Rick Kahler

Rick Kahler spotlights the overlooked impact of a daily money manager through Maggie Knowles’ in-home work with seniors—where the real value isn’t just paying bills, but serving as an emotionally attuned gatekeeper. Sitting at kitchen tables, she catches costly errors,

Under the leadership of Dr. Megan Ford, the University of Georgia is training the next generation of financial therapists in a way few institutions can. Inside the Love and Money Center, financial planning students and couple and family therapy students

Why do smart, capable people ignore advice they genuinely believe is good for them? In this episode, Joy Slabaugh—a CFP® and Certified Internal Family Systems (IFS) Therapist—joins the conversation to explore why behavior change rarely comes from better information alone.

What if some of our most persistent money problems aren’t budgeting issues at all—but trauma responses we’ve never named? This conversation pushes past polite financial talk and questions some deeply held beliefs: that healing has to hurt, that more money

Money has a way of exposing parts of us we’d rather not see, and as Ed Coambs, CFP, CFT makes clear in this conversation, wealth doesn’t protect us from that. Together, Rick and Ed unpack why money anxiety grows right alongside income,

Most of our money struggles don’t start with numbers—they start with personality. In this conversation, Rick sits down with Khara Croswaite Brindle to explore how each Enneagram type relates to money in strikingly different ways. Achievers often tie worth to

Financial therapy isn’t about having the right tools—it’s about having the courage to face your own money story first. In this conversation, Khara Croswaite speaks candidly about burnout, money avoidance, and the quiet damage that can happen when helpers skip

What if the fastest path to your Enneagram type wasn’t testing or theory—but listening to your parts? In this conversation, Rick Kahler and Enneagram veteran Joan Ryan explore a powerful, emerging approach: using Internal Family Systems (IFS) as a direct pathway to

What happens in the wide gray space between financial therapy and life planning? In this rich, unscripted conversation, Rick explores that question with a next-generation leader who brings both heart and rigor to the future of financial planning. Together, they

What happens when money struggles, relationship patterns, and personal history all collide in the same room? In this wide-ranging and deeply human conversation, Rick Kahler sits down with Dr. Megan Ford to explore how financial therapy grew out of systems

When financial conversations start sounding like political debates, something deeper is going on, and this piece explores why facts can feel threatening when emotions take the driver’s seat. It highlights how polarization has eroded our shared understanding of basic economic

Most of us hear the word “socialism” and picture a single, monolithic system—but this episode unpacks four very different versions of it and reveals how much fear and old conditioning shape our reactions to economic ideas. Through an unexpectedly personal

What if the way you pay is part of the therapy? Some psychoanalytic therapists ask for cash after each session—not for convenience, but because money itself reveals emotional truth. Forgetting to pay, overpaying, or haggling can uncover hidden dynamics worth

Real change with money isn’t about willpower—it’s about the brain rewriting old rules. In this conversation, Rick and financial therapist Emily Shull explore how memory reconsolidation and IFS work together to transform money behavior. Emily explains the four elements of

Here’s a fresh way to choose the right “money-and-meaning” help: this conversation maps the entire financial therapy spectrum as a simple two-axis quadrant: financial to psychotherapy and shallow to deep, then shows where options like books, coaching, financial planning, CBT,

When faith dictates money, the fallout can be devastating—especially for women. In this conversation with Sarah Carr, the focus turns to how rigid gender roles, abuse, and teachings like “God will provide” leave families financially vulnerable and women without autonomy.

What if money works like skin—protecting, signaling, and setting boundaries? Dublin-based psychoanalytic psychotherapist and financial therapist Vessy Tasheva shares how trust, reliability, and clear limits shape the healing process. From earliest money memories and family genograms to the subtle ways

Anxiety in the face of shifting headlines isn’t irrational—it often mirrors how state-controlled markets actually behave: lower returns, higher volatility, and a wobblier ride. The lesson isn’t to avoid these markets entirely, but to recognize their place in a diversified

In this insightful column, Rick Kahler explores how clinical hypnosis offers a profound yet underutilized method for transforming financial behavior. Drawing from Joetta Johnson’s expertise, he explains how hypnosis accesses the brain’s emotional memory systems—often the true source of irrational

