We humans are on a non-stop journey for a higher standard of living. For many, it’s not as much a journey as it is an obsession. What if we’re barking up the wrong tree? What if, instead of pursuing a higher standard of living, what we’re really seeking is a better quality of life? These aren’t the same, and the moment we recognize the difference, we can truly improve our lives in tangible ways. In today’s episode, host Travis Shelton shares his middle-of-the-night wonderings about this topic, framed through the lens of Cole’s recent house purchase. 

“I need to get on a budget.” This is a commonly used phrase in our culture, almost always viewed through the lens of budgeting = spend less money. We couldn’t disagree more. In today’s episode, host Travis Shelton explains why budgeting isn’t necessarily about spending less, but spending better. The goal should never be to end up with more money, but rather to live a more meaningful life. Maybe that means spending less; maybe it means spending more in the areas that add the most value to your life. Either way, budgeting should serve you, not the other way around. 

What does Meaning Over Money actually mean? Is it just some catchy phrase that made for a decent podcast title? In today’s episode, host Travis Shelton shares how the concept of meaning over money applies to so many aspects of our lives. Specifically, he shares the story of one couple’s financial dilemma and why the meaning over money dynamic was so critical. Meaning Over Money doesn’t mean we disregard money. Rather, it means that meaning must always remain the ultimate objective. 

Want a hard pill to swallow today? One reason we haven’t achieved our most deeply desired goals is that, while we want them, we’re not willing to pay the price to make them happen. Instead, we sit idly and watch, with jealousy, as other people live our dreams instead of us. In today’s episode, host Travis Shelton shares his version of this story, offering insight and encouragement. Do you want it? If so, are you REALLY willing to pay the price? This is the decision we must each make.

Do you ever get nervous about your investments because of how much madness is going on in the world? Does it seem like the world is melting? Chances are, your investments are probably doing much better than you believe. In today’s episode, host Travis Shelton explains why there seems to be a disconnect between investing sentiment and actual investing performance. The mainstream media and social media feeds are brainwashing us to believe we’re cooked, when in reality, we’re probably doing well. Let’s cut through the noise and seek out the truth. 

What comes to mind when you hear the phrase, “The American Dream?” Chances are, most of us have similar ideas that immediately flood our minds. In today’s episode, host Travis Shelton shares why our universally accepted version of the American Dream is leading many people down a path of unintended negative consequences. Instead, perhaps we should be searching for a different type of American Dream. Something better. Something that more closely aligns with meaning instead of scorecards. 

Life is full of seasons. Personal seasons. Relational seasons. Professional seasons. In today’s episode, host Travis Shelton explains where the Meaning Over Money guys have been these past five months, and now that we’re back, where we’re headed. We’re so grateful you’re here, and we hope this is the beginning of another great season of life…..in more ways than one.

As a culture, we love to point our fingers at the rich and famous and accuse them of only caring about money. What if we have it totally backward? What if wealth and fame are byproducts of caring about anything but money and fame? In today’s episode, host Travis Shelton uses the U.S. Men’s Hockey Team Olympic gold medal game to explore this topic. 

Guilt, regret, resentment, remorse. All feelings tied to money. It’s so easy for us to beat ourselves up for each and every decision we make. However, nobody wins when that happens. In today’s episode, host Travis Shelton discusses how we need to give ourselves the gift of understanding the bigger puzzle and all the pieces involved. When we do, it’s easier to see how these other pieces fit in. That's where the peace can and should come from.

Hello again! After an unexpected hiatus, we’re back at full strength! One of the elephants in the room in our culture is the idea of retirement. Not just any retirement, though, but a constant pursuit of an earlier-the-better retirement. 60 is better than 65. 55 is better than 60. 50 is better than 55. All the while, in our efforts to get there, we’re unintentionally sabotaging our lives. The alternative? Create a life we don’t want to retire from. A life so awesome that we can’t imagine not doing it anymore. Let’s talk about it.

