The Psychology of Money

Most people think financial success is about finding the right investment.

The right stock.
The right strategy.
The right retirement plan.

Those things matter.

But after years of working with families, business owners, retirees, and investors, I’ve become convinced that something else matters even more:

Behavior.

In fact, I’d argue that good financial behavior compounds more powerfully than investment returns.

Think about it.

The best financial plan in the world can be undone by fear, impatience, overspending, poor communication, or a lack of discipline. Meanwhile, ordinary people build extraordinary financial lives by consistently making good decisions over long periods of time.

That’s why I recently sat down with my longtime friend Dr. Matt Morris, a family therapist, to record a seven-part series called The Psychology of Money.

Together, we’re exploring a simple question:

Why do some people build lasting wealth while others struggle financially?

The answer isn’t found in a spreadsheet.

It’s found in our beliefs, emotions, habits, relationships, and behaviors.

Throughout the series, we discuss:

• The money stories we inherit from our families
• Why emotions often drive financial decisions
• How habits quietly shape financial outcomes
• Why financial mistakes don’t define your future
• The connection between money, marriage, and trust
• What we can and cannot control financially
• Why long-term wealth is often more behavioral than intellectual

One of the ideas that keeps resurfacing throughout these conversations is that financial planning is not just a math problem—it’s a human problem.

Money touches nearly every area of life. It influences our relationships, our confidence, our stress levels, our dreams, and even our sense of identity. Understanding the psychology behind money may be one of the most important financial skills we can develop.

My hope is that these conversations challenge the way you think about money and help you better understand the behaviors that shape your financial life.

Because sometimes the biggest financial breakthroughs aren’t found in a portfolio. They’re found in understanding yourself—and making better decisions consistently over time.