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It's Not About the Money: A Financial Game Plan for Staying Safe, Sane, and Calm in Any Economy – A Personal Finance Guide to Better Decisions and Discovering Peace
Your one-stop financial guide Includes ten new tips to survive any economy
336 pages, Paperback
First published January 1, 2008
109 people are currently reading
1900 people want to read
About the author
Brent Kessel
2 books13 followersBrent Kessel is Co-Founder of Abacus Wealth Partners, (www.abacuswealth.com) named one of the “top 250 wealth management firms in the U.S.” by Bloomberg Wealth Manager, and Abacus Portfolios (www.abacusportfolios.com), a portfolio management company offering socially responsible investing. Brent earned his economics degree from UCLA, and studies psychology, meditation and Ashtanga yoga. Brent has twice been named one of the top 250 financial advisors in the U.S. by Worth magazine, most recently in 2008. He is Yoga Journal’s monthly money columnist and his book, It’s Not About the Money (HarperCollins 2008) was selected as one of Kiplinger’s Top 5 Business Books for 2008, and as one of Booklist’s Top 10 Business Books for 2008. His book is available on amazon.com, and at www.brentkessel.com
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 48 reviews
August 13, 2008
If your main money concern is "Oh my God, how do I get out of debt?" try something by David Bach. However, if you're wondering why you can't seem to make peace with your own attitudes and behaviors about money, this is the book for you. Brent Kessel identifies eight financial archetypes (and you are sure to recognize yourself in at least one of them), and gives tips on how each can balance its strengths and weaknesses.
I originally read about this book in Yoga Journal, and was a tad hesitant it was going to be one of those hippie "let's all move to the country, and live off the land" books, but it's totally not. There are some spiritual aspects to Kessel's approach, but he draws from every major world religion, and uses meditation practices to help clear the reader's perspective (rather than ramming his own point of view down your throat).
This is not a "how to" money book, and it never claims to be. It's about recognizing and changing your relationship with money, something that goes further than balancing your checkbook, and paying off your credit cards. And in that respect, I heartily recommend it.
I originally read about this book in Yoga Journal, and was a tad hesitant it was going to be one of those hippie "let's all move to the country, and live off the land" books, but it's totally not. There are some spiritual aspects to Kessel's approach, but he draws from every major world religion, and uses meditation practices to help clear the reader's perspective (rather than ramming his own point of view down your throat).
This is not a "how to" money book, and it never claims to be. It's about recognizing and changing your relationship with money, something that goes further than balancing your checkbook, and paying off your credit cards. And in that respect, I heartily recommend it.
September 9, 2015
“Don’t get me wrong. I am by no means saying that you can’t be both wealthy and happy. But whether you have a seven-figure trust fund or a pile of unpaid bills on your kitchen table, the path to freedom requires that you focus more on your inner life than on your outer financial circumstances.”
~ Brent Kessel from It’s Not About the Money
If you, like me, have struggled with integrating your spirituality with your economics, your self-awareness with your bank balance, and all the rest of the challenges that go with showing up consciously around money in our often frenetic lives, Brent Kessel, “financial planner by day, yogi by dawn,” is your friend. And, his book, It’s Not About the Money, is a great-read.
It’s Not About the Money is all about pointing us to the spiritual path within our relationship to money—helping us master this part of our life to help us live in integrity with our highest ideals. As Brent wrote the book, he traveled around the world, interviewing such spiritual and investment luminaries as His Holiness the Dalai Lama, Thich Nhat Hanh, Rabbi Harold Kushner, David Whyte, Nobel Prize winner Dr. Harry Markowitz, Vanguard Funds founder John Bogle, Ram Dass, and Joseph Goldstein.
It’s a remarkably transformative book—the myriad of exercises Brent shares brought me to tears several times—as I re-lived powerful episodes around money from my childhood and witnessed how these experiences have affected me throughout my adult life. AND how I can now use this awareness to better understand my financial archetypes and create a more conscious life around money. Powerful stuff.
If you’re feeling it, get the book to dive deeply into Brent’s brilliant process of discovering your Core Story that’s running your show and which of his eight archetypes show up in your life— from “The Guardian,” “The Pleasure Seeker,” “The Idealist,” and “The Saver” to “The Star,” “The Innocent,” “The Caretaker,” and “The Empire Builder.”
Here are some of the Big Ideas:
1. The Wanting Mind - You’ll never have enough.
2. Heartfelt Goals - The antidote..
3. Core Story - What’s yours?
4. No Quick Fixes - Slow down. Think mastery.
5. Archetypes - What’s driving your show?
Hope you enjoyed and may we BE love, abundance, peace and freedom in our lives today.
Here's my video review:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=IHzHv...
And click here to find 250+ more of my reviews:
http://bit.ly/BrianReviews
Brian
~ Brent Kessel from It’s Not About the Money
If you, like me, have struggled with integrating your spirituality with your economics, your self-awareness with your bank balance, and all the rest of the challenges that go with showing up consciously around money in our often frenetic lives, Brent Kessel, “financial planner by day, yogi by dawn,” is your friend. And, his book, It’s Not About the Money, is a great-read.
It’s Not About the Money is all about pointing us to the spiritual path within our relationship to money—helping us master this part of our life to help us live in integrity with our highest ideals. As Brent wrote the book, he traveled around the world, interviewing such spiritual and investment luminaries as His Holiness the Dalai Lama, Thich Nhat Hanh, Rabbi Harold Kushner, David Whyte, Nobel Prize winner Dr. Harry Markowitz, Vanguard Funds founder John Bogle, Ram Dass, and Joseph Goldstein.
It’s a remarkably transformative book—the myriad of exercises Brent shares brought me to tears several times—as I re-lived powerful episodes around money from my childhood and witnessed how these experiences have affected me throughout my adult life. AND how I can now use this awareness to better understand my financial archetypes and create a more conscious life around money. Powerful stuff.
