Why Successful People Still Feel Stressed About Money

If money feels heavier than it should, this conversation will change how you carry it.I’m sitting down with Priya Malani, founder of Stash Wealth, a financial advisor who works with high-earning millennials and helps them build real systems (not just budgets) that actually support the life they want. She’s seen behind the curtain of how smart, ambitious people handle money… and where they quietly sabotage themselves.We’re unpacking the stories you’ve absorbed about money and how those narratives are shaping your financial behavior, whether you realize it or not. If you’ve ever felt financially “behind,” anxious about investing, confused about credit cards, or unsure what wealth even means for you, we go straight at it.You’ll walk away understanding why mindset matters just as much as math, how automation creates freedom (not restriction), and why money is a tool, not a moral scorecard. Priya breaks down how to think about credit cards strategically instead of emotionally, and what it actually means to define wealth on your own terms.This isn’t about hustling harder or cutting lattes. It’s about building a financial foundation that supports the life you’re designing, intentionally, confidently, and without quiet panic running the show.Key Takeaways:Automation can simplify financial management and reduce stress.Understanding the difference between saving and investing is crucial for wealth building.Emergency funds should be viewed as a first line of defense, not the only line.Financial planning is not just for the wealthy; it is for everyone.Defining what 'rich' means to you is essential for setting financial goals.Financial anxiety can be addressed through education and support.Timestamps:00:00 Introduction03:01 The stories we tell ourselves about money08:18 Automating your finances for freedom09:24 Building systems that actually stick11:41 Why credit cards can be your ally12:19 The role of emergency funds15:30 Budgeting is broken, here’s why18:14 Tackling financial anxiety head-on20:58 What does wealth really mean?21:37 Designing a life that feels rich22:17 Financial resources23:24 OutroResources Mentioned:What Every High-Achieving Woman Should Know About MoneyI Will Teach You to Be Rich by Ramit SethiConnect with Priya:Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/itspriyamalani/ Website: https://www.stashwealth.com/ The F Word Podcast: https://open.spotify.com/show/5DjMQM98nj8yJobhxCJsmf?si=6f79219f95a249fa More About Building Thinkers: I'm your host, Tracy Clark, and this is where potential becomes reality through deliberate curiosity, reflection, practice, and play. The Building Thinkers podcast is based on the realization that there's exponential potential in the things we build.And so, in my little corner of the internet and podcasting land, I want to take my 12 favorite problems, these are my constant curiosities, and I want to go deeper. I want to build thinkers. This is a community of multi-potentialites who may be disoriented by all the possibilities of success we envision but haven't yet achieved.If any of that sounds like you, come listen in. Welcome to the Building Thinkers podcast.