We spend a tremendous amount of time building a financial framework where wealth is the ultimate finish line. We calculate our net worth, track our investments, and aim for a magic number that promises freedom. But what happens when you finally arrive? Often, it’s a profound feeling of being lost, wondering what comes next.
After a recent podcast conversation with Kristy Talorico about human resources, I started reflecting deeply on my own financial self-care. I am not talking about how others care for us, but the internal mindset we use to govern our own money. On this week’s episode, I lay out ten essential practices that have helped me reframe my financial life.
Here is a glimpse into how I practice financial self-care:
Remember that money is just a tool. The real outcomes we are shooting for are time freedom, deep connections, and the ability to pursue our hobbies. If your money isn’t actively helping you build that life, you need to rely on other tools like your intelligence and friendships.
Forgive your past indiscretions. I have bought life insurance policies I had no business buying and chased stocks high only to sell low. Every highly successful investor makes mistakes; the key is to forgive yourself, rebound, and move forward rather than dwelling on the loss.
Put your blinders on. You are running your own personal race. When you look left and right at the crypto windfalls or massive business successes of others, you risk veering completely out of your lane.
Reframe your enoughness. This might be the most critical step. You have to separate your internal self-worth from your external net worth metrics. You are already enough, exactly as you are, freeing you from the endless chase.
In the full episode, we dive much deeper into the mechanics of financial self-care—including how to intentionally size your speculative risks, why generously giving your money away moves the needle on happiness, and how to truly understand your financial baseline before hiring advisors. Listen to the complete breakdown on the Earn & Invest podcast.
If you are local to Chicago, I would love to talk about these concepts with you in person. The Wealth with Purpose Mastermind is hosting a meetup this Saturday, October 3rd, at 7 PM at the Duke of Perth (2827 N Broadway).
Also, my upcoming book, The Happiness Code, is available for pre-order. Email your receipt to docg@diversifi.com to enter a raffle to win 50 copies to give away to your friends, family, or favorite organization.
Jordan, your point about separating self-worth from net worth really resonated with me. I’ve been thinking about another part of financial freedom: how much of our attention money still consumes. We can reach our number and remain mentally tied to every market move. For me, that gives a consistent investment process a purpose beyond returns: helping us leave the portfolio alone long enough to be present in the life it is meant to support. Perhaps financial self-care also means learning to let a good financial day pass unnoticed because we were busy having a good ordinary one.