Barbara Corcoran’s 8 Best Pieces of Financial Advice for 2025
Written by
Sarah Sharkey
Edited by
Cory Dudak
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Barbara Corcoran, famed “Shark Tank” investor, has a resume that is filled with aspirational financial prowess. The polished expert has excellent money management skills and keen insight into market trends.
She also regularly provides helpful advice to average Americans looking to improve their financial situation. Here are some of her top nuggets of financial wisdom to keep in mind for the rest of this year.
Be Yourself
Corcoran encourages everyone to stay true to their authentic character — in business and real life.
“Show up as your true self! Investors can smell a phony from a mile away, and trust me, I won’t invest in someone who isn’t genuine,” wrote Corcoran in a LinkedIn post about the lessons she has learned on “Shark Tank.”
Choose the Best Boss
“Don’t take any job based on how much it pays, but take it on the important thing: how much it will teach,” said Corcoran in an interview with interview with Fortune.
In the early stages of your career, the right boss can set you up for a lucrative career. The wrong boss might clip your wings before you have the chance to take off. When looking for a job, don’t underestimate the value of a worthwhile boss. Not only can the right boss make or break your experience with a company, but they can also help or hinder your career in the long term.
Don’t Undervalue Yourself
When you are starting out, it’s tempting to undervalue your abilities. But Corcoran disagrees with that strategy.
“If you think you’re worth a dime, that’s all you’ll get! Recognize your worth — you’re a diamond, not a pebble!,” she wrote recently on LinkedIn.
Corcoran continued, “On the flip side, don’t act like you’re the next big Unicorn without the proof to back it up. Find that sweet spot!”
Don’t Invest With Friends
Although it’s tempting to dive into business with friends, that’s usually not a good idea.
Corcoran shared a story on the Bobby Bones Show about losing two friends over a business deal. Even the successful real estate mogul has lost friends over investment dealings. Instead of going down this path, Corcoran suggested valuing your friendships over investments, and not mixing the two.
Get Into Real Estate Early
Corcoran made the bulk of her fortune in real estate investing. Not surprisingly, she’s suggested that anyone looking to build wealth should get into real estate.
The real estate tycoon recommends investing in real estate as soon as possible.
Learn To Delegate When Growing a Business
Building a business is one way to grow your net worth. But the business of building a company isn’t for the faint of heart. It requires mastering many different skills, including delegation of important tasks.
Corcoran wrote in a recent post, “Delegating well is a tough skill to master. Why? Because every good boss is a control freak! And that’s why delegating is so difficult. It requires letting go of control. But if you can’t learn to let someone else take the wheel, you won’t grow your business as big as it can be.”
Corcoran continued, “My tried and true rule is that 80% is good enough. If someone can do a task 80% as well as you can do it yourself, it’s enough to push the business ahead. Perfectionism is the enemy of delegation, and ‘good enough’ is better than perfect.”
Put Imposter Syndrome to Good Use
It’s all too easy to feel the pressure of imposter syndrome as you try to build a better life for yourself. But as you navigate professional spaces, this can come with an unexpected advantage — self-doubt can drive you to achieve wild success.
“Imposter syndrome gets a bad rap. I seek out entrepreneurs who are insecure because I know I’ve got myself a winner. They have the ambition, and they’re going to work twice as hard. It’s one of the great upsides to feeling like you’re an imposter. The way I see it, self-doubt is a human element that keeps you on the straight-and-narrow,” said Corcoran.
Harness your imposter syndrome for good, as it may help you overprepare and work harder to achieve your goals.
Trust Yourself
As you make your way in the world, it’s easy to push your ideas to one side. But Corcoran advises jumping on the ideas that excite you.
“When you have an idea, move on it immediately. Don’t worry about whether it’s a winner or a loser, just throw a lot at the wall and see what sticks. And let me tell you something — those nasty failures? Your best successes will follow soon after. You’ve just gotta stay in the game long enough to see things turn around,” said Corcoran in another LinkedIn post.
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