Have you ever had a breakthrough about money that felt like it changed everything—only to find yourself slipping right back into the same patterns days later? You’re not alone. In this video, Rick Kahler shares why those “aha” moments don’t

Rick Kahler and Partha Iyengar dive into a heartfelt conversation about creating brave spaces to explore money, culture, and personal growth. From Mumbai to the world, Partha shares powerful insights about financial freedom, the contradictions in money worship, and the

In this episode, Rick dives into the evolving and sometimes murky intersection of Internal Family Systems (IFS) and financial coaching, raising critical questions about where the line is drawn between coaching and therapy. He explores the growing interest in using

Merging finances as a couple isn’t just about numbers—it’s about navigating emotions, values, and long-held money beliefs. Many financial planners aren’t trained to handle the dynamics of couples’ financial decision-making, which can lead to unresolved conflicts and misaligned goals. But

This 15-minute meditation guides you through a gentle, reflective process of exploring and understanding the inner parts of yourself that hold various money scripts. By inviting these parts to unblend and share their perspectives, you can connect with them from

Our financial choices aren’t just about dollars and cents—they’re shaped by the stories we believe about money, called money scripts. In this video, Rick Kahler explores how these scripts, passed down through generations, influence everything from saving to spending. Joined

Rick Kahler uses a vivid boardroom metaphor to show how clashing internal financial parts of you, like a strict Project Manager, cautious Risk Manager, and bold Entrepreneur—can create chaos in your financial life. Without your calm, capable CEO (the Self)

Rick Kahler is joined by Saundra Davis, a leader in financial coaching and the director of Golden Gate University’s Financial Planning Program, to explore how Internal Family Systems (IFS) and coaching are revolutionizing the financial planning profession. Saundra shares her

Join Rick, a pioneer in financial therapy, as he explores the promising horizon for this evolving field. This episode delves into the integration of the Internal Family Systems (IFS) model, a transformative approach to understanding the emotional ‘parts’ influencing financial

Discover the surprising emotional journey behind senior discounts in this episode, where we unravel the mix of pride, resistance, guilt, and even shame that often accompany these perks of aging. Why do some seniors hesitate to claim what they’ve earned?

In this episode, Rick explores the evolving perspectives on career and passion within the financial life planning community. Once an advocate of “do what you love and the money will follow,” many early life planners have now realized the challenges

Rick tackles a common misconception about Social Security benefits. Many people opt to take their benefits early to avoid leaving money on the table if they pass away young. However, this very reason is exactly why they should consider waiting

Feeling stuck? In this episode, host Rick chats with psychotherapist and best-selling author Britt Frank. Discover the neuroscience behind stuckness and practical tools to make positive changes in your life. Britt discusses the difference between feeling stuck due to a

Is homeownership the dream for everyone? Join Rick as he dives into the complex emotions behind renting vs. owning. Discover the hopes, fears, and personal factors that shape this life-altering decision. This insightful exploration goes beyond finances, offering valuable perspectives

Forget financial utopias! This episode tackles the often-overlooked emotional realities of senior financial planning. Explore the unique hurdles faced by seniors, from navigating changing health to grappling with complex financial decisions. This eye-opening journey provides crucial insights for both seniors

Family fortunes come with unique challenges. Join Dr. Moira Somers, a leading expert in wealth psychology, as she delves into the complexities of “business royalty.” Explore the intricate web of challenges impacting relationships within families and communities, gaining valuable insights

Dive deeper with Dr. Prince Sarpong and Rick as they discuss the complex relationship between financial freedom and community harmony. Discover how embracing healthy boundaries within the Ubuntu philosophy can unlock true liberation. Learn how prioritizing relational well-being alongside financial

“Your money troubles run deeper than you think,” says Dr. Prince Sarpong. Explore the impact of “Black Tax” and the Ubuntu philosophy on financial culture. Learn how cultural expectations, enabling dynamics, and community connection influence financial decisions. Discover a fresh

Tired of focusing on negative financial behaviors? Discover a path to true financial well-being and financial harmony! This episode unveils the positive traits that define a healthy relationship with money, guiding you from “tranquility” to “compassion” and beyond. Navigate the

