitalize on it when you get a lucky break.


Goal-oriented

BGStock72/Adobe beautiful businesswoman in glasses using a tablet in her office

It’s important to set goals for yourself so you have the motivation to get where you want to go.

Think of your goals as signposts on your journey as you map out your financial future. Each sign you pass is another step in the right direction to achieving financial success.


Steadfastness

Sutthiphong/Adobe man using calculator to find out interest and profit

Sometimes slow and steady is better than rushing around without any plan.

Investing in a steady index fund with your retirement investments, for example, may be a more lucrative option than a flashy stock that shoots up and then crashes before you can cash in.

And putting a steady amount of money away in a savings account can help you lock in income to cover bills or build an emergency fund.

Strength

Drobot Dean/Adobe young asian woman meditating at home

You don’t need to go to the gym to build strength. Consider building a strong and diverse financial portfolio that can withstand severe downturns.

Develop the mental power you need to reject spending too much or not saving enough. Your strength in the face of financial adversity can help you push through any financial decisions.

Earn cash back on everyday purchases with this rare account

Want to earn cash back on your everyday purchases without using a credit card? With the Discover®️ Cashback Debit Checking account (member FDIC), you can earn 1% cash back on up to $3,000 in debit card purchases each month!2

With no credit check to apply and no monthly fees to worry about, you can earn nearly passive income on purchases you’re making anyway — up to an extra $360 a year!

This rare checking account has other great perks too, like access to your paycheck up to 2 days early with Early Pay, no minimum deposit or monthly balance requirements, over 60K fee-free ATMs, and the ability to add cash to your account at Walmart stores nationwide.

Don’t leave money on the table — it only takes minutes to apply and it won’t impact your credit score.

Apply for a Discover Cashback Checking account today


Passion

Daenin/Adobe excited african american woman using smartphone

You have to be excited to learn new financial things or take on financial challenges. A real interest in stocks, investments, savings, and other financial options can lead to success as you learn and enjoy the process of becoming financially successful.


Positivity

Mangostar/Adobe team of vr developers talking and laughing together at work

A positive attitude can go a long way in keeping you focused and moving forward even if you face financial setbacks. A smile and a can-do attitude can push you higher and better financially.

Use your positive attitude to look forward and see your successes even if you have to drive over some financial bumps to get there.


Patience

olly/Adobe middle-aged businessman sitting on a couch and feeling stressed about work

It can be frustrating to wait for your savings to add up or for your financial planning to be successful. Stick with it and have some patience and you’ll reach your financial goals.

This may be especially true if you’re investing in your retirement portfolio not even if you don’t expect to retire early or have several more years before starting your post-work life.


Balance

Formatoriginal/Adobe sand clock and stack of pennies balancing on seesaw in front of grey background

It’s a good idea to balance your financial plans to help maximize your profits.

Perhaps you’ll want to put some of your retirement investments in a steady investment while other money goes to riskier investments that may be able to pay off more if they succeed.

A financial portfolio could have several different pieces that have to be in balance to make everything go in the right direction.


Reliability

1st footage/Adobe man stacking coins

Reliability may sound boring, but it also means you can depend on it no matter what.

Perhaps you want to invest in an index fund that can bring in dependable returns over time. Or maybe you want to invest in real estate with dependable rent.

Whatever it is, an investment you can trust is an investment that may be the best option.

Gratitude

peopleimages.com/Adobe woman shaking hand with male coworker

After all that you’ve worked to achieve, it’s good to be thankful for the financial stability you pushed to gain.

Whether it’s crushing your debt, building an emergency fund, or working on your retirement plan, each piece can help put your financial future in place and make you happy with what you have.

Bottom line

Lumos sp /Adobe business team holding documents along with their colleagues

The great thing about learning to adopt smart financial habits is that you can tailor your goals and motivation to what works best for you.

Start by creating a budget with attainable goals that you can reach and use as stepping stones to the next success.

You may be surprised how developing consistent goals can lead to consistent growth and success.

Lucrative, Flat-Rate Cash Rewards

5.0
info

Wells Fargo Active Cash® Card

Current Offer

$200 cash rewards bonus after spending $500 in purchases in the first 3 months

Annual Fee

$0

Rewards Rate

Earn unlimited 2% cash rewards on purchases

Benefits and Drawbacks
Card Details