Have you ever felt the urge to buy something solely for the confidence it brings to your daily life? Maybe a new planner or that perfect pen, just to add a little ‘flavor’ to the routine. If so, congratulations! According to Professor Meir Statman, that makes you perfectly ‘normal’—not irrational, but authentically human. Hear more in our in recent podcast episode.

Meir Statman, Professor at Santa Clara University

A renowned expert in behavioral finance, Professor Meir Statman, elaborates on the idea of authentically human financial behaviors further in his book “A Wealth of Well-Being: A Holistic Approach to Behavioral Finance.”

In both his writing and the conversation he has on the podcast, Professor Statman dives into how our financial choices are influenced not just by logic but by deeply human factors—like the desire for confidence, connection, or a sense of accomplishment.

“People care about utilitarian benefits—telling time—but also expressive and emotional benefits. What does it say about me, and how does it make me feel?”

His insights reveal why exploring these behaviors can help us make more informed financial decisions, leading to a life filled with greater life satisfaction and well-being.

"Life well-being extends beyond financial well-being… to family and friends, health, education, religion and more.”

Listen to the podcast on your favorite platform and get the transcript.

Also Check Out the Episode with the Co-Founders of ClassBank

Abby Coyle and Katie Gracey, co-founders of ClassBank, discuss their journey from educators to ed-tech entrepreneurs. During their conversation with Tim, they share how ClassBank (formerly ClassEquity) is transforming classroom economies to equip students with real-world financial skills. From building positive reinforcement systems to creating meaningful classroom economies, Abby and Katie’s insights offer a fresh perspective on personal finance education.

Find the episode and transcript here.

Catch the Next LIVE Speaker Series on Nov. 7 with Tiffany Dixon

There's no Speaker Series tonight as we anticipate many of you will have Halloween festivities. Join us next week on November 7 for Empowering Future Entrepreneurs with Tiffany Dixon, founder of My Next Pitch.

About the Author

Anton Ivanushkin

Anton is a student at UC San Diego. He is majoring in Cognitive Science with a specialization in Machine Learning and Neural Computation. Anton has been interning at NGPF since May 2023. He helps with video editing, podcast editing, and many other tasks.