Financial gurus promise riches, but can they trap you in shame and rigidity? Therapist Jillian Knight, LMFT, shares her personal story, revealing the red flags of extreme devotion and leader manipulation. Discover how this experience shaped her unique approach to

Imagine making a smart investment, then watching the market plunge. Panic sets in, your dream yacht vanishes, and “lost money” haunts you. This episode equips you to navigate emotional waves and make calmer financial decisions. Learn how to anchor your

Dive deeper with Susan and Rick as they continue their captivating conversation. Explore how Susan’s work with financial planners empowers financial therapists. They’ll delve into the future, questioning the role of Artificial Intelligence and championing the power of Authentic Intelligence

When Susan and Rick get together new ways of thinking are often the unintended outcome of many conversations. They’ve had scores of conversations over the decades, but none of them have ever been taped, until now. Join them for a

What money scripts has Rick never thought of, has he never covered in any of the books he’s authored?  Surveys show that if the average American didn’t have these money scripts, they would do things differently.  Every American has money

Embark on an insightful journey as we explore the nuanced emotions surrounding student loan forgiveness in this episode. Prompted by a recent inquiry from a talk-show host, Rick delves into the emotional terrain, especially for those who never carried student

At the height of the pandemic recession, a June 22, 2020, headline in The Capitalist.com caught my eye: “Dollar Will Plunge 35%, Lose Status as World Reserve Currency.” This was quoting Stephen Roach, a senior fellow at Yale University and

Learn how Tamala Floyd, Certified IFS Therapist and Lead Trainer, transitioned her life to become a full-time traveler at no additional cost to, or significant change in, her lifestyle. She explains the preparation, both financially and emotionally, that it took

Are you and your spouse truly aligned when it comes to finances? Do you rarely experience conflicts about money? If so, you might have achieved financial intimacy in your relationship. Financial intimacy, however, goes beyond merely sharing financial information; it

Positive thinking about money can be beneficial, but it can also be harmful if it leads us to suppress our emotions. Emotions like joy, gratitude, and love are crucial for making sound financial decisions. However, when we deny ourselves the

With people living longer, I’ve noticed that my older clients, who are particularly aware of their declining physical capacities, are increasingly open to the idea of receiving in-home health care, can be expensive, and many seniors may struggle to afford

Personal bankruptcy is not something I’ve addressed in the podcast, which surprises me given the approximately one million people a year who file for bankruptcy in the U.S.  I’ll be the first to admit that listening to a podcast on

“I don’t deserve money,” is one of the ten most common money scripts. Holding this belief has very little to do with whether society, friends, or family view you as deserving. Few people would argue that we all deserve the

Rick and his guest, Deb Kaplan, introduce the term Cognitive Biases in this segment. They choose Confirmation Bias and Loss Aversion to explore how couples can resolve conflict by first understanding their own biases. This provides couples an opportunity to

You might think that you lack financial savvy and are doomed to make money mistakes. But even people who are good with money can slip up sometimes. One of the tricky things about poor financial choices is that they often

Vendors pushing investments like gold are selling more than gold, they are pushing fear, creating a sense of panic and anxiety within a person that they suggest can only be solved by buying gold.  The problem is that they have

Rick visits some notes he made in 2020 where he wondered about the possibilities of applying IFS, MDMA Assisted Therapy, and the use of groups to financial therapy. All of these are transformative in their own right, but what are

Gambling, gaming, and hoarding for many can be an enjoyable endeavor. For some, it can become impulsive, compulsive or part of an unhealthy cycle.  Rick and Deb Kaplan explore what beliefs and behaviors one might consider to assess whether healthy

What would you do with a million-dollar windfall? This question was the topic of a survey in a March 28, 2023, article by Jessica Whitehouse in onlinegambling.com,  “This is how Americans would spend $1,000,000 in lottery winnings.” Before I read

“Rick, what is your money script?” I was a bit baffled and responded, “I have well over one hundred, I don’t have just one.” He responded, “No, there are only four and I was wondering which one is yours.” He

Rick takes a look back at the origins of the Financial Therapy Podcast, going behind the scenes as to how it came about, its format, some statistics, and considers what may be next. Watch it on YouTube – Subscribe to

Investors appear to have a poor grasp of the fee issue, failing to minimize fees even when the benefits are presented in a clear and incontrovertible disclosure. In fact, the mean fee paid by the participants was far enough above

