Ambition Report 2025

Explore the mindset that splits the nation in two: those who invest and those who don't.

We call them the Starters and the Stallers.

The overlooked benefits of investing

The Ambition Report reveals that, regardless of income or returns, Starters enjoy a higher level of confidence and satisfaction in their financial position – now and in the future.

Even in a challenging economy, 69% of Starters believe they’ll still succeed, compared to less than half of Stallers.

Starters are also twice as likely to see themselves as ‘better off’ compared to other Australians of the same age.

The mindset that propels investors

Our look into the reasons Stallers don’t invest shows that emotional barriers are more prevalent than rational ones. There’s a lack of what we’re calling Investor EQ – a resourceful, ambitious mindset.

56% of Stallers state that not having enough money is the main reason they don’t invest – even when 70% of those manage to put money into savings.

Linked to this, a fear of losing money was the second-most cited barrier for Stallers.

The forces that point to investing

Wage stagnation and the increasing intergenerational wealth gap are persistent concerns, especially for Millennials and Gen Z.

They see an ‘inheritocracy’ taking hold: hard work is no longer enough in Australia, and an inheritance has become more of a requisite for financial progress.

And so 70% of both cohorts believe owning assets/investments is more important to getting ahead than career progression.

In the face of generational wealth gaps and a perceived 'inheritocracy,' investing offers Australians a practical path to feelings of financial control, independence and optimism.

Investor EQ HUB

If a confident mindset is essential to financial progress, building up Investor EQ is how Stallers can become Starters.

We’ve collaborated with New Money’s Brandon van der Kolk on a three-part series to help you identify and break emotional barriers – from common mental traps to dealing with loss.

Ep 1: Understanding your biases