If you’re feeling it, get the book to dive deeply into Brent’s brilliant process of discovering your Core Story that’s running your show and which of his eight archetypes show up in your life— from “The Guardian,” “The Pleasure Seeker,” “The Idealist,” and “The Saver” to “The Star,” “The Innocent,” “The Caretaker,” and “The Empire Builder.”
Here are some of the Big Ideas:
1. The Wanting Mind - You’ll never have enough.
2. Heartfelt Goals - The antidote..
3. Core Story - What’s yours?
4. No Quick Fixes - Slow down. Think mastery.
5. Archetypes - What’s driving your show?
Hope you enjoyed and may we BE love, abundance, peace and freedom in our lives today.
Here's my video review:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=IHzHv...
And click here to find 250+ more of my reviews:
http://bit.ly/BrianReviews
Brian
March 2, 2019
Erakordselt vajalik ja suurepärane raamat! Kõnetas, aitas ja muutis minu suhet rahaga. Minu silmis on eriti suur pluss see, et tegu pole tavalise investeerimisõpetuse või finantsraamatuga - kuigi siit leiab ka veidi seletusi, strateegiaid ja soovitusi, on suur osa raamatust pühendatud sellele, et aidata lugejal oma suhtumist ja suhet rahaga tundma õppida. Enne, kui saab valida sobivat strateegiat, teha rahu oma finantsolukorraga ning tunda küllust ja (enese)kindlust, on vaja mõista teelolevaid takistusi. Meil võib olla palju raha, kuid me ei tunne end ikka kindlalt. Me võime valida ükskõik mis investeerimisplaani või -strateegia, aga olla ikkagi ärev. Meid võivad kummitada ebakindlus, hirm, rahulolematus, ahnus, vastumeelsus - ükskõik millises finantsolukorras. See raamat aitab leida rahamaailmas ja endas ka vaimset külge, mõista oma uskumusi raha kohta, parandada suhet rahaga, näha ebatervete mustrite algallikaid ja õppida seega paremini tundma iseennast - ja teha tänu sellele elutervemaid otsuseid, tundes end sealjuures paremini ja rahulikumana.
Põhirõhk ja eripära selles raamatus on see, et autor toob välja 8 arhetüüpi/stereotüüpi, kuidas inimesed rahasse suhtuvad ja sellega ümber käivad. Ta räägib sellest, kust need uskumused võivad pärineda, mida endaga kaasa tuua ja kuidas nendega tegeleda (ja milline võiks igale tüübile olla optimaalne plaan oma rahaga tegelemiseks).
Üldiselt olen rahasse alati suhtunud pigem vastumeelsusega, ei ole olnud motiveeritud sellega tegelema, investeerima, vahel tekkis isegi füüsiline reaktsioon, kui pidin pikemalt rahale mõtlema-muretsema. See raamat aitas mul paremini mõista oma suhtumise tagamaid ja pakkus kindlustunnet. Ma sain aru, mis on minu motiivid, mis mulle sobib ja kuidas saan rahamaailmale teistmoodi vaadata. Mind isiklikult kõnetas väga ka see, et autor tegeleb lisaks finantsnõustamisele ka joogaga. Tänu sellele tõi ta näiteid ka spirituaalsest valdkonnast ja täiendas öeldut mõningate meditatsioonide ning idamaiste printsiipidega - mis tegelikult on olemas kõigis religioonides ja on sügavalt inimlikud (ja, mulle tundub, jäävad tavalistes finantsraamatutes liialt tagaplaanile, tekitades rohkem ruumi puhtalt kasumile, arvudele ja muule taolisele).
Lisaks meeldisid mulle väga tema näited õpetlikest lühilugudest, need tõepoolest inspireerisid ja puudutasid mind sügavalt.
Ja tagatipuks sisaldas raamat ka sellist ABC-d rahamaailma osas (investeerimine, heategevus, kinnisvara, maksud jms), mis oli lihtsasti mõistetav, tegi minusugusele algajale kõik selgeks ja... hajutas minu erakordse skepsise kõigesse, mis rahaga seotud. ?!¿?
Ainuke "aga" raamatus oli see, et see on veidi USA-keskne, aga ka see info oli vajalik ja huvitav. Ebavajaliku jätsin lihtsalt vahele, aga see ei vähendanud minu jaoks raamatu tähtsust ja headust.
Soovitan! Eriti neile, kes on kokku puutunud ainult finantsmaailma arvulise ja praktilise poolega ega ole vaadanud sissepoole, tutvumaks iseenda käitumismustrite ja uskumustega. Ja neile, kes ei ole finantsmaailmaga veel üldse kokku puutunud - see raamat võib motiveerida lõpuks astuma ühte väikest sammu ja tutvuma selle suure valdkonnaga.
Põhirõhk ja eripära selles raamatus on see, et autor toob välja 8 arhetüüpi/stereotüüpi, kuidas inimesed rahasse suhtuvad ja sellega ümber käivad. Ta räägib sellest, kust need uskumused võivad pärineda, mida endaga kaasa tuua ja kuidas nendega tegeleda (ja milline võiks igale tüübile olla optimaalne plaan oma rahaga tegelemiseks).
Üldiselt olen rahasse alati suhtunud pigem vastumeelsusega, ei ole olnud motiveeritud sellega tegelema, investeerima, vahel tekkis isegi füüsiline reaktsioon, kui pidin pikemalt rahale mõtlema-muretsema. See raamat aitas mul paremini mõista oma suhtumise tagamaid ja pakkus kindlustunnet. Ma sain aru, mis on minu motiivid, mis mulle sobib ja kuidas saan rahamaailmale teistmoodi vaadata. Mind isiklikult kõnetas väga ka see, et autor tegeleb lisaks finantsnõustamisele ka joogaga. Tänu sellele tõi ta näiteid ka spirituaalsest valdkonnast ja täiendas öeldut mõningate meditatsioonide ning idamaiste printsiipidega - mis tegelikult on olemas kõigis religioonides ja on sügavalt inimlikud (ja, mulle tundub, jäävad tavalistes finantsraamatutes liialt tagaplaanile, tekitades rohkem ruumi puhtalt kasumile, arvudele ja muule taolisele).