I was encouraging one of my 20 something friends at my gym to attend a workshop I was giving on investing and financial planning. I quipped, “I’ll teach you how to be a millionaire.” “Really?” she responded. I quickly explained

Non-Violent Communication teaches us to learn to hear our own deeper needs and those of others. Through its emphasis on deep listening—to ourselves as well as others—NVC helps us discover the depth of our own compassion. This language reveals the

A reporter for a financial planning magazine recently asked me when a client loses their job, what emotional support should they expect from the planner? How can the planner best respond to the emotions of the client? What emotions can

What are the hurtful financial behaviors driven by our Money Scripts and how can we modify those behaviors into ones that are healthy and supportive?  Most money scripts cannot be changed cognitively or with more information as they often are

The concept of Money Scripts was coined by Drs. Ted and Brad Klontz and Rick Kahler in 2005 and first appeared in Conscious Finance – Uncover Your Hidden Money Beliefs and Transform the Role of Money in Your Life, co-authored

In my experience, IFS Informed Financial Therapy is one of the more effective methodologies in helping clients resolve money issues. The power of the IFS protocol was demonstrated in my recorded conversation with Dr. Helen E. Lees, editor of PARTS

Consuming a diet of just one type of news bias can result in long-term damage to your financial and emotional wellbeing. It can destroy relationships and making evidence based, reasoned, and informed financial decisions. For example, selling out of the

Transparency is a highly valued attribute that extends to individuals, businesses, and government.  It is often touted, routinely promised, and often undelivered.  How many political candidates have promised to be the most transparent office holder ever, only to actually deliver

In my experience, IFS Informed Financial Therapy is one of the more effective methodologies in helping clients resolve money issues. The power of the IFS protocol was demonstrated in my recorded conversation with Dr. Helen E. Lees, editor of PARTS

Financial New Year’s resolutions are a common phenomenon this time of year—especially for anyone who overdid the holiday spending and who knows the new year is going to bring a new batch of credit card bills. Probably one of the

With all the supply chain chaos, inflation, and uncertainty in the economy, this year is a perfect time to celebrate Christmas in the manner of Ebenezer Scrooge. Am I suggesting you celebrate Christmas like a cold-hearted skinflint? After all, Ebenezer

In Part 2 of Rick’s discussion with Sonya, they discuss trauma and its impact on a person’s financial decisions. Sonya will also reveal the common denominator a person that suffers a significant loss in their lives is resiliency. The answer

Rick talks with Sonya Britt-Lutter who is one of the pioneers of financial therapy. Sonya was the first “real” financial therapist I knew of to have formal training in financial planning and therapy. Listen to her journey to becoming a

Tyler and Kristen wanted a modern four-bedroom house with a three-car garage within their price range.  They bought a 75-year-old three-bedroom fixer upper with a one car garage that was over their price range. Real estate agents have a saying

It’s not very often that I read an estate plan that treats children unequally. In estate planning, “equal” isn’t necessarily the same as “fair”.  Even when siblings agree that an unequal distribution is fair, they may feel a lot of

Recently, I wrote a column and did a podcast on the personalities that tend to invest in crypto. This article was the genesis of a conversation with some of my peers about the recent crypto meltdown. One emailed me an

Raising your fees or asking for a higher wage is fraught with emotions and money scripts. I recently had to work at convincing a vendor to raise her hourly fee she charged me. My concern was that I wanted to

How would you feel to find out your financial planner, financial coach, or financial therapist actually faced bankruptcy five times in their life? Nervous? Concerned? Well, that’s exactly what I told the world in an interview that I did with

Money probably isn’t what you think it is, even though you think it may consume your thoughts and run your life. In this episode I delve into 15 elements of money that may surprise you, anger you, or maybe relieve

The Vow of Poverty is a hurtful financial behavior wrapped in a cloak of looking good. Almost no one vows to exist in a state of poverty, which is not have enough money to meet basic needs of food, clothing

What is financial wellbeing? It’s a question that was recently posed to me by a researcher based in Berlin. I had a bit of a struggle initially defining it. I spend so much focus writing and talking a lot about

Why do so many people live in financial denial or avoidance, especially when it comes to money? Because denial is a great place to be, especially when one partner becomes emotionally activated when the topic is broached by their partner.

