Financial planner by day, yogi by dawn, Kessel offers holistic financial advice in this Buddhist-influenced debut promising both a better financial strategy and greater fulfillment and happiness. More money doesn't necessarily mean more enjoyment of life and freedom from worry, Kessel argues; people are often unhappy with their financial lives because traditional ways to think about money—spend less, save more—work from the outside in rather than the inside out. Kessel highlights the benefits of focusing awareness inward, allowing for the integration of outer actions with inner understanding. He explores eight financial archetypes (including The Pleasure Seeker and The Empire Builder), helps readers determine their type and suggests ways to overcome the problems each type typically faces. Pleasure Seekers, for example, should take a weekly break from wanting or redefine the things that bring them pleasure. The rewards will be an abiding sense of financial fulfillment, a sense of security and confidence about the future and a greater ability to reach important financial goals. Readers interested in an Eastern-influenced approach will find useful advice on how to think about money, as well as insight into what makes us tick.
(Jan.) Copyright © Reed Business Information, a division of Reed Elsevier Inc. All rights reserved.
--This text refers to an out of print or unavailable edition of this title.
“It’s rare that a book on personal finance succeeds equally well on both sides of the coin. Brent Kessel has pulled it off. This is one that’s rich in solid, practical advice--but not at the expense of the human spirit. (Lee Eisenberg, author of The Number: A Completely Different Way To Think About the Rest of Your Life )
This book does a beautiful job at helping us make peace with money and our relationship to it. I highly and enthusiastically recommended It’s NotAbout the Money for anyone with any amount of money!” (Liz Pulliam Weston, nationally syndicated personal finance columnist, MSN Money Expert, and author of Your Credit Score and Deal with Your Debt )
“Brent Kessel combines some of the most sophisticated knowledge of financial planning and investment strategies with a sincere and grounded practice in the meditation arts. By reading this book, people will benefit in ways they never imagined possible. I highly recommend his work.” (George Kinder, author of The Seven Stages of Money Maturity )
“Brent Kessel is one of the financial planning profession’s true thought leaders around what may be the most important issue of our time: How can each of us find personally fulfilling strategies that will lead us toward a life of happiness and spiritual prosperity?” (Bob Veres, editor, Inside Information )
“Brent Kessel is one of the most thoughtful, thorough and knowledgeable investment professionals that I’ve met. His advice on blending the personal and financial aspects of life have served him well in doing an outstanding job for his clients.” (Jim O’Shaughnessy, author of What Works on Wall Street and How to Retire Rich )
“Kessel has a unique perspective on money. He is able to open people’s eyes to the financial world and at the same time show them how to look inward for value. Anyone who wants to not only be rich but lead a rich life should read this book.” (Thomas M. Kostigen, Dow Jones’ MarketWatch columnist and author of What Money Really Means )
Kessel offers “holistic financial advice” in Buddhist-influenced debut promising both a better financial strategy and greater fulfillment and happiness. (Publishers Weekly )
This is a financial-planning guide unlike any other on the market, thanks mostly to Kessel’s skillful combination of yoga and wealth-management expertise. . . . Zen and the art of money management. (Booklist )
What YOUR MONEY OR YOUR LIFE does for your relationship with earning and spending money, Brent Kessel does for your relationship with investing. This book is clear, kind, helpful and empowering.. (Thich Nhat Hanh, author of The Art of Power )
“What’s your heart’s desire--spiritual fulfillment, or wealth? The good news is that it’s not an either/or proposition--you can have both. This magnificent book will show you how to get your ego out of the way so you can align your financial decisions with your heart and soul.” (Ken Blanchard, coauthor of The One Minute Manager® and Lead Like Jesus )
“Brent Kessel will change your relationship with money in a way that may also enhance the richness of your life.” (Tom Bradley, President, TD AMERITRADE Institutional )
“Kessel shows how being mindful of our relationship to money can free one of anxiety and even turn money into a tool for compassion. (Thich Nhat Hanh, Zen Buddhis monk and bestselling author nominated for the Nobel Peace Prize by Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. )
It’s a remarkably transformative book--the myriad of exercises Brent shares brought me to tears several times...VERY powerful stuff. (philosophersnotes.com )
Brent Kessel has written something sophisticated, psychologically accurate and helpful to a person trying to live at the center of all this constant getting and spending. This is a book that succeeds admirably in helping us to understand ourselves, our goals and our relationship to money.” (David Whyte, author of The Heart Aroused and Crossing the Unknown Sea: Work As a Pilgrimage of Identity )
[It’s Not About the Money and] the accompanying interactive quiz will help you learn more about your own archetypal patterns--from “saver” to “pleasure seeker” to “empire builder”--and give you the insight and power to change. (Forbes.com )
A great job of marrying the emotional, spiritual and practical aspects of money, financial planning and wealth management. Highly recommended. (BellaOnline )
This book does a beautiful job at helping us make peace with money and our relationship to it. I highly and enthusiastically recommended It’s NotAbout the Money for anyone with any amount of money!” (Richard Carlson, author of Don't Sweat the Small Stuff...and it's all small stuff )
