How Identity Shapes Money Decisions with Carl Richards

Carl Richards is a Certified Public Planner™ and the director of investor education for the BAM Alliance, which serves over 130 independent wealth management firms nationwide. He is widely recognized as the creator of the popular Sketch Guy column in The New York Times, a columnist for Morningstar Advisor, and the author of The Behavior Gap: Simple Ways to Stop Doing Dumb Things with Money. Beyond his financial expertise, Carl’s simple sketches have been featured in art shows globally and make complex financial concepts easy to understand, empowering individuals to make informed decisions. 

In this episode, Carl leads an exploration of the intersection of money, identity, and self-actualization. By delving into the psychology behind how people define themselves, he explains how professionals and clients can adopt intentional “forcing functions” to align their behaviors with their aspirations. From investing with purpose to navigating misaligned, aspirational regret, Carl provides practical and philosophical wisdom on becoming the person you strive to be—both for your clients and yourself. He also shares ideas about his new book, Your Money: Reimagining Wealth Through Simple Sketches.