Lisaks meeldisid mulle väga tema näited õpetlikest lühilugudest, need tõepoolest inspireerisid ja puudutasid mind sügavalt.
Ja tagatipuks sisaldas raamat ka sellist ABC-d rahamaailma osas (investeerimine, heategevus, kinnisvara, maksud jms), mis oli lihtsasti mõistetav, tegi minusugusele algajale kõik selgeks ja... hajutas minu erakordse skepsise kõigesse, mis rahaga seotud. ?!¿?
Ainuke "aga" raamatus oli see, et see on veidi USA-keskne, aga ka see info oli vajalik ja huvitav. Ebavajaliku jätsin lihtsalt vahele, aga see ei vähendanud minu jaoks raamatu tähtsust ja headust.
Soovitan! Eriti neile, kes on kokku puutunud ainult finantsmaailma arvulise ja praktilise poolega ega ole vaadanud sissepoole, tutvumaks iseenda käitumismustrite ja uskumustega. Ja neile, kes ei ole finantsmaailmaga veel üldse kokku puutunud - see raamat võib motiveerida lõpuks astuma ühte väikest sammu ja tutvuma selle suure valdkonnaga.
March 29, 2019
Wow! It’s all just conditioning. 💵💰💲
June 16, 2009
So far, I love this book. It's like no other personal finance book I've read. I'm learning why I think the way I do about money. It's not a "how to" book, but delves more into your own personal money philosophy. Insightful!
Update: This is by far my favorite personal finance book. The first part of the book focuses on "The Nature of the Mind." From understanding the Buddhist principle of The Wanting Mind which is " always craving an experience different from the one it currently has", to truly relating to why we think the way we do about money. The author has us delve into our Core Story, what our experiences of money have been in our life and how it affects the way we relate to money today. After you understand a little more of your core story, Brent (the author) describes 8 different financial archetypes. We all have aspects of some of these archetypes, but one tends to dominate. To be happy, you have to find a balance of several of these archetypes. For example, I'm a Saver; I need to find balance by allowing myself to have a little more Pleasure Seeker in my life:)
My favorite part of the book was Part 3: In the World and of It. You'll learn a little about finding a balance with your thoughts about money and conscious investing (not only in SRI models, but also by having a diversified portfolio and the advantages of a fairly steady rate of return across all of your investments). I especially love The Yoga of Money...understanding the correct motivation behind charity giving and exactly how much ($ amounts or % of net worth) is the right balance for you.
Brent doesn't disappoint the folks who are looking for direct advice; the appendix goes into very specific details about what he thinks about cash flow, debt and mortgage management, insurance, annuities, etc.
I love that this book touches on spirituality and one's relationship to money. One of my favorite quotes from the book: "Most decisions about money are nothing more than reflexive responses to our conditioning. If we had experienced different life circumstances, different conditioning, we would be making different decisions. What I have been trying to convey in these pages is that regardless of your situation or conditioning, there is a new way of making decisions, one that arises out of the profound depth of silence and peace every one of us has within, a way that is creative and chosen instead of constricted and without choice."
Update: This is by far my favorite personal finance book. The first part of the book focuses on "The Nature of the Mind." From understanding the Buddhist principle of The Wanting Mind which is " always craving an experience different from the one it currently has", to truly relating to why we think the way we do about money. The author has us delve into our Core Story, what our experiences of money have been in our life and how it affects the way we relate to money today. After you understand a little more of your core story, Brent (the author) describes 8 different financial archetypes. We all have aspects of some of these archetypes, but one tends to dominate. To be happy, you have to find a balance of several of these archetypes. For example, I'm a Saver; I need to find balance by allowing myself to have a little more Pleasure Seeker in my life:)
My favorite part of the book was Part 3: In the World and of It. You'll learn a little about finding a balance with your thoughts about money and conscious investing (not only in SRI models, but also by having a diversified portfolio and the advantages of a fairly steady rate of return across all of your investments). I especially love The Yoga of Money...understanding the correct motivation behind charity giving and exactly how much ($ amounts or % of net worth) is the right balance for you.
Brent doesn't disappoint the folks who are looking for direct advice; the appendix goes into very specific details about what he thinks about cash flow, debt and mortgage management, insurance, annuities, etc.
I love that this book touches on spirituality and one's relationship to money. One of my favorite quotes from the book: "Most decisions about money are nothing more than reflexive responses to our conditioning. If we had experienced different life circumstances, different conditioning, we would be making different decisions. What I have been trying to convey in these pages is that regardless of your situation or conditioning, there is a new way of making decisions, one that arises out of the profound depth of silence and peace every one of us has within, a way that is creative and chosen instead of constricted and without choice."
September 13, 2021
It is one of the best books to challenge you with identifying your feeling about money and how to implement changing them.
February 9, 2015
This book combines self-discovery with practical money advice. For starters, you get to know your "Core Story" - you know, that story you have about money, that influences a lot of your decisions. It might be a story about "there's never enough" or "spend it when you have it" or "money is for having fun!"...no matter the story, when it stays hidden it impacts your decisions, often in an unbalanced, unknown ways. Once you've identified your story, you find your archetype (how your story influences how you feel about money) and just reading a description of exactly how I think about money was very clarifying. The rest of the book is about how to work with your archetype and become a bit more balanced (and either less panicky, or less laissez faire).