Dr. Jacob Needleman, author of Money and the Meaning of Life, suggested that one of the first places to begin building good money skills is to examine all the opinions you have about money. He compared our beliefs about money

Therapy doesn’t work for everyone. Research shows that therapy fails to benefit 25% to 50% of clients.   Of course, these findings suggest that 50% to 75% of people do benefit.  It makes sense the same is true of financial therapy. 

Therapy doesn’t work for everyone. Research shows that therapy fails to benefit 25% to 50% of clients.   Of course, these findings suggest that 50% to 75% of people do benefit.  It makes sense the same is true of financial therapy. 

There are a number of Halls of Fames. My quick perusal of the Halls of Game on Wikipedia found over 250 different halls of fame. Nowhere in the list was there a Single Parents Hall of Fame.  There should be.

I once confessed to my clients that I had a financial planner. The reactions fell into two categories. “Should I be worried?” and “That’s a pretty strong endorsement of your profession, that you think so highly of your services you

Speculators in cryptocurrencies content they invest for the hope of high returns. Research shows they speculate in cryptocurrency for reasons that were not just about the money. They all held personality traits in, what psychology calls the” dark tetrad,” which

Is behavioral finance the same as financial therapy? Listen to find out. Your perception is your reality, regardless of what the facts suggest. When they were youngsters, my kid’s favorite TV show was Mythbusters. The host, Adam Savage, was known

While money will not give you meaning in life, there is extraordinarily little likelihood that you will find meaning in your lives without it. The purpose of money is to serve and support the search for meaning in our lives.

Greed, whether for money or food or anything else, is not produced by an economic model. Whether people live under a capitalistic, socialistic, or communist system—or in a Stone Age tribal group—greed is alive and well in all of them.

As a financial planner and financial therapist, witnessing a client grieving over a financial loss is ubiquitous.  Financial losses include a job, a business failure, a poor investment decision, the loss of a significant financial asset like a car, home,

Among people that have accumulated enough of a nest egg to pass on, my experience is there is little thought given to whom they will bequest the money. It’s generally a forgone conclusion any inheritance will go to their children

In the past when I read stories about scams, I often wondered how people could be so gullible. I assumed that the victims of fraud were the elderly or less educated, had suffered a recent loss of a loved one

The prevailing emotion experienced by many when any market is falling is anxiety.  The cause of anxiety is a feeling of worry, nervousness, or unease, typically when we anticipate a negative outcome to an imminent event or uncertainty.  First, whatever

Financial infidelity isn’t necessarily “the problem” in itself. It often is tangled up with other difficulties in the relationship, and it almost always will exacerbate those problems. Even though it is very damaging, it is something a couple can face

For an individual, overspending or underspending is a problematic financial behavior that can adversely affect the quality of life.  For a couple, the adverse effect of overspending or underspending is multiplied and multifaceted.  Not only can the behaviors be life

“Be frugal.” “Save for the future.” “Live on less than you make.”  That’s my usual financial advice, and it’s well worth repeating even though too many Americans aren’t following it. Sometimes, though, I find it necessary to work with clients

Financial denial is a protective behavior that is usually found in conjunction with several other problematic financial behaviors like compulsive buying behavior, gambling disorder, hoarding disorder, workaholism, financial dependence on others, and financial enabling.  It’s especially common in those that

One aspect of money disorders that contributes significantly to financial difficulties is denial or avoidance. Many of those with money disorders attempt to cope by simply not thinking about money or trying not to deal with it. Rather than acknowledging

Do you rely on others for the bulk of your monthly income?  If so, it’s possible your relationship with money may be suffering.  Being financially dependent is a financial disorder defined as “reliance on others for non-work income that creates

Making poor financial decisions is a financial behavior destined to keep us poor. Over 70% of Americans think they understand money, yet surveys show 66% can pass a very simple financial literacy test. What’s the reason for the disconnect between

Workaholism is an addiction where the workaholic is highly involved in work, feels driven to work because of inner pressures that make the person feel guilty or depressed when not working, and in which the person has low levels of

Problematic money behaviors and disorders are not caused by a lack of money. They cannot be cured by knowing more about money or having more money. There is no significant correlation between happiness and money once household incomes are above

