Jun 4, 2026

3 Important Milestones Proving You've Financially ‘Made It’

Written by Kristopher Kane
|
Edited by Cory Dudak
Discover a happy young woman shopping in a thrift store containing all kinds of vintage clothing

How do you know when you've made it? Does true wealth mean having a lavish lifestyle with overflowing bank accounts? Not according to financial influencer Genesis Hinckley.



For Hinckley, wealth is about far more than zeros on a balance sheet. On her Instagram page, she has shared three key signs you've made it financially. Keep reading for a look at these indicators and what Hinckley had to say about them.

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One of Hinckley's signs you've achieved some measure of success was less about your bottom line and more about satisfaction with your daily life. When you no longer spend your time dreaming of the next vacation or weekend getaway and instead find joy in your everyday routine, it's a sign you've built a life you love.

Hinckley described this as living in the present and being obsessed with the life you've intentionally created. For her, financial success gives you the freedom to design a life that doesn't feel like an endless pursuit of temporary escapes.

The second sign on Hinckley's list revolved around a shift in how you perceive cost and value. When your financial stability allows you to go into a shop intending to buy something without having to worry about whether you can afford it, you've made it. Instead of focusing on whether you can pay for something, your thought process changes to whether it's worth it to you.

This is something Hinckley said she never experienced growing up in a low-income household. When she would go into a clothing store just to look around, she would never look at the price tags because she knew she couldn't afford anything. When Hinckley later realized she was no longer worrying about prices, she knew she had made it.



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Hinckley said no longer being reactive is fundamental to adopting and enjoying a "rich-minded" lifestyle. According to her, this is one of the primary signs you've reached the freedom that personal wealth can bring.

She said you'll find yourself being less reactive to external influences and stressful situations after you've made it. Achieving financial freedom means, to a large extent, freedom from worry. This lack of anxiety gives you a priceless inner calm that allows you to respond thoughtfully rather than impulsively.

Hinckley candidly admitted this is a personal goal she's continuing to work on. She feels part of the growth and financial maturity she's experienced involves being able to hold space for others who might be dealing with their own turmoil. It's this mindset, rather than material wealth, that she identifies as indicating that you've truly made it.

Hinckley concluded her Instagram reel by pointing out a telling detail about her perspective: It's an understanding that wealth isn't the ultimate goal. It's about what the money buys you in terms of personal growth and opportunity.

The essence of all these signs of success is the improvements in your quality of life rather than a dollar amount or some other hard metric related to the accumulation of wealth. Financial success, as Hinckley defined it, is found in personal freedom, emotional stability and the ability to choose opportunities and actions that align with your values and desires.



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This article was provided by MoneyLion.com for informational purposes only and should not be construed as financial, legal or tax advice.

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Written by
Kristopher Kane
Edited by
Cory Dudak