It's Not About the Money: Unlock Your Money Type to Achieve Spiritual and Financial Abundance (Hardcover)

~ (Author)
Key Phrases: core story, wanting mind, core stories, The Eight Financial Archetypes, Pleasure Seeker, Empire Builder (more...)

Editorial Reviews

From Publishers Weekly

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.)
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Review

"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 )

"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 )

"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 )

"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 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. )

"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 )

A great job of marrying the emotional, spiritual and practical aspects of money, financial planning and wealth management. Highly recommended. (BellaOnline )

A great job of marrying the emotional, spiritual and practical aspects of money, financial planning and wealth management. Highly recommended. -- BellaOnline

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 a remarkably transformative book--the myriad of exercises Brent shares brought me to tears several times...VERY powerful stuff. (philosophersnotes.com )

Kessel offers "holistic financial advice" in Buddhist-influenced debut promising both a better financial strategy and greater fulfillment and happiness. (Publishers Weekly )

Kessel offers "holistic financial advice" in Buddhist-influenced debut promising both a better financial strategy and greater fulfillment and happiness. -- Publishers Weekly

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 )

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 )

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 )

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 )

[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 )

[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

See all Editorial Reviews

Product Details

• Hardcover: 336 pages
• Publisher: HarperOne (April 1, 2008)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 0061234060
• ISBN-13: 978-0061234064
• Product Dimensions: 9.1 x 6 x 1.4 inches
• Shipping Weight: 1.2 pounds (View shipping rates and policies)
• Average Customer Review: 4.3 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (18 customer reviews)
• Amazon.com Sales Rank: #311,721 in Books (See Bestsellers in Books)

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

41 of 42 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars It's about your bizarre reactions to money, April 4, 2008

By	SAO - See all my reviews

This is a really different way of looking at money. The author gets you to think about what emotional reactions you have to common financial situations (e.g. I hate thinking about money, I love piling it up, I WANT that car!). Basically he says we might feel many of these at various times, and the way we were raised may have a lot to do with the dominant patterns. Then asks if acting on those emotional impulses is really working for you. Without criticizing, he gives ideas on ways to lighten up on yourself, how to get out of your rut...and states that often just trying a different behavior, and observing that the world doesn't come to an end, allows you to get increasing control of your reactions over time rather than always being driven by your unconscious drives (or your parents' unconscious drives).

It's really easy, fun reading. As I read about the eight "archetypes" or common patterns he points out, I admit I felt a bit superior to some...but when he got to my main pattern it was scary how accurate he was! Actually several patterns can apply to a person at different times or in different situations, so there's a lot of hands-on advice. (The little online quiz took about 2 minutes and confirmed pretty much how I'd classified myself using the book.)

The interweaving of Eastern thought and quotations was interesting without being gimmicky. I got a lot out of this book and I'm no spiritual guru.

At the back is a "Conscious Investor" chapter that I thought would be a rehash of every other financial self-help book. But instead of the usual "you can beat the market" cheerleading, it's a clear explanation of a pretty rational way to invest. The appendix "Nuts and Bolts" is like a one-chapter basic financial advice book...the key things to know or find out about, without having to read a whole book. (This chapter's about the money at least.)

Bottom line, it's useful, thought-provoking, fun without being insubstantial, and gives concrete advice for managing your irrational relationship to money...and pointers on money nuts and bolts too.

10 of 10 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars A book that is spiritual, thoughtful and practical all rolled into one, May 6, 2008

By	Sharon Michaels "www.SharonMichaels.com/power... (U.S.A.) - See all my reviews (REAL NAME)

Are you ready to discover your money personality? You know, the one that acts like a four year old one day and a mature adult the next. Brent Kessel in his book, It's Not About The Money: Unlock Your Money Type to Achieve Spiritual and Financial Abundance explores the emotional and intellectual aspects of how we deal (or don't deal) with our finances.

Brent Kessel did a great job of marrying the emotional, spiritual and practical aspects of money, financial planning and wealth management. It's Not About The Money is the type of book you'll want to make time to read, study, work the activities and absorb the material on both an emotional and intellectual level.

