Investors today have more information, more choice and more ways to manage their money than ever before. But some of the most useful lessons remain relatively simple: stay involved, be selective about information, find an approach that suits you and think long term.
Those are among the lessons Commonwealth Private, Commonwealth Bank’s private banking arm, has drawn from working with high-net-worth Australians through Private Wealth Advantage, which has passed $1 billion in funds under management in just over a since its 2025 launch
CBA Newsroom spoke with Susie Grehl, Executive General Manager, Wealth & Private, and Sarah Chadzynski, General Manager, Commonwealth Private, about four investing lessons that can apply at different stages of building wealth.
1. Get help without handing over the keys
Most wealthy clients want to stay involved in their investments. They value expert input, but they like to make the final call themselves.
“Especially over the last decade, there's been this real theme of stewardship and control,” Grehl says.
More than 90% of clients are either fully self-directed or want some guidance while staying “in the driver's seat”, she says.
Earlier in an investing journey, that might mean getting help with research, a second opinion or a ready-made option, while still making the final call yourself.
2. Be selective about where your information comes from
Whether you're new to investing or have years of experience, there's no shortage of information. The hard part is finding the time to sort through it.Chadzynski says the challenge is no longer getting information quickly, but “how do I discern what's trusted and credible information and how do I curate that”.
Experienced investors don't try to read everything, Chadzynski says. They're deliberate about the sources they rely on. Before acting on an investing tip, it's worth asking where it came from and whether that source is credible.
3. Find the approach that fits you
Whether you're investing $200 or $200,000, there's no single right way to do it.
“I think for the high net wealth investor, there's no one-size-fits-all,” Chadzynski says.
Some clients want something ready-made, while others want to be hands-on. Grehl says younger clients tend to choose fully diversified, ready-built portfolios, while older clients are more likely to pick the parts relevant to them and build their own.
Neither is better, the more important point being choosing how involved you want to be, as well as what you invest in.
4. Think long term
Ask for one lesson from experienced investors that anyone could use and Grehl points to patience.
“We've seen a lot of volatility in the markets over the last year. And I think there is a tendency to want to react to that,” she says. But investing is “a long-term game”, she says, built on time in the market and not on trying to time it. That means staying diversified and holding quality assets over time.
What does that mean for me?
Confidence with money doesn't come from doing everything yourself. Instead, think about what you want your money to do, which information to trust and where outside help adds value.
Some money might be there for income, some for long-term growth and some kept flexible. Knowing each part's job makes it easier to judge an investment and tune out the noise, Grehl says.
