It’s easy to treat health and wealth as separate priorities, focusing on building financial security throughout your working life and sometimes overlooking your health.
Yet the two are closely connected, and each can significantly influence the other.
Financial security can provide more peace of mind, more freedom in how you spend your time, and the resources to invest in your wellbeing.
Similarly, good health can support your ability to work, earn an income, and build wealth over the long term.
Understanding the synergy between health and wealth can help you make better decisions to protect your finances and secure your long-term wellbeing.
How financial stress can affect your health
Money worries can affect far more than how much you earn and save. Research by the Money and Mental Health Policy Institute found that 86% of respondents with experience of mental health problems said their financial situation had made their condition worse.
Over time, financial uncertainty can affect your quality of life, from turning down social events to upsetting your work-life balance and sleep patterns.
The opposite also applies. Office for National Statistics (ONS) research found that higher household wealth is associated with lower levels of anxiety and improved wellbeing.
Wealth alone does not guarantee happiness or good health. However, having sufficient financial resources can provide a valuable sense of security and greater freedom to make the ongoing choices that support your wellbeing.
How poor health can affect your ability to build wealth
A further ONS study published in June 2025 examined the financial consequences of major health conditions requiring hospitalisation among working-age adults in England.
It found that earnings remained lower for at least five years following diagnosis across all the health conditions studied. For example, the estimated total earnings loss over five years following a stroke was £18,785, with a comparative amount of £14,721 following a diagnosis of chronic kidney disease.
These figures illustrate how a health problem can have consequences long after the initial diagnosis or treatment. Time away from work, reduced hours, or even a career change can affect not only your immediate income but also other financial areas, such as pension contributions and investments.
Even without a major illness, poor health can affect productivity and energy levels. These issues can be accentuated if you own a business or are a self-employed contractor.
It can also cost money to deal with a health issue. Medical expenses, rehabilitation, and specialist appointments can strain your finances, especially when your income is falling.
3 ways financial planning can support your health and wealth
1. Providing peace of mind and reducing financial stress
Working with a financial planner can help you understand whether you are on track to meet your goals, how much you may need for retirement, and what steps you could take if your circumstances change.
Research by Vanguard found that advised investors were roughly half as likely to experience high levels of financial stress (14% compared with 27%) as those who make their own investment decisions.
The research also found that 86% of advised clients reported greater peace of mind when thinking about their finances.
Advice cannot remove every financial concern, but having a plan and someone to help you review it regularly and adjust it when required can make decisions feel more manageable.
2. Building wealth to invest in your wellbeing
Financial security can give you greater freedom to prioritise your health. It can provide the resources to join a gym, eat more healthily, and access private healthcare.
Greater security can also affect your working life, allowing you to reduce your hours and retire when you feel ready, rather than delaying because you lack the financial assets needed to provide a comfortable income.
A financial plan can help you balance current spending with longer-term goals, so investing in your wellbeing now doesn’t unnecessarily compromise your future financial security.
3. Protecting your wealth if your health deteriorates
Even the most carefully constructed financial plan can be disrupted by unexpected illness or injury. Preparing for these possibilities can help protect both your finances and your peace of mind.
For example:
- An accessible emergency fund can help you manage financially if your income falls or you face a financial crisis.
- Income protection insurance can replace some of your earnings if you can’t work because of illness or injury.
- Critical illness cover may provide a lump sum following a specified diagnosis.
Working with an adviser to review these regularly can help identify your requirements and provide the appropriate cover.
Making health and wealth work together
Health and wealth are two important parts of a secure, fulfilling life.
Building wealth can give you greater choice, reduce your financial anxiety, and help you invest in your wellbeing.
At the same time, protecting your health can support your earning potential, help you grow your wealth, and support your financial goals.
Financial planning can bring these priorities together in one comprehensive plan.
Get in touch
If you need some guidance about how financial planning can support your health and wealth, our expert team is here to help.
Please call us on 01276 855717 or email info@braywealth.com today.
Please note
This article is for general information only and does not constitute advice. The information is aimed at individuals only.
All information is correct at the time of writing and is subject to change in the future.
The value of investments and any income from them can fall as well as rise, and you may not get back the original amount invested.
Note that life insurance and financial protection plans typically have no cash-in value at any time and cover will cease at the end of the term. If premiums stop, then cover will lapse.
Cover is subject to terms and conditions and may have exclusions. Definitions of illnesses vary from product provider and will be explained within the policy documentation.
Approved by the Openwork Partnership on 21/10/2026.
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