The four stages of wealth: What to focus on at each stage

Mar 2, 2026

Jess Brady, financial adviser-turned-money educator and author of Get Growing, shares her four-stage gardening framework for wealth. She outlines Sprouted, Grounded, Thriving and Abundant in short, practical chunks. They discuss why money feels overwhelming, common behavioural “weeds” that stall progress, and simple routines to match your actions to your current stage.

56:35

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ADVICE

Start With Intentional Sprouted Habits

If you're starting, get intentional: track income, prioritise spending, reduce bad debt and begin small investments.
Jess frames this as the Sprouted stage—foundational, slow progress but crucial before scaling wealth.

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Pull Money Weeds Immediately

Weed out self-sabotage, buy-now-pay-later and high-interest bad debt first; protect time to work on money tasks.
Jess emphasizes ongoing maintenance: weeds return so schedule regular checks and prioritise highest drains.

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ADVICE

Put 15 Minutes In The Diary Every Week

Start small and consistent: even 15 minutes a week on finances moves the needle and builds habit.
Jess suggests simple wins (review super, check beneficiaries, negotiate a bill) to overcome starting fear.

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Jess's career path and shift to money education

02:16 • 2min

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Why Jess left one-on-one advice for programs

04:30 • 2min

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Burnout and building sustainable work

06:10 • 1min

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Why money feels hard and systemic drivers

07:20 • 3min

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The hot iron effect and money beliefs

10:20 • 3min

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How changing access changes behaviour needs

13:45 • 4min

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Overview of the four stages of wealth

17:40 • 34sec

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Sprouted: financial mindfulness and first steps

18:14 • 4min

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Common weeds to remove at Sprouted

21:59 • 3min

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How much time to spend managing money

Grounded: building financial security

26:38 • 3min

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Companion planting: building your financial village

29:08 • 2min

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Traps in Grounded: overconfidence and complacency

31:33 • 4min

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Thriving: what financial independence means

35:07 • 3min

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Practical view on independence versus flashy freedom

37:47 • 1min

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Abundant: financial freedom and its rarity

39:04 • 4min

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Weeds at high wealth: fear and spending traps

43:18 • 3min

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How to address emotional money blocks

46:33 • 3min

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Use personas and accountability to get things done

49:21 • 2min

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Practical tips: weekly slots and do-it sessions

• Mentioned in 42 episodes

The Money Reset

Gemma Mitchell

• Mentioned in 1,349 episodes

Atomic Habits

James Clear

Atomic Habits by James Clear provides a practical and scientifically-backed guide to forming good habits and breaking bad ones. The book introduces the Four Laws of Behavior Change: make it obvious, make it attractive, make it easy, and make it satisfying. It also emphasizes the importance of small, incremental changes (atomic habits) that compound over time to produce significant results. Clear discusses techniques such as habit stacking, optimizing the environment to support desired habits, and focusing on continuous improvement rather than goal fixation. The book is filled with actionable strategies, real-life examples, and stories from various fields, making it a valuable resource for anyone seeking to improve their habits and achieve personal growth.

In this Australian Finance Podcast episode, Gemma Mitchell sits down with financial adviser, author and host of the Financially Fierce Podcast, Jess Brady. Jess is the author of Get Growing and founder of The Greenhouse education program.

Together, they unpack Jess’s powerful framework: the four stages of wealth — and what you should actually focus on at each stage.

They cover:

– Why money feels overwhelming (and why you’re probably not the problem)

– The four stages of wealth: Sprouted, Grounded, Thriving and Abundant– Why trying to “skip stages” slows your progress

– The biggest mistakes people make at each stage

– How to identify where you are right now

– The number one “weed” sabotaging most people’s progress

If you like this Australian Finance Podcast episode on building wealth in stages, you'll love our series. Don't forget to subscribe for weekly shows on Apple (hyperlinked with this https://podcasts.apple.com/au/podcast/australian-finance-podcast/id1454193127), Spotify (hyperlinked with this https://open.spotify.com/show/0KEsqdQgVCL6BKomPoNVOz), YouTube (hyperlinked with this https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCvOPFdkhCBIK2Y5QbDtOZXA), or wherever you get your podcasts!

Follow us on Instagram (hyperlinked with this https://www.instagram.com/rask.invest/) and TikTok (hyperlinked with this https://www.tiktok.com/@rask.invest) for more investing insights.

Topics Covered

– Why Does Money Feel So Hard?

– “Am I the Problem?” (The Hot Iron Theory)

– The Gardening Framework for Wealth

– The Four Stages of Wealth Explained

– Stage 1: Sprouted

– Financial Mindfulness

– Stage 2: Grounded

– Financial Security

– Stage 3: Thriving

– Financial Independence

– Stage 4: Abundant

– Financial Freedom

– What Happens When You Skip Stages

– Common Money “Weeds” That Stall Progress

– How to Identify Your Stage Honestly

– How Long You Should Spend Managing Your Money Each Week

– Matching Your Money Actions to Your Stage

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DISCLAIMER: This podcast contains general financial information only. That means the information does not take into account your objectives, financial situation, or needs. Because of that, you should consider if the information is appropriate to you and your needs, before acting on it. If you’re confused about what that means or what your needs are, you should always consult a licensed and trusted financial planner. Unfortunately, we cannot guarantee the accuracy of the information in this podcast, including any financial, taxation, and/or legal information. Remember, past performance is not a reliable indicator of future performance. The Rask Group is NOT a qualified tax accountant, financial (tax) adviser, or financial adviser. Access The Rask Group's Financial Services Guide (FSG): https://www.rask.com.au/fsg

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