Reimagining Wealth with Carl Richards, CFP® & Dr. Jay Zigmont, CFP®

Jan 15, 2026

In this enlightening discussion, Carl Richards, a renowned CERTIFIED FINANCIAL PLANNER® and creator of the Sketch Guy column, shares how his simple sketches clarify complex money concepts. He breaks down his famous Venn diagram illustrating the intersection of what matters and what you control. Carl emphasizes the importance of aligning financial goals with personal values, particularly for child-free individuals, and encourages talking candidly about money to strengthen relationships. Practical small changes, like choosing better trail shoes, can lead to significant improvements in life satisfaction.

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INSIGHT

Control Meets What Matters

Focus energy where what matters overlaps with what you control.
That overlap is where effective financial planning and peace live.

ANECDOTE

Lacrosse Lesson About Currency Worry

Carl noticed his mother obsessing about the dollar collapsing at a lacrosse game and used it to teach perspective.
He asked whether it would matter or be controllable and found it neither in her situation.

ADVICE

Use Small Actions To Regain Control

When headlines trigger anxiety, take a small physical action to regain control.
Use tangible tasks (clean the garage, hands in dirt) to redirect energy productively.

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What if the way you think about wealth is keeping you from building it? In this episode, Dr. Jay Zigmont, CFP® and Carl Richards, CFP® creator of the Sketch Guy column in the New York Times, sit down to explore how simple drawings unlock profound truths about money and life.

Carl shares the stories behind his most powerful sketches, including the Venn diagram asking "What can I control?" and "What matters?" and why their overlap is where real financial planning happens.

Key Takeaways:

Focus on the overlap of what matters and what you control.
Real financial planning aligns money with life.
The only goal that matters is yours.
Childfree planning requires different tools and thinking.

Episode Host:

Dr. Jay Zigmont, PhD, MBA, CFP® is the Founder of Childfree Wealth, a life and financial planning firm dedicated to helping people simplify their finances so they can live an amazing Childfree life. Dr. Jay is a CERTIFIED FINANCIAL PLANNER®, Childfree Wealth Specialist, and author of the book “The Childfree Guide to Life and Money.” His Ph.D. is in Adult Learning from the University of Connecticut.

Meet the Guest:

Carl Richards, CFP®, wrote The Sketch Guy column in The New York Times for a decade, using cardstock and a Sharpie to make money feel less complicated. He's the author of bestsellers The Behavior Gap and The One-Page Financial Plan, and his latest book, Your Money: Reimagining Wealth in 101 Simple Sketches, released in October 2025. Carl hosts the daily podcast Behavior Gap Radio and founded The Society of Advice, a community for financial planners dedicated to the craft of advice.

Learn more on his website: behaviorgap.com.

Connect with Carl Online: LinkedIn X Instagram.

Pre-order Carl’s book on Amazon or at your favorite bookstore.

To place a bulk order of Carl’s book, visit this link and use the code YourMoney5 at checkout to save a

About Childfree Life by Design:

Childfree Life By Design is dedicated to helping Childfree individuals thrive by providing resources, guidance, and community. We recognize that when you've made a decision roughly 75% of the population doesn't make, conventional wisdom simply doesn't apply to you. Our mission is to help you design a life that works for you, covering everything from finances and relationships to career decisions and building support networks that will actually be there when you need them.

Connect with Us:

Ready to design your ideal Childfree life? Connect with our financial planning team at childfreewealth.com or learn more about estate planning at childfreetrust.com

Join the conversation on social media:

Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/childfreeinsights
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/ChildfreeInsights/
LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/company/childfreeinsights
YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@ChildfreeInsights

Disclaimer: This podcast is for educational & entertainment purposes. Please consult your advisor before implementing any ideas heard on this podcast...