Sarah Newcomb

Traditional budgeting advice leads people to create plans that leave them feeling deprived today in the hopes of being happy in the future. These strategies rarely work because they run counter to human motivation. It’s no wonder that less than 30% of Americans report sticking to or using a budget. There is a better way. We can create spending plans that will make us happy today and in the future with a little help from psychology.

Financial health has at least two dimensions: economic stability and psychological well-being. The ‘worried wealthy’ and ‘carefree spendthrifts’ are examples of what can happen when someone is weak on just one of these two dimensions. In this talk, educators will learn how to recognize the signs of a healthy – or unhealthy financial mindset, as well as targeted coaching strategies to help students develop a mindset that supports both wealth and well-being.

Personal money management is not just about numbers. It’s also about the stories we tell ourselves because of those numbers. This talk gives an overview of how the social and cultural meanings of money can affect our day-to-day decisions with money. By uncovering your personal financial narratives and core beliefs, you can begin to take control of your financial future in powerful ways.

Much of the financial advice landscape is targeted at people who already have capital to invest. This talk is for those who are starting from scratch. Based on elementary concepts from economics and psychology, participants will discover how to build a long-term financial strategy and then tailor it to their personal dreams and goals.