In a person's life, the opportunities to truly change their fate are not as many as you might imagine. The 10 years from 25 to 35 are the critical period that determines the direction of the second half of life.

Before 25? Basically, it's inertia moving forward. Following the crowd in elementary school, following the crowd in middle school, even when choosing a major, most people are clueless and can't figure out what they really want. This stage is like holding onto your coins without moving, fluctuating with the market.

But by 25, things start to change. You begin to have the ability to make truly your own choices—whether to keep working or start a business, stability or risk, chasing trends or laying a foundation. Every decision in these 10 years is quietly rewriting your asset allocation and life trajectory.

What about after 35? Most people's outlooks are basically set. The early choices start to show returns; some have already accumulated considerable capital, while others are still stuck in the same place. Every decision you make between 25 and 35 will become your "holdings" by age 35—some see their gains double, while others are still waiting for a rebound.