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Experts say true financial well-being isn’t just about money, but about fulfillment, connection and ... More how we define value in our lives.
We often consider wealth a measure of what we accumulate—dollars, stocks, assets. But what if that definition is incomplete? What if wealth isn’t just about numbers but about how we connect with others?
Elizabeth Husserl, the first female principal and cofounder of Peak 360 Wealth Management, is challenging that definition. With a background in economics, psychology and money coaching, she’s leading a new conversation around how we define and experience money. Her message is simple but powerful: Money is a social technology. Like language, it only works because we all agree it does.
“Money is a tool,” Husserl explains. “It was created to help us exchange goods and services. But over time, it’s become something more complex. It’s now a stand-in for status, success and even self-worth. That’s where we get into trouble.”
A study from Edelman Financial Engines illustrates this disconnect. Fewer than one-third said they felt wealthy, even among individuals with over $1 million in assets. Only 12% of total respondents felt financially secure, and more than half of affluent individuals said they’d need over $3 million in the bank to feel truly at ease.
Something deeper is at play here. Shifting our view of wealth from financial to relational reframes how we experience money’s role in our lives. It’s not about the numbers in your account but the meaning we give them.
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