 |
|
 |
Understanding Your
"Financial Personality"
.......................................
By Kathleen Gurney, Ph.D.
CEO, Financial Psychology Corporation
For most of us, money and our feelings toward it are dynamic and intense. We love money or we hate it, we fear it or we worship it - but we certainly never ignore it. And yet, we know so little about why we experience these emotions.
As a psychologist who specializes in money related matters, I have confronted these money emotions every day of my practice. I have worked with hundreds of men and women from all kinds of backgrounds and income levels. I've learned that not only do we have a physical self, an emotional self and a social self, but we have a financial or money self. This money self is an integral part of our behavioral repertoire. Most of us fail to realize the extent to which it affects our financial habits and affects the degree of satisfaction we get from what money we have.
Understanding your money style will help you gain insight into how and why you react emotionally to money - why you have those reactions and how they affect your financial success or lack of success.
If you don't know your money strengths, you can't use them. If you don't know what's preventing you from getting money, you will remain a money victim. If you don't know what you want from money, you will never reach your financial goals. If you aren't willing to change your money attitudes and habits, you will stay in your financial status quo.
Since 1981, I have researched the reasons why people earn, spend, save and invest in the ways they do. I interviewed individuals from across the United States, seeking clues to their financial traits. Thirteen personal financial traits were discovered and nine distinct financial personality groups were identified whose members share similar attitudes about money management and investing. The style of interacting in the advisory or planning process, as well as the choice of investment vehicles, depend on the characteristics of the investments, as well as the financial personality of the investor.
Recognizing your own financial personality enables you to stop spinning your wheels of fortune and take charge of managing your money.
| MEET THE 9 MONEY PERSONALITIES |

ACHIEVERS
|
These are the second-highest income earners, usually college graduates and mostly married. They feel work, diligence and effort will pay off better than anything else. They are proud of their accomplishments, but tend to distrust others' honesty with money. They are conservative and not interested in risking assets they have worked hard to accumulate. Protection is a primary consideration. Being take-charge types, they have a strong need to control their money.
........................................ |

ENTREPRENEURS
|
The most male-dominated profile, driven by a passion for excellence and commitment, which helps them achieve their goals. Despite being the highest income earners, they are workaholics who are not motivated by money alone (it is used as a scorecard to measure their achievements). They enjoy the power and prestige money brings. They are proud and reward themselves with the best cars, homes, wines, etc. Investing in the stock market is their favored strategy.
........................................ |

HIGH ROLLERS
|
Money presents infinite possibilities. They are thrill seekers who enjoy the ride of financial risk but are only mildly interested in where it takes them. They seek power. Money brings them instant power and recognition. They are creative, extroverted, competitive. They work hard and play hard; for them, money is an emotional release. They prefer to risk their assets rather than sit back bored by financial security. If they do not learn how to manage their styles, they end up with low pride and contentment.
........................................ |

HUNTERS
|
Usually highly educated, with a live-for-today financial style. They are often women and average- to above-average income earners who make purchasing decisions with their hearts, not with their heads. They use impulsive spending as a way they reward themselves. They have a strong work ethic, like the Entrepreneurs, but lack the Entrepreneurs' confidence. They attribute success to luck rather than ability and judgment. Once they understand their traits, they can make dramatic financial progress.
........................................ |

MONEY MASTERS
|
They balance their finances with the degree of contentment and security they derive from their money. They are the No. 1 wealth accumulators even though they don't necessarily earn the most. They rank first in degree of desired involvement with their money and enjoy participation. They trust the recommendations of others and act on sound advice. Pure luck has little chance here. Success through determination is their philosophy.
........................................ |

PERFECTIONISTS
|
They are so afraid of making a mistake that they often avoid making a decision. They forever try harder, but lack self-esteem, especially about their money. They have the least pride in handling financial matters. They have tunnel vision, consider every angle and find fault with the potential of practically any risk venture. Finding suitable investments is difficult for them.
........................................ |

PRODUCERS
|
They rank high in work ethic but lower in earned income due to lack of self confidence in money management skills. This leads to some real frustrations: They work hard, desire more and feel they have difficulty getting ahead financially. Financial investment/education can be very rewarding since they often don't understand how the money system works. They do not evaluate risks carefully and rarely profit from them. They lack confidence in making financial decisions.
........................................ |

OPTIMISTS
|
These are the people to whom money has brought peace of mind. They have the fewest anxieties and tend to be proud and content. They are the least reflective, and their money decisions are somewhat impulsive but not risk-oriented. Often in or near retirement, they are more interested in enjoying their money than making it grow. They are not highly involved with their money, taxes or investments, which could cause them stress and impinge on their enjoyment.
........................................ |

SAFETY PLAYERS
|
They score the lowest in self determination. They are average earners, and most of their money goes into safe and secure investments. They lack the confidence and motivation to reap more growth by taking more calculated risk (even though well educated). They take the path of least resistance, feel they are doing just fine, and repeat whatever investment strategies seemed to work for them before.
........................................ |
You
identify most closely with one of the nine money personalities
and your style is like a balance sheet - with some traits
serving as assets and some as liabilities. We make the best
use of our money when we are aware of how to constructively
use our personal assets and work with our style.
I like to show clients the personal side of their money, so
that their personal style complements their use of money.
It is apparent that money is too important to emotional well-being
not to be taken seriously.
|
|
 |