I'd recommend it, if you don't quite know why you deal with money the way you do. It absolutely informed how I'll be working with clients about their own money earning/spending/business investing (it's easy to assume everyone has the same "rules" about money as me and the artchetype descriptions helped me see how someone might see things completely differently, and how I could be more effective by working with that.)
I'd recommend it, if you don't quite know why you deal with money the way you do. It absolutely informed how I'll be working with clients about their own money earning/spending/business investing (it's easy to assume everyone has the same "rules" about money as me and the artchetype descriptions helped me see how someone might see things completely differently, and how I could be more effective by working with that.)
January 27, 2011
Pretty good. It's a book that covers a range of attitudes towards money and the pros and cons of each attitude. It was plesantly spiritual for a financial book. The book was a pretty quick read, the last chapters cover the basics of investing (if you've read them once you've read them a million times) so I skipped through them.
January 8, 2011
Fascinating! I'm learning so much. Finally a book about money that I can relate to. Coming at a very serendipitous moment in my life, too!
June 7, 2013
Liberating.
January 19, 2011
I tried... really tried to get into this book. Just couldn't do it.
October 10, 2009
from the library
Table of Contents
Introduction xiii
It's Not About the Money xv
Financial Planner by Day, Yogi by Dawn xvi
Why This Book? xviii
Financial Freedom for Your Soul xx
Part 1: The Nature of Mind
You Will Never Have Enough
The Wanting Mind
Wired to Want
If Only
In the Flow
But It Feels Good!
The Financial Toll of Wanting
Diminishing Returns
The More We Want, the More We Want
12 (1)
Financial Planning and Great Investment Advice Won't Get You ``There''
13 (3)
Wanting Better Investment Returns
16 (1)
At War with Yourself
17 (3)
Not Wanting
20 (3)
The Unconscious Wins Every Time
23 (22)
We Get What We Think We Deserve
24 (1)
Your Core Story
25 (1)
The Script Is Written
26 (4)
The Seeds of the Core Story
30 (1)
Understand Your Story
31 (2)
To the Very Core
33 (2)
No Quick Fix
35 (4)
Part 2: The Eight Financial Archetypes
Introducing the Archetypes
39 (3)
Our Stories Change
42 (3)
The Guardian
45 (16)
The Guardian's Core Story
49 (2)
What the Guardian Feels
51 (1)
Seeds of the Guardian: Survival Mode
51 (4)
What the Guardian Thinks
55 (1)
The Payoff
55 (2)
Breaking the Guardian's Death Grip
57 (4)
The Pleasure Seeker
61 (16)
The Pleasure Seeker's Core Story
62 (2)
Seeds of the Pleasure Seeker---``Why Suffer?''
64 (1)
The Payoff: Death-Defying Buying
65 (1)
What the Pleasure Seeker Fears
66 (2)
The Dark Side of Pleasure-Seeking: Buy Now, Pay (Big) Later
68 (3)
A Different Kind of Pleasure
71 (3)
My Hands Are Empty
74 (3)
The Idealist
77 (12)
The Idealist's Core Story
78 (2)
Seeds of the Idealist---``The Eye of a Needle''
80 (1)
``Money Just Sucks''
81 (1)
Heads in the Sand
82 (2)
Hippies with Money
84 (1)
The Payoff
85 (1)
Breaking Free
86 (3)
The Saver
89 (10)
The Saver's Core Story
90 (3)
The Dark Side of Saving
93 (2)
The Payoff
95 (1)
Breaking the Saver's Death Grip
95 (4)
The Star
99 (10)
The Star's Core Story
100 (1)
Seeds of the Star---Bring on the Bling
101 (2)
The Payoff
103 (1)
A Painful Chasm
104 (1)
Freeing the Star
105 (4)
The Innocent
109 (10)
The Innocent's Core Story
110 (1)
What the Innocent Believes
111 (2)
Seeds of the Innocent
113 (1)
The Payoff
114 (1)
Get Comfortable with Money
115 (4)
The Caretaker
119 (16)
The Caretaker's Core Story
120 (1)
What the Caretaker Believes
121 (1)
Seeds of the Caretaker: ``He's Not Heavy...''
122 (1)
The Payoff
123 (2)
The Dark Side of Caretaking
125 (3)
A Different Kind of Caretaking
128 (7)
The Empire Builder
135 (16)
What the Empire Builder Believes
137 (1)
The Wanting Mind and the Empire Builder
138 (1)
The Payoff
139 (1)
Treat Yourself Like You Treat Your Business
140 (1)
Removing the Blinders
141 (10)
Part 3: In the World and of It
The Middle Way with Money
151 (30)
Think More
154 (2)
A Four-Year-Old Runs Your Financial Life
156 (3)
Your Money Mask
159 (2)
Your Innate Financial Wisdom
161 (2)
Hold Both
163 (2)
This Is Depressing!
165 (1)
The Middle Way for Each Archetype
165 (10)
Heart Racing?
175 (1)
Opposites Attract
175 (2)
Go Slowly
177 (1)
Play!
178 (1)
Your Divine Nature and Your Human Nature
178 (3)
The Conscious Investor
181 (30)
Holy Investing!
183 (1)
What Investing Is
183 (1)
Interconnected Versus Isolated Wealth
184 (3)
Investing as Though We're All One
187 (1)
Does It Really Work?
188 (1)
When the Past Does Not Equal the Future
189 (1)
Doing Good and Doing Well
190 (1)
The Middle Way for Investors
191 (2)
True Diversity
193 (3)
So How Does a Diversified Portfolio Perform?
196 (2)
Unearthing the Hidden Fees and Costs of Investing
198 (4)
Time is on Your Side
202 (3)
Prepare Yourself
205 (6)
The Yoga of Money
211 (26)
Self-Centeredness
213 (3)
It's Not Just for Saints
216 (3)
Right Motivation
219 (1)
If Not Now, When?
