Do you ever feel like you’re falling behind—that everyone else has more money, nicer homes, and a better lifestyle?
You’re not alone. I see this all the time in my work as a financial planner. I’ve felt that way too, even when I was earning well and thought I was doing everything right.
By the end of this blog post, you’ll understand why that feeling is so common, what might actually be causing it, and what you can do to feel more confident about where you are financially.
Are You Actually Behind in Canada?
So here’s the big question: are you really behind financially, or does it just feel that way?
StatsCan’s Q2 2024 data shows average household net worth by age—but averages get skewed by the wealthiest Canadians. To make it more realistic, I cut it roughly in half to estimate the median, and adjusted again for singles at about 40% of household wealth.
Here’s the breakdown:
| Age Group | Avg Household Net Worth | Household Median Net Worth (Est) | Est. Single Median Net Worth (Est) |
| Under 35 | $410,000 | $205,000 | $82,000 |
| 35–44 | $740,000 | $370,000 | $148,000 |
| 45–54 | $1,200,000 | $600,000 | $240,000 |
| 55–64 | $1,400,000 | $700,000 | $280,000 |
| 65+ | $1,200,000 | $600,000 | $240,000 |
See the difference? The “average” household in their 50s might show $1.4 million, but a typical single person has closer to $280K. No wonder comparing yourself to averages makes you feel behind when you’re not.
And if you’re 32 comparing yourself to a 55-year-old homeowner with $1.4 million, of course that feels discouraging. But against your own age group’s median, you’re probably doing better than you think.
Even if you are a bit behind, that’s okay—it just means you can adjust and move forward. The fact that you’re here, learning about your finances, already puts you ahead of most people.
Now let’s look at why so many Canadians still feel behind, even when the numbers say they’re fine.
The Investment Return Illusion
A big reason I see why people feel behind is that their expectations around investing get warped. On TikTok, YouTube, or the subreddit r/WallStreetBets, you’ll see people bragging about doubling their money overnight using options trading or hitting a 10x crypto play.
When you compare that to your tiny annual returns, it can feel like you’re losing out and everyone is getting rich except you.
But here’s the reality: over time, steady returns are often enough. Up to December 31, 2024, the S&P/TSX Composite returned about 8.1% annually over 20 years, while the S&P 500 in Canadian dollars delivered around 11.3% annually. That kind of compounding can build real wealth if you stick with it. Even a balanced portfolio earning 4-7% can compound into real wealth safely.
The catch with chasing quick huge wins is the risk of ruin. The odds of blowing up your account on one bad bet are way too high, and you don’t see those stories online. You mostly hear from the lucky few posting their wins, not the many who lost big.
The Only Scoreboard That Matters
Sometimes the problem isn’t outside influences—it’s us. Your financial goals might not be calibrated. If you don’t know what “ahead” means for you, everything feels like “behind.” You might hear of someone who bought a house at 25 or claims they’ll retire at 35, and suddenly, you feel late to the game.
You could be making six figures, own a home, and still feel like you’re not doing enough, because there’s no clear target to measure against. There’s always going to be a friend or colleague you know who is richer than you. Unless you’re Elon Musk, there’s always someone richer.
I struggled with this a lot, actually. But this is where financial planning really helped me. When I sat down and actually mapped out what I wanted using my financial software—how much I needed to retire comfortably, what my ideal lifestyle would cost, what “enough” looked like—that vague sense of falling behind started to fade.
Suddenly, I wasn’t chasing random numbers or comparing myself to everyone else. I had my own scoreboard. And when you’ve got your own scoreboard, you can track real progress and celebrate wins that actually matter to you.
You don’t need to chase someone else’s numbers—you just need your own plan. At Blueprint Financial, we’ve built many personalized plans to help Canadians calibrate their goals, avoid costly mistakes, and build real wealth. We’re fee-for-service, no hidden commissions. Book a free discovery call today. Build the life you want, with the right Blueprint.
It’s Tough in Canada Now
In 2024, the average net worth of homeowner households was about $1.4 million, while households that rented averaged just $274,000. That’s a five-to-one gap, driven almost entirely by real estate.
