Sometimes You Have to Ask the “Stupid” Question

Picture it. You’re in a room with people you admire and respect and one of them says something that comes off as obvious to everyone else. But you’re left thinking, “What was that again? PTFs? What are PTFs?” Desperately you scan the room for someone who shares your confusion, but everyone is nodding along. They get it. They all know what that means. To ask right now would be dumb, right?

So what do you do in this situation? Do you ask the question, or do you nod along pretending to know?

For most of my life, I’ve a hundred percent been the nod-alonger. (But I also jot down “PTF” in my notes and google it later because I never want to be the only person who doesn’t get it again…)

As I’ve reached my 40s, I’ve actually found myself asking more of the “dumb” questions. Perhaps the scales of value have tipped from what others think toward knowledge for me. Perhaps that’s wisdom or perhaps it’s caring less about appearing inept. Either way this shift in practice has greeted me with abundant kindness and more knowledge.

I’ve never gotten a response like “how do you not know what a PTF is?” Sometimes I’ll hear, “Oh, goodness, sorry, I should have explained.” And usually my quests for knowledge have been embraced with patience and warmth.

So when it comes to money knowledge, don’t deprive yourself. Ask the “stupid” question. Don’t worry if every one else appears to know the answer. In fact, let that motivate you to ask. If everyone else knows about PTFs, don’t you deserve to know too?

The truth is, there are no stupid questions — only missed opportunities to learn. By embracing curiosity and asking the questions that linger in your mind, you empower yourself and potentially others who might share your confusion but are too afraid to speak up. I've learned that most people are more than willing to share their knowledge and appreciate when someone is brave enough to ask for clarification.

Especially when it comes to money and finance, where the stakes can feel high, don’t let the fear of looking uninformed hold you back. Asking those “dumb” questions can be the key to unlocking understanding and gaining the confidence you need to make better financial decisions. Knowledge is power, and every question you ask is a step toward greater control over your financial life.

So go ahead, ask the questions, embrace the learning process, and never settle for nodding along in silence. You deserve to know, and chances are, you’ll find that others are grateful for your courage to ask too.