Episode Summary
What if the biggest barrier to good financial decisions isn’t knowledge, discipline, or willpower… but simply being human?
In this deeply insightful episode, Steve sits down with Neil Bage, Co-Founder of Shaping Wealth and one of the leading thinkers in financial psychology. Together, they explore why great financial planning starts with understanding people, not products.
From the emotional rollercoaster of market movements to the identity shifts that come with retirement, Neil explains why our Stone Age brains are constantly trying to navigate a modern money world they were never designed for. It’s eye-opening, reassuring, and full of those “oh… that’s why I do that” moments.
💬 A standout moment from Neil:
“We are not thinking machines that feel. We are feeling machines that think.”
Episode Highlights
- Why our ancient wiring clashes with long-term financial decisions
- How advisers and clients both grapple with emotion, uncertainty, and fear
- Why empathy and self-awareness are superpowers in financial planning
- How understanding your own psychology leads to calmer, wiser money choices
If you’ve ever felt anxious, impatient, overwhelmed, or just plain human when it comes to money this conversation will help you see yourself with more clarity and a lot more compassion.