220 (1)
How Much Should You Give?
221 (3)
Three Buckets
224 (2)
What Can You Give?
226 (3)
What's Your Cause?
229 (2)
Teach a Man to Fish
231 (1)
So You Want to Leave a Legacy
232 (1)
Don't Wait until You're Dead and Gone
233 (4)
You Have Arrived
237 (8)
Don't Do, Be
239 (2)
As Good as It Gets
241 (4)
Appendix: The Nuts and Bolts
245 (38)
Ready-to-Go Investment Strategies
246 (3)
Cash Flow
249 (1)
Debt and Mortgage Management
250 (3)
Retirement Planning
253 (1)
Taxes
254 (1)
Annuities
255 (1)
Insurance
256 (4)
Estate Planning
260 (3)
Financial Planners
263 (1)
Socially Responsible Investing (SRI)
263 (1)
Smart Philanthropy
263 (1)
Debt Reduction Services
264 (1)
Donor-Advised Funds
264 (1)
Characteristics of and Practical Recommendations for Each Archetype
264 (19)
The Guardian
264 (3)
The Pleasure Seeker
267 (2)
The Idealist
269 (2)
The Saver
271 (2)
The Star
273 (2)
The Innocent
275 (2)
The Caretaker
277 (2)
The Empire Builder
279 (4)
Resources 283 (6)
Acknowledgments 289 (4)
Index 293
from the library computer:
Booklist Reviews
*Starred Review* This is a financial-planning guide unlike any other on the market, thanks mostly to Kessel's skillful combination of yoga and wealth-management expertise. Seem like an odd duet? Not after listening to his discourse on "the wanting mind," an affliction of many here in the U.S., one that craves experiences different from the current one, again and again and again. And not after reading the Dalai Lama's quote: "The simple act of reflecting, the simple act of pausing to consider, to reason, can have an impact." Exactly what the author (head of a well-known and respected wealth management firm) wants us to do. He plumbs the depth of our conscious and unconscious relationships with money, asking, What's your biggest fear? What's your most painful memory about money (et al.)? That lays the foundation for the eight financial archetypes, eight core personalities that deal with finances in very different ways, from the guardian and the pleasure seeker to the caretaker and empire builder. Not content with simple descriptions, Kessel provides a full-circle explanation of how to overcome those mind-sets and, yes, then use that newly found wisdom to create a better relationship with the almighty dollar. If you have arrived, he claims, money will be "a profounder teacher in your life, guiding you toward this abiding sense of freedom and fulfillment." Zen and the art of money management. Copyright 2007 Booklist Reviews.
Table of Contents
Introduction xiii
It's Not About the Money xv
Financial Planner by Day, Yogi by Dawn xvi
Why This Book? xviii
Financial Freedom for Your Soul xx
Part 1: The Nature of Mind
You Will Never Have Enough
The Wanting Mind
Wired to Want
If Only
In the Flow
But It Feels Good!
The Financial Toll of Wanting
Diminishing Returns
The More We Want, the More We Want
12 (1)
Financial Planning and Great Investment Advice Won't Get You ``There''
13 (3)
Wanting Better Investment Returns
16 (1)
At War with Yourself
17 (3)
Not Wanting
20 (3)
The Unconscious Wins Every Time
23 (22)
We Get What We Think We Deserve
24 (1)
Your Core Story
25 (1)
The Script Is Written
26 (4)
The Seeds of the Core Story
30 (1)
Understand Your Story
31 (2)
To the Very Core
33 (2)
No Quick Fix
35 (4)
Part 2: The Eight Financial Archetypes
Introducing the Archetypes
39 (3)
Our Stories Change
42 (3)
The Guardian
45 (16)
The Guardian's Core Story
49 (2)
What the Guardian Feels
51 (1)
Seeds of the Guardian: Survival Mode
51 (4)
What the Guardian Thinks
55 (1)
The Payoff
55 (2)
Breaking the Guardian's Death Grip
57 (4)
The Pleasure Seeker
61 (16)
The Pleasure Seeker's Core Story
62 (2)
Seeds of the Pleasure Seeker---``Why Suffer?''
64 (1)
The Payoff: Death-Defying Buying
65 (1)
What the Pleasure Seeker Fears
66 (2)
The Dark Side of Pleasure-Seeking: Buy Now, Pay (Big) Later
68 (3)
A Different Kind of Pleasure
71 (3)
My Hands Are Empty
74 (3)
The Idealist
77 (12)
The Idealist's Core Story
78 (2)
Seeds of the Idealist---``The Eye of a Needle''
80 (1)
``Money Just Sucks''
81 (1)
Heads in the Sand
82 (2)
Hippies with Money
84 (1)
The Payoff
85 (1)
Breaking Free
86 (3)
The Saver
89 (10)
The Saver's Core Story
90 (3)
The Dark Side of Saving
93 (2)
The Payoff
95 (1)
Breaking the Saver's Death Grip
95 (4)
The Star
99 (10)
The Star's Core Story
100 (1)
Seeds of the Star---Bring on the Bling
101 (2)
The Payoff
103 (1)
A Painful Chasm
104 (1)
Freeing the Star
105 (4)
The Innocent
109 (10)
The Innocent's Core Story
110 (1)
What the Innocent Believes
111 (2)
Seeds of the Innocent
113 (1)
The Payoff
114 (1)
Get Comfortable with Money
115 (4)
The Caretaker
119 (16)
The Caretaker's Core Story
120 (1)
What the Caretaker Believes
121 (1)
Seeds of the Caretaker: ``He's Not Heavy...''
