FINANCIAL MISTAKES ARE FIXABLE

WHO ARE YOU AND WHAT DO YOU DO?

I'm Azza Wijnen - entrepreneur, creator, investor, and mother of two. I help people get control of their money and start building wealth, without the overwhelm or the hype.

I hold a Bachelor's degree in Psychology and a Master's degree in Business Administration, have worked in finance for more than five years, and became WFT-certified in early 2026. I’ve also been investing for more than 14 years across ETFs, stocks, crypto, precious metals, and startups. The combination of those experiences allows me to make complex financial topics easier to understand and apply in everyday life. And honestly, that’s what I enjoy doing most!

Alongside that, I create digital tools and educational content, host the podcast Geldzaken, and I'm currently building a boutique hospitality project in Bali. Everything I do is about creating more freedom - financially and in life.

HOW DID YOUR OWN JOURNEY WORKING WITH FINANCES START?

My mother passed away when I was eleven, and when I turned eighteen, I received a small inheritance. Seeing how quickly that money was losing value was the moment I realised I needed to learn how money actually works. I started educating myself and made plenty of mistakes along the way. I share that journey openly because I believe the biggest financial mistakes happen simply due to a lack of knowledge - and that's fixable.

WHAT WOULD YOU SAY TO A CREATIVE WHO’S CONVINCED THAT MONEY STUFF “ISN’T FOR PEOPLE LIKE THEM”?

That belief is actually exactly the problem. Money doesn't care about your personality type or your career path, it affects everyone equally. You really don't need to love spreadsheets or investing. You just need a basic understanding of how your own money works. The creatives I see thriving long-term aren't always the most talented - they're the ones who treat their finances as seriously as their craft.

CREATIVES OFTEN HAVE UNPREDICTABLE INCOME. WHAT’S THE FIRST THING YOU’D TELL A FREELANCE CREATIVE WHO WANTS TO GET THEIR FINANCES UNDER CONTROL?

Before you try to earn more: get clear on what you actually have and what your current situation looks like. Most people skip this step and go straight to more income strategies, but without knowing your numbers, you're just guessing. Map out what comes in, what goes out, and what you genuinely need each month. Once that's clear, everything else (buffers, investing, planning ahead) becomes so much simpler.

THERE’S A LOT OF SHAME AND AVOIDANCE AROUND MONEY IN CREATIVE INDUSTRIES. WHERE DO YOU THINK THAT COMES FROM, AND HOW DO PEOPLE GET PAST IT?

I think a big part of it is that creatives often tie their income to their self-worth. A slow month doesn't just feel financially stressful, it feels like personal failure. And (talking about) money is still a real taboo. People talk about everything except their wealth or their debt, their financial dreams, or their financial anxiety. That's exactly why I started sharing so openly online, and why I launched my podcast Geldzaken. The moment you realise you're not the only one struggling or wanting to improve your finances, a lot of the shame disappears. Normalising the conversation is the first step.

WHAT IS AN IMPACTFUL FINANCIAL HABIT EVERYONE SHOULD BE DOING?

Pay yourself first! Before you spend anything, automatically move a set amount toward savings and investing. It doesn't have to be a lot - consistency matters far more than size. Most people save what's left at the end of the month. But that's the wrong order.

WHAT DOES FINANCIAL FREEDOM ACTUALLY LOOK LIKE TO YOU AND IS IT THE SAME FOR EVERYONE?

It is definitely not the same for everyone, and I think that's important to say out loud. Financial freedom isn't a universal number or a specific lifestyle. For some people it's retiring early. For others it's working three days a week, traveling more, or just not panicking when an unexpected bill arrives.

For me, financial freedom means having real choices - being able to make decisions based on what really matters to me. Spending my time on the things that actually make me happy: building businesses, educating people, being present with my family, traveling, doing fun things with friends. That looks different for everyone, and that's okay!