I was sitting with a client who had just inherited a fair amount from my sister recently. It was not a celebration, but a sudden, unexpected windfall, wrapped in sadness.
Despite zero accounts, she was not safe. She felt uneasy, overwhelmed, and even guilty.
That moment reminded me of what I often see, especially in wealthy individuals. Wealth does not eliminate anxiety. Sometimes you can amplify it.
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Whether someone builds or inherits their wealth, managing money is often more about their emotions, too, about numbers.
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When “sufficient” feels still easily broken
We talk about financial peace, like destinations. “If you press this number, you’ll feel safe.”
But in my experience, peace of mind does not come from a particular balance. It comes from understanding why you have what you have and how you want to serve your life and your family.
And it’s not just a theory. According to Bankrate’s May 2025 Money and Mental Health Survey, 43% of US adults say that money can have a negative impact on mental health, leading to anxiety, sleepless nights and even depression.
I saw this firsthand, even from clients with considerable wealth. Stress isn’t whether the money is there or not. It’s about what it means, what it is for, and whether the plan gives them the freedom they expect.
Retirees are especially sensitive to this tension. After a lifetime of saving and growing wealth, many will only achieve their financial goals and encounter new fears.
They no longer have luxury in the market. So I often recommend keeping your living expenses in cash for 1-2 years. Yes, even if a spreadsheet says you can do better elsewhere. Sometimes the peace of mind is the perfect return journey.
Trust grows from shared experiences
I have realized that the clients who sleep the best at night are not necessarily the richest. They are the things I have been working for the longest time. Together we survived the storm, had a tough conversation and saw the planning work.
But when I meet new people, especially those who have recently lost their spouse or become wealthy, it’s a different kind of relationship. They need more than a strategy. They need patience, clarity and security. You need a partner, not just a planner.
The power of family meetings
A few weeks ago I had a client holding a family meeting to help him discuss his estate plans. He was experiencing health issues and wanted to ensure that not only did his children know what the plan was, but why it existed.
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It wasn’t easy. It can be emotionally recharged if there is a mix of inheritance conversations, especially concerns about family and in-laws. But we laid it all out: who their children work with, what their role is, and most importantly, the value of fostering those decisions.
When families understand “why”, they experience less confusion, res and anxiety about the unknown. That’s what financial peace looks like.
“What if?” to “What’s next?”
I saw clients change their mindset as they began to move from defensive questions like, “What happens if the market crashes?” And what’s going forward-looking, like, “What if I got sick?”, “Can I fund that foundation?”, “Can I take that sabbatical?”, “Can I help my kids start that business?”
That shift from fear to purpose tells us that they are in line with each other. They are no longer responding. They’re creating.
I always encourage my clients to journal. It allows them to ask deeper questions:
“What am I sure about?” “What is unclear?” “What legacy do I want to leave?”
These questions often reveal the actual work we need to do. And once you name these uncertainties, you can plan for them.
If I learned anything in this profession, it means that financial peace is slowly being built in one conversation at a time. You cannot hurry to trust. You cannot clearly shortcut.
But you can feel this when you simplify complexity, align wealth with values, and create a purpose-based plan. That shift, calm, that quiet self-confidence.
That’s what we want.
Signature Estate & Investment Advisors, LLC (SEIA) is SEC registered investment advisors. However, such registration does not imply a certain level of skill or training and should not make any opposite inference. This material is for informational purposes only and is not intended as individual investment advice or as a recommendation for any particular security, strategy or investment product. Investment decisions should be made based on the client’s specific financial needs, goals, goals, time perspective and risk tolerance. Financial markets are inherently unstable, and all investment strategies, including those perceived as low risk, carry some investment risk. Past performance does not guarantee future results. Financial success is influenced by a variety of factors, including client investment goals, risk tolerance, time horizon, and market conditions. There is no guarantee that your investment strategy will achieve the intended outcome. Every investment has an inherent risk, including potential losses in principal. Future advisors and clients should carefully consider their investment goals, risks, fees and costs before making an investment. SEIA is not responsible for the consequences of decisions or actions made as a result of the information provided herein. In particular, it should not be considered advice tailored to the needs of a particular investor. Signature Estate Securities, Securities provided through LLC Member FINRA/SIPC. Investment advisory services provided through SEIA, 2121 Avenue of the Stars, Suite 1600, Los Angeles, CA 90067, (310) 712-2323.
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