How Identity Shapes Money Decisions with Carl Richards

Carl Richards started The Sketch Guy column in The New York Times from the hills of Utah, crafting clear, relatable insights about money with just card stock and a Sharpie. Since then, Carl has become a Certified Financial Planner™, built and sold a successful investment firm, and spoken at financial and investment events worldwide. His bestsellers, The Behavior Gap and The One-Page Financial Plan, have been translated into over ten languages and continue to resonate globally. Through his daily podcast, Behavior Gap Radio, which now has over 1,000 episodes and more than one million downloads, Carl shares new perspectives on aligning our resources with what truly matters. Carl also founded The Society of Advice, a community of financial planners dedicated to the craft of advice. His latest audio project, 50 Fires, backed by executive producers Chip and Joanna Gaines, explores the intersections of money and meaning with guests like Pete Holmes, David Whyte, Krista Tippett, and his favorite guest by far, his wife, Cori. Learn more about Carl’s work and background here.

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.