Behavior Gap Radio

In episode four of Your Wise Money Friend, Carl shares how a wise money friend helps you pause, not to stop you, but to give you space. Space between the impulse and the action. Space to breathe, to feel, and to choose. Because the point isn’t control—it’s clarity. And that little pause? That’s where alignment begins.Want more from Carl? Get the shortest, most impactful weekly email on the web! Sign up for the Weekly Letter from Certified Financial Planner™ and New York Times columnist Carl Richards here: https://behaviorgap.com/ 

In episode three of Your Wise Money Friend, Carl reminds us that to a wise money friend, your story is never just about money. They listen between the lines—because behind every financial decision is something deeper: fear, joy, dreams, love. A wise money friend knows it’s all connected, and that’s where the real conversation begins.Want more from Carl? Get the shortest, most impactful weekly email on the web! Sign up for the Weekly Letter from Certified Financial Planner™ and New York Times columnist Carl Richards here: https://behaviorgap.com/ 

In episode two of Your Wise Money Friend, Carl explores the idea that wisdom isn’t about being right—it’s about being present. A wise money friend won’t hand you a to-do list or correct your choices. Instead, they ask the deeper questions that help you see yourself more clearly. Because the goal isn’t certainty, it’s clarity.Want more from Carl? Get the shortest, most impactful weekly email on the web! Sign up for the Weekly Letter from Certified Financial Planner™ and New York Times columnist Carl Richards here: https://behaviorgap.com/ 

In this special 1,300th episode, Carl kicks off a new series called Your Wise Money Friend. Episode one starts with a simple but powerful idea: A wise money friend doesn’t shame you. They don’t scold, lecture, or judge—they lean in with curiosity. Instead of asking, “Can you afford it?” They ask, “Tell me more.” Because real wisdom isn’t about telling you what to do—it’s about helping you explore why.Want more from Carl? Get the shortest, most impactful weekly email on the web! Sign up for the Weekly Letter from Certified Financial Planner™ and New York Times columnist Carl Richards here: https://behaviorgap.com/ 

In this kickoff episode, Carl introduces a new series called Your Wise Money Friend—a collection of short, gentle reflections to help you pause, notice your money patterns, and choose on purpose. No hype. No shame. Just tiny moments of clarity, like a quiet walk with someone who really gets it. Because money isn’t just math, it’s meaning.Want more from Carl? Get the shortest, most impactful weekly email on the web! Sign up for the Weekly Letter from Certified Financial Planner™ and New York Times columnist Carl Richards here: https://behaviorgap.com/ 

It’s not about what you spent—it’s about what you felt. In this field episode from Los Angeles, Carl shares a shift in how he thinks about money decisions. Whether it’s a new truck or a fancy coffee, the real question isn’t “Can you afford it?” It’s “What are you hoping this will do for you?” Because every financial choice has a feeling underneath it—and that’s where the real insight lives.Want more from Carl? Get the shortest, most impactful weekly email on the web! Sign up for the Weekly Letter from Certified Financial Planner™ and New York Times columnist Carl Richards here: https://behaviorgap.com/ 

Money isn’t math—it’s practice. In this episode, Carl reframes every financial decision as a chance to get more aligned with who you really are. Not perfect. Just intentional. Not based on someone else’s rules, but rooted in your own values. One choice at a time.Want more from Carl? Get the shortest, most impactful weekly email on the web! Sign up for the Weekly Letter from Certified Financial Planner™ and New York Times columnist Carl Richards here: https://behaviorgap.com/ 

What if every transaction became a moment of transformation? In this episode, Carl asks what would happen if your values showed up not after you spend, but right before—before the tap, the click, the buy. Because every transaction builds your story, and with one simple pause, you can start writing it on purpose.Want more from Carl? Get the shortest, most impactful weekly email on the web! Sign up for the Weekly Letter from Certified Financial Planner™ and New York Times columnist Carl Richards here: https://behaviorgap.com/ 

What if every transaction was a chance to practice your values? In this episode, Carl explores how even the smallest purchases—coffee, groceries, flights—can move from invisible habits to intentional choices. This isn’t about spending less. It’s about spending in alignment, where your money reflects the life you actually want to live.Want more from Carl? Get the shortest, most impactful weekly email on the web! Sign up for the Weekly Letter from Certified Financial Planner™ and New York Times columnist Carl Richards here: https://behaviorgap.com/ 

Emotions play a pivotal role in our financial decisions, often driving choices we may not fully understand. This discussion emphasizes the value of reflecting on these feelings to cultivate awareness and make informed financial choices. By recognizing and embracing our emotional connections to money, we can achieve greater clarity and control in our financial lives.