Who am I, really? Three questions I ask every money headline

Over the last few years, I've noticed something interesting.
I receive a lot of messages about #MoneyMinusNoise and what I write on this platform through quiet, private DMs.

Maybe people are more comfortable talking about #money in private.
On a professional platform like LinkedIn, perhaps people are more conscious of being judged.

Recently, I received a message asking: 'Who are you really?'
I paused and wondered, 'Who am I Really'?
I don't have all the answers. I'm simply someone who has developed a habit of questioning financial narratives that are presented as “obvious”.

So when I see a viral money headline, I try to ask three questions:
1. Who benefits if I act on this advice?
Is someone making money from my transaction, urgency, or attention?

2. Does this actually fit me?
My income, tax bracket, goals, risk appetite and stage of life?

3. What's the strongest argument against it?
If everyone is saying “buy”, “sell”, “switch” or “invest now”, what happens if I challenge that assumption?

That's usually when the noise starts becoming clearer.

Am I always right?
Absolutely not; no one is!
Some of my views may prove right. Others may prove wrong. Time will tell.

But I'd rather question something and occasionally get it wrong than blindly follow something simply because it's popular.
Because when it comes to money, being popular and being right are two very different things!