If you’re renting, it can feel like the game is stacked against you—homeowners keep getting pulled ahead by housing gains while you’re left trying to catch up without the same engine of wealth.
And it’s not only housing—it’s the whole Canadian context. In cities like Vancouver and Toronto, home prices are on another planet compared to Calgary or Halifax, yet wages are often lower in those expensive markets.
Add in inflation—groceries, gas, rent rising faster than paycheques—and even people with solid incomes feel squeezed. I’ve lived this myself. When I moved from Calgary to Vancouver on the same salary, I felt like I was falling behind—until I realized many people “ahead” of me were just buried in debt or had family help.
The truth is, many Canadians are struggling collectively, not falling behind individually. But constant crisis headlines make it feel worse. The best thing you can do? Focus less on the noise and more on what you can control—your own next step forward.
Status Signalling
On Instagram, TikTok, or even Reddit forums like r/personalfinancecanada, it can feel like everyone else is ahead of you financially. You’ll see people posting that they’re “only” making $250K and can’t get ahead, or endless shots of flashy vacations, leased cars, and designer clothes.
But that’s not reality—it’s the highlight reel. You won’t hear from the quiet majority who are just saving and investing steadily.
And you definitely won’t hear from the people buried in debt behind those fancy cars or luxury lifestyles. From what I’ve seen and experienced, some of the wealthiest people I know—the ones with over eight-figure net worths—are also the most humble. A lot of flexing on social media isn’t real wealth, it’s insecurity. It’s people trying to look rich to feel important. The truly wealthy often don’t need to do that—they’re perfectly secure in what they have, and that confidence speaks for itself.
Real wealth tends to whisper, not shout. t. Unless you’re looking at someone’s tax return or bank statements, you really have no idea how rich they are. And just to be clear—I’m not saying you shouldn’t spend on things you enjoy. But make it intentional. If a purchase truly reflects your financial reality and priorities, it’s not flexing—it’s just living on your own terms.
Good Comparison vs. Bad Comparison
People love to say, “Comparison is the thief of joy,” but that’s not the full story. Comparison can actually be useful if you use it the right way. Looking at median net worth by age—like the numbers we went through earlier—gives you a realistic benchmark. Even better is comparing yourself to your past self. Are you further ahead than you were five years ago? That’s the kind of comparison that actually builds confidence.
The danger comes when you measure yourself against someone else’s highlight reel. They might look miles ahead, but you’re only seeing what they want you to see. Maybe they’ve got a million-dollar house, but maybe you’ve got less debt, better health, or stronger personal relationships. And those fancy cars or job titles? They can hide a lot of stress, burnout, or even financial strain.
The issue isn’t comparison itself—it’s choosing the wrong benchmarks. If you focus on the realistic ones, like median net worth for your age, you’ll often find you’re closer to “on track” than you think.
Type A High Achievers
I’ve heard this from a lot of high achievers, business owners, and entrepreneurs—they secretly think they like feeling behind and anxious about making money. That constant pressure, that little voice saying “you’re not there yet,” is what fuels their drive to keep going. It pushes them to work late, take risks, and chase the next milestone.
But here’s the catch: living in that state of anxiety 24/7 isn’t always sustainable. It might give you a burst of energy in the short term, but over time it drains you. At some point, that pressure stops being motivating and just burns you out.
I’ve seen people hit financial goals most of us would dream of, but because they were always chasing the next thing, they never let themselves feel happy or content with what they have.
Just look at Tony Hsieh, the founder of Zappos, a popular online shoe store. He built one of the most admired companies in the world, sold it to Amazon for nearly a billion dollars, and could’ve easily coasted for life. But he couldn’t stop chasing the next high—financial, emotional, even spiritual. Friends said he was obsessed with pushing boundaries and never feeling “done.” Tragically, he spiralled into self-destructive habits and died at just 46.
It’s a reminder I take personally: at some point, you have to stop running the race and actually enjoy the life you worked so hard to build.
Feeling behind is completely normal — but often, it’s just perception, not reality. With the right plan and clear financial roadmap, you can move forward with confidence.
At Blueprint Financial, that’s exactly what we help Canadians do every day. Explore our financial planning services or join our free financial newsletter to start gaining clarity and direction in your financial journey.