122 (1)
The Payoff
123 (2)
The Dark Side of Caretaking
125 (3)
A Different Kind of Caretaking
128 (7)
The Empire Builder
135 (16)
What the Empire Builder Believes
137 (1)
The Wanting Mind and the Empire Builder
138 (1)
The Payoff
139 (1)
Treat Yourself Like You Treat Your Business
140 (1)
Removing the Blinders
141 (10)
Part 3: In the World and of It
The Middle Way with Money
151 (30)
Think More
154 (2)
A Four-Year-Old Runs Your Financial Life
156 (3)
Your Money Mask
159 (2)
Your Innate Financial Wisdom
161 (2)
Hold Both
163 (2)
This Is Depressing!
165 (1)
The Middle Way for Each Archetype
165 (10)
Heart Racing?
175 (1)
Opposites Attract
175 (2)
Go Slowly
177 (1)
Play!
178 (1)
Your Divine Nature and Your Human Nature
178 (3)
The Conscious Investor
181 (30)
Holy Investing!
183 (1)
What Investing Is
183 (1)
Interconnected Versus Isolated Wealth
184 (3)
Investing as Though We're All One
187 (1)
Does It Really Work?
188 (1)
When the Past Does Not Equal the Future
189 (1)
Doing Good and Doing Well
190 (1)
The Middle Way for Investors
191 (2)
True Diversity
193 (3)
So How Does a Diversified Portfolio Perform?
196 (2)
Unearthing the Hidden Fees and Costs of Investing
198 (4)
Time is on Your Side
202 (3)
Prepare Yourself
205 (6)
The Yoga of Money
211 (26)
Self-Centeredness
213 (3)
It's Not Just for Saints
216 (3)
Right Motivation
219 (1)
If Not Now, When?
220 (1)
How Much Should You Give?
221 (3)
Three Buckets
224 (2)
What Can You Give?
226 (3)
What's Your Cause?
229 (2)
Teach a Man to Fish
231 (1)
So You Want to Leave a Legacy
232 (1)
Don't Wait until You're Dead and Gone
233 (4)
You Have Arrived
237 (8)
Don't Do, Be
239 (2)
As Good as It Gets
241 (4)
Appendix: The Nuts and Bolts
245 (38)
Ready-to-Go Investment Strategies
246 (3)
Cash Flow
249 (1)
Debt and Mortgage Management
250 (3)
Retirement Planning
253 (1)
Taxes
254 (1)
Annuities
255 (1)
Insurance
256 (4)
Estate Planning
260 (3)
Financial Planners
263 (1)
Socially Responsible Investing (SRI)
263 (1)
Smart Philanthropy
263 (1)
Debt Reduction Services
264 (1)
Donor-Advised Funds
264 (1)
Characteristics of and Practical Recommendations for Each Archetype
264 (19)
The Guardian
264 (3)
The Pleasure Seeker
267 (2)
The Idealist
269 (2)
The Saver
271 (2)
The Star
273 (2)
The Innocent
275 (2)
The Caretaker
277 (2)
The Empire Builder
279 (4)
Resources 283 (6)
Acknowledgments 289 (4)
Index 293
from the library computer:
Booklist Reviews
*Starred Review* This is a financial-planning guide unlike any other on the market, thanks mostly to Kessel's skillful combination of yoga and wealth-management expertise. Seem like an odd duet? Not after listening to his discourse on "the wanting mind," an affliction of many here in the U.S., one that craves experiences different from the current one, again and again and again. And not after reading the Dalai Lama's quote: "The simple act of reflecting, the simple act of pausing to consider, to reason, can have an impact." Exactly what the author (head of a well-known and respected wealth management firm) wants us to do. He plumbs the depth of our conscious and unconscious relationships with money, asking, What's your biggest fear? What's your most painful memory about money (et al.)? That lays the foundation for the eight financial archetypes, eight core personalities that deal with finances in very different ways, from the guardian and the pleasure seeker to the caretaker and empire builder. Not content with simple descriptions, Kessel provides a full-circle explanation of how to overcome those mind-sets and, yes, then use that newly found wisdom to create a better relationship with the almighty dollar. If you have arrived, he claims, money will be "a profounder teacher in your life, guiding you toward this abiding sense of freedom and fulfillment." Zen and the art of money management. Copyright 2007 Booklist Reviews.
December 13, 2021
Beautifully written book with a deep whole system approach to Money. Don’t expect any quick fix or plan! It’s about starting the long journey of understanding your relationship with the money and how to live more harmoniously with it
September 26, 2023
This book changed the way I think about money. Highly recommend, not only for the sound financial advice near the end, but for the life-changing exploration of your Core Story around money and how you make decisions.
June 19, 2018
This book is most interesting in the world
July 29, 2019
A must read for everyone who wants to know more about their unconscious money habits.
Gives you a fresh new and deep perspective on how to approach money.
Can for sure recommend!
Gives you a fresh new and deep perspective on how to approach money.
Can for sure recommend!
March 8, 2020
This book is a fantastic introduction to understanding the different mindsets involved with money. An interesting view and will increase your financial education.
February 7, 2024
It’s a good book if you’re looking within yourself to find a good financial strategy towards a specific personality. It points out your strengths and weaknesses.
March 22, 2024
Fantastic book for those who want to understand why do they have the relationship with money that they have.
Parts of the book that talk about investing are very US-focused, I skipped those.
Parts of the book that talk about investing are very US-focused, I skipped those.
January 7, 2025
Determine your financial archetype to help you understand your approach to your finances and to life. Provides an alternative Middle Way option to financial wellness. Great read!