As a financial advisor, Gayle Colman is the founder of Somatic Finance. Somatic Finance rocks Gayle Colman’s world.  She brings her passion for Somatic Finance to life by offering people an entirely new way of being in a relationship with

What would you guess the average American worker makes in a year?  Your financial reality may not be reality. This is the question professor Nina Strohminger, University of Pennsylvania’s Warton School of Business, asked her business students recently.  The professor

If you are in your 50s or 60s, you may have reacted with concern to the numerous recent news reports in September on an announcement about Social Security. One by Reason.com said, “Social Security Will Be Insolvent in 12 Years.

Kirsten was divorced and had primary custody of her eight-year-old son, Jack, who spent every other weekend with his father. One Friday evening when her ex-husband came to pick up their son, he handed Kirsten a piece of paper and

20 Things Your Financial Therapist Wants You To Know – PART TWO Last fall Bari Tessler,  a financial therapist, posted two articles listing 21 “Things your financial therapist wants you to know.” I thought her points were excellent and worth repeating. Last

20 Things Your Financial Therapist Wants You To Know – PART ONE Bari Tessler was practicing financial therapy before most of the rest of us had ever heard the term. A psychotherapist, Bari decided to go into the bookkeeping business,

Bari Tessler’s Journey Into Financial Therapy Bari Tessler has spent over 20 years guiding thousands of people into happier, more empowered, and refreshingly honest relationships with money. She was one of the early pioneers of financial therapy, and actually coined

What Gives Your Life Meaning? What makes life worth living? This question is at the heart of financial life planning and financial therapy. Where do we rate financial, emotional, and physical wellbeing? A recent study by Pew Research Center, November 18,

Money Skills Are 21st Century Survival Skills For our ancestors, even as recently as the 19th Century in many places, survival skills were hands-on. If you didn’t know how to build a house, farm, hunt, butcher animals, sew, and cook,

Getting Married – Order a Credit Report New couples tend to be great talkers.  Young love can be a wonderful time of discovery and sharing. New couples, regardless of their ages, need to get to know one another and explore

How do you feel about the rich?  While most Americans feel the rich are hardworking, only 10 percent think they are honest and one-third believe they are “greedy” and “self-centered.”  It makes sense that if most people have a Money

It’s shocking how many engaged couples don’t have substantive discussions around disclosing their finances to each other, much less their thoughts, feelings, and beliefs around money. It’s common to get married and later discover that your partner has a huge

A reporter recently asked me how a left-brain, number-crunching financial planner ironically ended up being one of the founders of financial therapy.  The answer is simple, a divorce. Few would argue that divorce is life-changing and it was no different

If you had a magic wand and could change anything about yourself that would improve your financial and emotional wellbeing, what would it be?  This is a hard question.  I am not talking about changing your financial circumstances, winning the

I spend a lot of focus helping my clients protect their hard-earned assets from the reach of a frivolous lawsuit. The chance of such a lawsuit in the US is always a risk when a person with a nest egg

What do you do when your find yourself in a state of being financially “stuck?”  Stuck is not a very professional word, but it’s an accurate description of a very familiar financial condition.  According to Vocabulary.com, stuck describes something that’s

Making sound financial decisions can be the best-paying job we’ve ever had.  How do we obtain the skills needed to do this job well?  Since 80 to 100% of all financial decisions are made emotionally, learning something about emotions and

You’re probably unfamiliar with The Nazrudin Project. That’s understandable. They don’t have a website. There is no organization. They don’t have leaders. The Nazrudin Project is often described as a leaderless, eclectic, and holistic group of financial life planners, therapists, authors, educators, and coaches.

