Cognitive Behavioral Tools for FI With Jasper Lee, PhD | Ep 573

21 snips

Nov 17, 2025

Jasper Lee, PhD, a clinical psychologist with a focus on financial independence, delves into the psychological journey of achieving financial wellness. He reveals that 90-95% of this journey is mental, emphasizing the significance of understanding money scripts formed in childhood. Jasper introduces cognitive restructuring as a method to challenge unhelpful thoughts, while behavioral activation encourages engagement in joy-filled activities. He also discusses strategies for managing emotions and stressors, ultimately highlighting a balanced approach to financial and psychological health.

Ask episode

AI Snips

Chapters

Books

Transcript

Episode notes

INSIGHT

Psychology Dominates The FI Journey

Psychology drives most of the FI journey, far more than mechanics of money.
Jasper Lee estimates 90–95% of FI is psychological and only 5–10% is technical.

ANECDOTE

From Psychology Expert To FI Learner

Jasper had strong psychology skills but little finance knowledge until recently.
He learned FI principles by listening to ChooseFI and reading, then applied goal-directed behavior.

ADVICE

Chunk FI Goals Into SMART Steps

Set long-term goals and break them into SMART sub-goals you can act on this year.
Define specific savings rates, income targets, and time-oriented steps to reach each milestone.

Get the Snipd Podcast app to discover more snips from this episode

Get the app

Show Notes

Guest: Jasper Lee, PhD - Clinical Psychologist Episode Summary: In this episode, Jasper Lee discusses the psychological elements that impact the journey to financial independence (FI). He provides actionable insights on dealing with emotions and behaviors that influence financial decisions, emphasizing cognitive restructuring and behavioral activation as key strategies.

Key Takeaways

Psychology in FI: 90-95% of the FI journey is psychological, with the remaining being about the mechanics of money.
Understanding Money Scripts: Early lessons about money shape adult attitudes; awareness of these scripts can help shift unhelpful patterns.
Cognitive Restructuring: Challenge unhelpful thoughts to foster a healthier money mindset.
Behavioral Activation: Engage in activities that bring joy and fulfillment to enhance emotional well-being.

Timestamps & Insights

00:00:00 Introduction to Jasper Lee
- Overview of Jasper's qualifications and focus on the intersection of psychology and FI.
00:02:30 Psychology and Financial Independence
- Key Quote: "Psychology comprises 90-95% of the FI journey."
- Discussion on how our emotions and thoughts relate to financial strategies.
00:20:50 Understanding Money Scripts
- Key Quote: "Childhood experiences shape our adult relationships with money."
- The Klontz Money Script Inventory helps identify personal money scripts.
00:32:45 Cognitive Restructuring Explained
- Key Quote: "Identify and challenge unhelpful thought patterns to reduce anxiety about money."
- Techniques for restructing thoughts include evidence for vs. against, and balanced thinking.
00:52:00 Behavioral Activation Insights
- Key Quote: "Engage in activities that enrich your life."
- Importance of balancing accomplishment, pleasure, social interactions, and physical activities.
01:03:30 Closure and Resources
- Suggested resource: The Happiness Trap by Russ Harris for further exploration of acceptance and commitment strategies.

Actionable Takeaways

Engagement Experimentation: Reflect on week-long activities and assess which bring joy. (Timestamp: 00:15:28)
Cognitive Restructuring Practice: Challenge and replace unhelpful thoughts with balanced perspectives. (Timestamp: 00:32:18)

Discussion Questions

What financial beliefs did you inherit from your childhood? (Timestamp: 00:20:00)
How do your thoughts affect your financial decisions? (Timestamp: 00:32:45)

Related Resources

Klontz Money Script Test: Take the Test (Timestamp: 00:20:50)
The Happiness Trap by Russ Harris: Read Here (Timestamp: 01:03:30)
Jasper Lee's website: jasperleephd.com