February 18, 2010
Money has a way of provoking powerful gut reactions — ranging from giddy butterflies to acid reflux — in most of us. According to author and financial planner Brent Kessel, these responses have as much to do with a lifetime of conditioning as with any objective financial reality. Everyone has a “money story,” he explains. That story has a huge influence on our financial decisions, and a huge capacity to wreak havoc from the psychological sidelines. To that end, It’s Not About the Money teaches you how to identify your money story and reclaim your financial decision-making power. Kessel’s approach is grounded in practical fiscal wisdom, and infused with deeper insights from his longtime yoga and meditation practice. The concrete planning strategies he recommends are designed to help foster both financial self-awareness and success. The book’s first section explores the Buddhist concept of the “wanting mind,” showing how our minds create irrational links between money and fulfillment; the second explains the eight financial archetypes and how to break their ingrained habits; the last offers straightforward strategies for saving, investing and philanthropy. Perfect for developing a calmer, more fulfilling perspective about whatever your financial situation is — and about what you’d like it to be.
August 24, 2016
Personal finance guides typically offer a one-size-fits-all approach to having a good financial life. Although such general guides may contain sound advice, they mostly ignore the psychological barriers that can get in the way of following that advice. That is where this book comes in.
The heart of the book is a description of eight "money types," which are like personality types for the financial aspects of life. By identifying and understanding your dominant money type, you can become more aware of your beliefs and habits (good and bad) concerning money and can then work towards a more balanced financial life. For example, I found that I am a "Saver" because I tend to squirrel away too much of my income out of a desire for security. The book offers specific financial advice tailored to each money type. In my case, it recommends I set aside money each month explicitly for spending for enjoyment, which seems reasonable. As a side benefit to reading about the different money types, you may better understand your friends' and family members' previously inexplicable money habits!
I found this book informative and the advice useful. I don't think it is a good place to start if you are just starting to learn about personal finance, but once you understand the essentials, it is a nice complement to more general personal finance guides.
The heart of the book is a description of eight "money types," which are like personality types for the financial aspects of life. By identifying and understanding your dominant money type, you can become more aware of your beliefs and habits (good and bad) concerning money and can then work towards a more balanced financial life. For example, I found that I am a "Saver" because I tend to squirrel away too much of my income out of a desire for security. The book offers specific financial advice tailored to each money type. In my case, it recommends I set aside money each month explicitly for spending for enjoyment, which seems reasonable. As a side benefit to reading about the different money types, you may better understand your friends' and family members' previously inexplicable money habits!
I found this book informative and the advice useful. I don't think it is a good place to start if you are just starting to learn about personal finance, but once you understand the essentials, it is a nice complement to more general personal finance guides.
July 2, 2012
Hmmm...well just saw that he has written two other books since 2008....the one in 2011 w/ CD's and cards....will try not to focus on the Wanting Mind and wanting to read more:) Thought some very good insight and fit nicely with other book was reading concurrently "In Praise of Slowness"--similar messages about meditation, yoga, spiritual connectedness and mindfulness in decision making vs. just playing out our "core" story as it relates to money, or really other areas of our life. Again think this is a keeper...although probably should look into checking out the more recent copy and considering that a better investment. I will make no decision now, and just silence my mind and the answer will come to me clearly.
In full disclosure, appreciated that he cited "Its your Money or Your Life" as a resource and a lot of his other connections made sense to me--wasn't as cut and dry as Dave Ramsey--which may not work for some, but think his approach is more life changing and sustaining--focus on inward change and awareness (and while a simple concept, harder to implement--but we get a chance each moment:)
Curious about the other book and headed to the library later, so hopefully we'll connect up!
In full disclosure, appreciated that he cited "Its your Money or Your Life" as a resource and a lot of his other connections made sense to me--wasn't as cut and dry as Dave Ramsey--which may not work for some, but think his approach is more life changing and sustaining--focus on inward change and awareness (and while a simple concept, harder to implement--but we get a chance each moment:)
Curious about the other book and headed to the library later, so hopefully we'll connect up!
March 22, 2009
Hands down one of the best books I've read about personal finance as it get to the root of our relationships with money rather than just going into "how to get out of debt" or "how to save for retirement".
Brent Kessel breaks out 8 financial archetypes, and how they relate emotionally to money:
1) Guardian: Alert & careful (i.e. worries) about $
2) Pleasure Seeker: Lives for today
3) Idealist: Values freedom, creativity, social justice etc. over $
4) Saver: Seeks security & abundance through acquiring assets
5) Star: Uses $ to be recognized & feel good
6) Innocent: Avoids thinking about $ & hopes for the best
7) Caretaker: Gives & lends $ to help others (martyr)
8) Empire Builder: Driven & insatiable about $
You'll find yourself nodding along as you see yourself, friends, & loved ones mirrored back in these descriptions. Get ready for a major paradigm shift.
Also provides a basic how-to of what to do next. All framed in a spiritual approach, with quotes from the Dalai Lama and other spiritual leaders sprinkled throughout. A must read.
Brent Kessel breaks out 8 financial archetypes, and how they relate emotionally to money:
1) Guardian: Alert & careful (i.e. worries) about $
2) Pleasure Seeker: Lives for today
3) Idealist: Values freedom, creativity, social justice etc. over $
4) Saver: Seeks security & abundance through acquiring assets
5) Star: Uses $ to be recognized & feel good
6) Innocent: Avoids thinking about $ & hopes for the best
7) Caretaker: Gives & lends $ to help others (martyr)
8) Empire Builder: Driven & insatiable about $
You'll find yourself nodding along as you see yourself, friends, & loved ones mirrored back in these descriptions. Get ready for a major paradigm shift.
Also provides a basic how-to of what to do next. All framed in a spiritual approach, with quotes from the Dalai Lama and other spiritual leaders sprinkled throughout. A must read.
April 2, 2016
A different way of looking at finances and what defines success. The personality types Kessel describes are not absolutes, most people will be a combination of two, maybe more depending on the day or circumstance.
The exercises and questions help define a person's type and how to change negative reactions into more positive ones. The usual
single-minded methods of how to save, invest and set strong financial goals most advisors advocate are missing here. The different pitfalls that face the Idealist, Innocent, Caregiver and Pleasure Seeker, types that typically handle money badly, are considered and solutions are offered. One goal, giving, is emphasized for all types.