Perhaps the most common reason for wanting to control a legacy is a spendthrift heir. Giving a chronic over-spender an inheritance in hope that it will help change their money behavior is almost always magical thinking. Most lump sum inheritances

One of my retired clients is fond of telling me, “Growing old is not for the faint of heart.” As we age, it becomes increasingly important for us to have a support system that will advocate for us, or “have

The FIRE (Financial Independence, Retire Early) movement advocates extreme frugality in order to retire as early as age 30. The biggest challenge with the skills and discipline needed for a FIRE plan is not starting it (which isn’t necessarily easy)

Dick Wagner, CFP, was fond of saying that understanding money and how it works is a 21st Century survival skill. This is not an exaggeration. What you don’t know about money—as well as what you think you do know about

“Money should be saved not spent” People that have money scripts like, “You should not tell others how much money you have or make,” “Money should be saved not spent,” and “I would be a nervous wreck if I did

“Your self-worth equals your net worth” People that have money scripts like, “People are only as successful as the amount of money they earn,” “If something is not considered the ‘best,’ it is not worth buying,” or “Your self-worth equals

Do you know someone that believes that “Things would get better if I had more money,” “More money will make you happier,” and “Money would solve all of my problems.”

Do you know someone that believes money is bad, creates anxiety, and that rich people are greedy? 

Money scripts, those beliefs that influence every money decision we make, underly and form chronic harmful money behaviors. We’ve identified 13 harmful money behaviors that can negatively affect a person’s financial wellbeing. Learn how these behaviors form in us, typically

How much is a tax deduction worth? Maybe less than your money scripts and the emotions that drive them would have you believe. Here are some common ways that over-emphasizing deductions may reduce your tax bill, but actually cost you

“An ounce of prevention is worth a pound of cure.” Most of us are familiar with this tidbit of immense wisdom. That doesn’t necessarily mean we follow it when it comes to either our physical, emotional or financial health. According

“Mom, I can’t take time off work today to take you to your doctor’s appointment, so I’ve arranged to pay for an Uber driver instead.” The elderly parent’s need for transportation is met. The son or daughter’s obligation and desire

Does the executor of an estate deserve to be compensated for that service? Absolutely. Serving as an executor is often a time-consuming, emotionally draining, and thankless task. It means taking on a part-time job. Often, executors have day jobs so

Whether one is named as the executor or personal representative in a will or the trustee or successor trustee for a trust, being chosen to carry out someone’s last wishes can be viewed as a high compliment. The person selected

IFS Informed Financial Therapy is a powerful mechanism for change. Becoming certified in IFS Therapy is accessible to every Certified Financial Therapist, even if they don’t have a graduate degree specifically in mental health counseling. IFS certification, which is a

A panel presentation at the Global Wellness Summit held in November 2020 predicted several wellness trends in 2021. One that caught my attention was “A great ‘un-tabooing’: Wellness gets real about sex, money and death.” One panelist said there is

Have you ever had a financial shock, like a job loss, a bankruptcy, or identity theft? How about chronic financial stress around money, or continual worry and anxiety around money? All of these are deeply distressing or disturbing experiences, which

Investment success requires that a person have a high tolerance for boredom, which means turning a deaf ear to the financial press’s investment panic-de-jour. It’s good for your financial health to avoid following the advice of prognosticating financial soothsayers. Even

Every financial behavior makes perfect sense when we understand our underlying beliefs, our money scripts. While most money scripts form in your first decade of life, they drive your financial decisions. It’s sobering to discover a bunch of internal children

We hear a lot about financial literacy. What we don’t hear is why it usually doesn’t work. Learn the one time that financial literacy education is required. What are the three things that are usually left out of most financial

“If I was your financial adviser, I would tell you that engaging me is not a good deal for you.” I’ve told hundreds of prospects this over my nearly 40-year career. While almost everyone would benefit from having a fee-only

After you retire, do you still need financial planning or financial therapy? And can you afford it? The answer to the first question is clearly “yes.” The answer to the second is “It depends.” Ironically, if you have a fee-only

A popular money script is to assume that fame, accomplishments, and excellence in one’s field equate to financial security. Like any money script, this can be true in some cases and incorrect in others. But it is interesting to me

For many Americans, one painful lesson of 2020 has been a first-hand demonstration of the importance of having an emergency fund. Yet knowing such a reserve matters is a far cry from creating one. Everyone “should” have one, which is

“What do you do for a living?” is a common question when we’re introduced to someone new. If there’s no time for conversation I’ll answer, “I am a financial advisor.” The discussion is usually over. If the social situation allows

Researchers tell us that about 90% of financial decisions are made in the emotional part of the brain. Financial Therapy is the intersection of the ‘nuts and bolts’ of financial planning and what we think, feel, and believe about money.