Part One: First we have to understand what is happening inside on an emotional level before we can work on outside circumstances. Here are some of the emotional/spiritual highlights I gathered within the first few chapters:
~ We all get what we think we deserve.

~ Financial freedom requires more of a focus on our inner life than on our outer financial circumstances.

~ Inner wealth often leads to outer wealth.

~ To truly understand our relationship with money, it's important to embark on an inner journey in which money is the primary focus.


Part Two: This part focuses on recognizing and understanding your core money personality.

Brent Kessel believes that to understand where we are as adults, we have to understand are financial archetypes. Archetypes are the powerful financial energies within us that make up our day-to-day financial life and often have roots in childhood. The author analyzes eight money personalities/archetypes.

In this section he has us work on how to recognize our money personality, probable causes for why we view money the way we do, why this personality may or may not be working for us and possible solutions for solving what isn't working. Brent does this by taking us through different activities for each of the eight money personalities. This section is an eye-opener!


Part Three: This is the intellectual side of money management. Here is when It's Not About The Money gets into investing, financial planning and using your core story to help you make money.

Once you know your core money story and understand how it affects your life, you can gain power and control over money. Brent shows you how to use your money personality to help make money.

Brent believes when investing stay true to yourself, your money personality and core values. Become a "conscious" investor who invests in a board range of stocks that will universally help the climate and humanity. Your best financial decisions are the ones that support "what is most important to your essence."


Part Four: This is the nuts and bolts resource section. Here you will find pages of valuable information which standing alone is worth the price of the book.

My overall impression of It's Not About The Money: Unlock Your Money Type To Achieve Spiritual and Financial Abundance is that I'm very glad I read the book. Brent Kessel wrote a book that is spiritual, thoughtful and practical all rolled into one. This book could very well help you make peace with your inner four year old who just may be controlling your adult financial future. I highly recommend!

19 of 22 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Inspiring, transformative book, April 2, 2008

By	Brian Johnson "PhilosophersNotes.com" (Topanga, CA) - See all my reviews (REAL NAME)

"Don't get me wrong. I am by no means saying that you can't be both wealthy and happy. But whether you have a seven-figure trust fund or a pile of unpaid bills on your kitchen table, the path to freedom requires that you focus more on your inner life than on your outer financial circumstances." ~ Brent Kessel from "It's Not About the Money"

If you, like me, have struggled with integrating your spirituality with your economics, your self-awareness with your bank balance, and all the rest of the challenges that go with showing up consciously around money in our often frenetic lives, Brent Kessel, "financial planner by day, yogi by dawn," is your friend. And, his book, "It's Not About the Money," is a must-read.

"It's Not About the Money" is all about pointing us to the spiritual path within our relationship to money--helping us master this part of our life to help us live in integrity with our highest ideals. As Brent wrote the book, he traveled around the world, interviewing such spiritual and investment luminaries as His Holiness the Dalai Lama, Thich Nhat Hanh, Rabbi Harold Kushner, David Whyte, Nobel Prize winner Dr. Harry Markowitz, Vanguard Funds founder John Bogle, Ram Dass, and Joseph Goldstein.

It's a remarkably transformative book--the 50+ exercises Brent shares brought me to tears several times--as I re-lived traumatic episodes around money from my childhood and witnessed how these experiences have affected me throughout my adult life. AND how I can now use this awareness to better understand my financial archetypes and create a more conscious life around money. VERY powerful stuff.

You're going to want to get this book to dive deeply into Brent's brilliant process of discovering your Core Story that's running your show and which of his eight archetypes show up in your life--from "The Guardian," "The Pleasure Seeker," "The Idealist," and "The Saver" to "The Star," "The Innocent," "The Caretaker," and "The Empire Builder."

It's quite remarkable to see which of these archetypes shows up when and how. And, as I said, what you can do about it. So, I think you'll really enjoy Brent's many Big Ideas and what the yogi/financial planner has to say about achieving spiritual and financial abundance!