There's also practical stuff about what to ask any potential financial planners and advisors, how stocks and bonds work over the long term, and such. Kessel ' s method works better and is less intimidating than the more traditional aggressive or fearful approaches used by other financial writers.
The exercises and questions help define a person's type and how to change negative reactions into more positive ones. The usual
single-minded methods of how to save, invest and set strong financial goals most advisors advocate are missing here. The different pitfalls that face the Idealist, Innocent, Caregiver and Pleasure Seeker, types that typically handle money badly, are considered and solutions are offered. One goal, giving, is emphasized for all types.
There's also practical stuff about what to ask any potential financial planners and advisors, how stocks and bonds work over the long term, and such. Kessel ' s method works better and is less intimidating than the more traditional aggressive or fearful approaches used by other financial writers.
March 5, 2012
This book started with a lot of promise. I certainly "unlocked my money type", but I'm still waiting to achieve "spiritual and financial abundance"! The author really delved into the idea of The Wanting Mind and tapping into your unconscious "issues" (e.g. Core Story) that are dictating your financial life. There were good exercises in the book to assist you with this self-examination. The second half of the book was dedicated to helping you balance your harmful unconsious habits with your innate financial knowledge. I never really figured out what my innate financial knowledge was. There were not enough exercises to help with this. The author has a lot of resources online, included guided exercises and meditations. I plan on trying them. Perhaps the online material will supplement the book enough to be able to come back and award it another star.
Read
June 11, 2008I finally found a book that approaches finance the way I deal with other areas of my life. Who knew you could deal with money with a similar problem solving set? The author has been a financial adviser/meditation devotee for something like 20 years. In this time he collected what he calls the "8 money types." Presumably you relate to one of two of these. It helps get to the heart of fears we have concerning money. Once these fears are identified you can find a more balanced path. Sort of resting on the idea that our subconcious has a lot more to do with our life choices than we think and it is important to identify what is really driving us.
I look at this book as a good launching pad to dealing with future money decisions and investment styles.
I look at this book as a good launching pad to dealing with future money decisions and investment styles.
Read
October 6, 2010Eight Financial Archetypes:
GUARDIAN
Gifts: alertness, prudence
Pitfalls: worry, anxiety
PLEASURE SEEKER
G: enjoyment, pleasure
P: hedonism, impulsiveness
IDEALIST (prioritizes creativity/compassion/social justice/spiritual growth)
G: vision, compassion
P: distrust, aversion
SAVER
G: self-sufficiency, abundance
P: hoarding, penny-pinching
STAR (spends to be recognized)
G: leadership, style
G: pretentiousness, self-importance
INNOCENT (life will work out for best regardless of money)
G: hope, adaptability
P: avoidance, helplessness
CARETAKER (spends for compassion/generosity)
G: empathy, generosity
P: enabling, self-abandoning
EMPIRE BUILDER (create something of enduring value)
G: innovation, decisiveness
P: greed, domination
GUARDIAN
Gifts: alertness, prudence
Pitfalls: worry, anxiety
PLEASURE SEEKER
G: enjoyment, pleasure
P: hedonism, impulsiveness
IDEALIST (prioritizes creativity/compassion/social justice/spiritual growth)
G: vision, compassion
P: distrust, aversion
SAVER
G: self-sufficiency, abundance
P: hoarding, penny-pinching
STAR (spends to be recognized)
G: leadership, style
G: pretentiousness, self-importance
INNOCENT (life will work out for best regardless of money)
G: hope, adaptability
P: avoidance, helplessness
CARETAKER (spends for compassion/generosity)
G: empathy, generosity
P: enabling, self-abandoning
EMPIRE BUILDER (create something of enduring value)
G: innovation, decisiveness
P: greed, domination
May 2, 2008
Borrowed from library.
Saw that Kessel had spoken at Kripalu and met several people who really enjoyed his seminar, so picked this up. It reminded me some of George Kinder's "Seven Stages of Money Maturity".
The financial advice he presents in the book was good, but I already knew most of that. I found the archetypes more interesting, personally.
Apparently, I'm a Saver/Guardian/Empire Builder type, with a tendency to hoard/save/worry about money. Kessel suggests these types can learn from more generous/idealistic types, which I agree with. In particular, I would like to be more generous with my money and time. (Well, maybe money once I have a job again! :)
Saw that Kessel had spoken at Kripalu and met several people who really enjoyed his seminar, so picked this up. It reminded me some of George Kinder's "Seven Stages of Money Maturity".
The financial advice he presents in the book was good, but I already knew most of that. I found the archetypes more interesting, personally.
Apparently, I'm a Saver/Guardian/Empire Builder type, with a tendency to hoard/save/worry about money. Kessel suggests these types can learn from more generous/idealistic types, which I agree with. In particular, I would like to be more generous with my money and time. (Well, maybe money once I have a job again! :)
February 18, 2012
Interesting perspective on your "financial archetype". Emphasizes putting your money towards what is truly important versus material items (takes a spiritual approach). It also has very specific investing advice. It speaks specifically about investing passively or through index funds and diversifying asset classes. Needing stocks, real estate and bonds (depending on age).
US Large 21%
US Large Value 21%
US Small 9%
US Small Value 9%
Intl Large Value 8%
Intl Small 4%
Intl Small Value 4%
Emerging Markets Portfolio 3%
Emerging Markets Small 3%
Emerging Markets Value 3%
Real Estate 10%
Commodities 5%
US Large 21%
US Large Value 21%
US Small 9%
US Small Value 9%
Intl Large Value 8%
Intl Small 4%
Intl Small Value 4%
Emerging Markets Portfolio 3%
Emerging Markets Small 3%
Emerging Markets Value 3%
Real Estate 10%
Commodities 5%
Displaying 1 - 30 of 48 reviews