Money Parts, Self-Led Finances & “A 12-Year-Old Running the Business” with Rick Kahler

What happens when a financial guy meets Internal Family Systems… and ends up sobbing in an IFS demo at Esalen? 😅 In this episode, I’m joined by Rick Kahler—financial planner + financial therapist who helped me (yes, as his willing guinea pig) meet my money parts, stop letting panic run the spreadsheet, and make more Self-led financial decisions.We also talk about how entrepreneurs can stop letting the visionary run the company alone while the “controller” is duct-taped in the basement.What You’ll Learn in This Episode:How Rick stumbled into IFS (and immediately got humbled by the Ace of Spades demo)Why financial decisions are emotional decisions—and how IFS helpsWhat “Self-led finances” actually feels like (with the eight C’s)How to work with money scripts without shaming yourselfThe entrepreneur trap: visionary on top, controller exiledWhy resilience matters more than perfection (and why “fatal mistakes” aren’t always fatal)How Rick navigated selling a controlling interest in his company—and the grief of letting goWhere to start if you want to meet your money parts (without spiraling)Chapters02:00 Rick’s IFS origin story (Esalen, “Schwartz guy,” and the demo that changed everything)06:50 Why Rick didn’t initially see himself as a financial therapist11:00 “Fraud” parts—yes, even for successful people17:00 The lightbulb: IFS + financial therapy (and the guinea pig era)20:40 What financial transformation can look like (spreadsheets, giving parts, saving parts)25:45 Financial uncertainty in the collective + working with fear from the outside-in36:00 Entrepreneurs: visionaries, controllers, and the E-Myth reality check41:15 Resilience, mistakes, and staring bankruptcy in the face44:35 Selling the business + getting unstuck at the “next level”57:45 Where to start with money parts01:03:00 Lightning round: Rick’s Self-energy song01:07:00 How to work with Rick + resourcesLinks & ResourcesRick’s financial therapy practice: Advanced Wellbeing Advanced Wellbeing Financial TherapyRick’s blog / “Financial Awakenings” Kahler FinancialRick’s podcast: The Financial Therapy Podcast: It’s Not Just About the Money Financial Therapy PodcastCaitlan's websiteJoin Undefined, we start January 21st: https://www.caitlansiegenthaler.com/undefined If this episode made you feel 1% more seen (or 1% more willing to open the spreadsheet without sweating), please follow/subscribe, and leave a review—it helps more Returners find the show. And if you send this to a friend, I won’t stop you. 😉Support the showProduced by Caitlan SiegenthalerCover Art by Kiara OparaIf you enjoyed this episode, share it with a friend, post it to your Instagram stories, and tag me. And if you really loved it, the best thank-you is a written review on Apple Podcasts or a comment on Spotify. That is a beautiful energetic exchange for Caitlan creating the show.