Many people are hurting financially this holiday season. Things feel tight. This can lead many families to feel defeated and throw their arms in the air when it comes to creating memories for their kids. In today’s episode, host Travis Shelton discusses how memories are memories because they are memories…..period. Memories don’t require a large financial investment to be valuable. Instead, all that’s required is intentionality and creativity. Wherever you are financially this holiday season, don’t let it hold you back from creating some of the best memories ever. 

We invest, invest, invest, and invest some more, only to look at our numbers and get frustrated by little progress we’ve made. Sound familiar? It’s common for people to experience immense frustration and fatigue about 10 years into their investing journey, sometimes leading to apathy….or quitting altogether. Did you know that $100,000 is 1/3 of the way to $1M? It sounds ridiculous, but it’s true. In today’s episode, host Travis Shelton discusses why you’re probably closer to your goals than you think, and if so, why it should only embolden you to keep fighting.

We’re all going to die. Yeah, morbid, we know. What will your obituary say about you? In today’s episode, host Travis Shelton talks about the exercise of writing our own obituary. What do we want to be remembered for? What impact do we want to make on this world? How do we want the end of the story to read? Then, once we do that, we reverse engineer it; work our way backwards to fill in the gaps between today and when that obituary will be published. Yes, it’s weird. But also, yes, it can be an impactful exercise to get to the core of what we’re on this planet to do……then actually do it. 

Would you take a pay cut to pursue work that would provide you with more meaning and a higher level of well-being? In today’s episode, host Travis Shelton shares the story of a friend who recently weighed this very decision, and chose meaning. His decision may be counter-cultural, but through the lens of pursuing work that matters and living a fulfilling, meaningful life, he might have cracked the code.

You know what the problem is with more? Every time we get more, more is still, well, more. In today’s episode, host Travis Shelton shares an intense story about a couple that is painfully losing the battle for more. It’s a brutal story to share, and one that far too many people can relate to, but perhaps this story can help to shift the perspective of many. We hope you enjoy. 

Whether you know it or not, there’s a hidden force at play in your life. It’s called recency bias. It’s a phenomenon where we humans place too much emphasis on recent experiences when making decisions. It’s present in all areas of our lives, but nowhere as impactful and prevalent as in our finances. We’re notorious for allowing recent events and experiences to cloud our judgment and pollute our decision-making skills. In today’s episode, host Travis Shelton discusses how this impacts our financial lives, and ways we can combat it. 

Budgeting is simple on paper, but we don’t live on paper. We live in a chaotic, volatile, and ever-changing world. In today’s episode, host Travis Shelton discusses how best to live in a budget when the real world decides not to cooperate with our best laid plans. It’s not easy, but it is simple. 

We’re living in crazy times. Never before has our culture seemed so divided, so polarized. This sentiment also applies to businesses, unfortunately. In today’s episode, host Travis Shelton explores the dangers of what happens when businesses decide to adopt human beliefs, values, and polarizations. It may seem like a zero-sum game, but it’s far from it. The consequences may not be immediately evident, but they can sneak up on us before we realize it’s too late. Whether you’re a business owner, a consumer, or someone who cares about the state of our culture, we hope you take something valuable from this episode. 

Buy low, sell, high, right? That’s the motto when it comes to stock market investing. One problem: It doesn’t work. It’s nearly impossible to time the right moment to buy, and even if we get lucky, it’s also nearly impossible to time the right moment to sell. In today’s episode, host Travis Shelton shares a cautionary tale from one of his “expert” investor buddies. The costs of trying to game the market are severe, and unfortunately, unfixable. Travis’s friend might have lost $400,000 (spoiler!), but you don’t have to. Let’s learn from this mistake and make sure we handle our own investments with more wisdom, patience, and confidence.

Have you ever intentionally made a decision that hinders your finances? Good! That’s great news! It means there are more important things in life than money. In today’s episode, host Travis Shelton shares his controversial perspective about how the mission should matter more than the money. Sometimes, in order to pursue the mission (and the meaning behind it), we must make decisions that will inevitably hinder our own personal finances. And that’s a good thing!