The Lemon Meringue Legacy: Why Timing Matters in Wealth & Life

Recently, I baked a lemon meringue pie. Not just any pie, but one made with the last eggs from my hens before they began moulting, and the very first lemons of the season from my garden.

It’s my dad’s favourite dessert. It’s something we’ve always shared, even though the rest of the family (including my kids) turn up their noses at it.

It struck me as I whisked the meringue: this dessert could only happen now. Six weeks ago, the lemons weren’t ready. In a few days, there’d be no fresh eggs from my own hens. The pie existed because of timing, not just because I wanted to make it.

And that’s true of money, too.

The Seasons of Money

We talk about money as if it’s static , a number in a bank account, a net worth figure, a portfolio balance. But in reality, wealth has seasons.

• There’s a planting season: when you’re building, saving, and investing.

• A growing season: where you nurture and protect your assets.

• A harvest season: when it’s time to spend, share, or pass it on.

• And, sometimes, a rest season: where the focus is on recalibration, not accumulation.

Financial stress often comes from pushing against the wrong season, forcing growth when it’s time to pause, or holding back when it’s time to act.

The Psychology of “Not Yet”

In behavioural finance, we see a lot of timing mistakes rooted in fear or impatience.

• Loss aversion makes people delay opportunities for fear of making a mistake.

• Present bias pushes others to grab at gains too soon, missing the long-term payoff.

• Overconfidence can make someone act too quickly, mistaking opportunity for inevitability.

Just like you can’t grow lemons in winter or expect your hens to lay year-round, certain financial moves require the right environment to truly succeed.

Legacy as a Seasonal Act

When we think of legacy, most of us imagine it as a fixed point in the future, something you leave behind. But in reality, legacy is built and passed on in moments like these:

• When you choose to invest time, not just money.

• When you share a tradition that only you and someone you love truly appreciate.

• When you decide this is the right time to act — and that decision creates a memory that lasts longer than the money ever will.

For me, that pie was more than dessert. It was a reminder that part of our wealth is made up of timing, attention, and knowing when to bring something into the world.

Your Money, Your Season

If you’re feeling stuck or unsure about a financial decision right now, ask yourself:

• Am I in planting, growing, harvesting, or resting season?

• Am I acting because it’s the right time, or because I feel pressured to?

• If I waited, what could align that isn’t aligned yet?

• If I acted now, what memories or momentum might I create?

Just as I’ll have to buy eggs for the first time in years until my hens start laying again, every season has its trade-offs. But that’s not failure

it’s the rhythm of a well-lived, well-managed life.

Sometimes, the secret to financial success is simply knowing when to wait… and when to bake the pie.

What “lemon meringue moments” have you had in your financial life

times when the right ingredients all came together? I’d love to hear your story.