Our experts

PAUL CLITHEROE

Paul is one of Australia’s best-known personal finance commentators. Paul says: “In the late 1970s, I was offered a job researching the then new area of managed funds. I went for the job and the money instead of taking a year off to travel. Life is short and I do regret not taking that time out.”

PAM WALKLEY

Pam was founding editor of Money and is now a senior staff writer. Pam says: “Vetoing my husband Bruce’s purchase of a glorious Brett Whiteley years ago. It wasn’t hugely expensive but with two kids money was tight. Its value has risen heaps but my biggest regret is it’s not hanging in my home.”

ANNETTE SAMPSON

Annette has written extensively on personal finance and she has written several books. Annette says: “I’m at the age where I wish I’d put more money into super earlier – though to be fair, I had other priorities back then!”

SAM HENDERSON

CEO of Henderson Maxwell, Sam says: “My greatest regret has been having to sell my properties throughout the long journey of multiple renovations. I’ve renovated or rebuilt around 15 times and whilst it’s been very lucrative, it would have been more beneficial to just buy, hold, refinance and buy again and again.”

DEBORAH LIGHT

Deborah is a former business, features and news editor at The Sydney Morning Herald, and first female editor of The Australian Financial Review. Deborah says: “I do regret not being born into wealth. That aside, I should have begun salary sacrificing much earlier. I think most of us can do with less when we’re young, before other pressures come along.”

MARCUS PADLEY

Marcus is a stockbroker and the author of the daily sharemarket newsletter Marcus Today. Marcus says: “Amazingly enough, deciding to send my kids to private school without seriously considering the options. I’m not sure that money wouldn’t have been better spent expanding their minds outside the school system.”