Gap Math: How Much Is Enough?

“How much do I need?” is one of the most common wealth questions—and often the vaguest. Many high earners chase a moving target: they tell themselves they’ll feel secure “when I make more,” only to reach the next income level and feel just as stretched because their spending quietly rose to match. In this Wealth Lab, Dr. Shena Dixon Mason introduces “gap math,” a practical way to define how wide the space between what you earn and what you spend needs to be to support the life you’re building. Instead of focusing only on top‑line income or occasional net‑worth snapshots, you’ll learn to track and grow the monthly gap that actually funds debt payoff, savings, investing, and future options. Dr. Mason walks you through a simple exercise to estimate your current gap, choose a starter target, and decide whether you’ll move it by earning a little more, spending a little less, or plugging quiet leaks. This week’s money work guides you to capture your numbers in plain language and commit to one concrete lever you’ll pull in the next 30–90 days, so “How much is enough?” becomes a measurable plan instead of a lingering anxiety.