The Geometry of Wealth

Description

How does money figure into a happy life?In The Geometry of Wealth, behavioral finance expert Brian Portnoy delivers an inspired answer, building on the critical distinction between being rich and being wealthy. While one is an unsatisfying treadmill, the other is the ability to underwrite a meaningful life, however one chooses to define that. Truly viewed, wealth is funded contentment.
At the heart of this groundbreaking perspective, Portnoy takes readers on a journey toward wealth, informed by disciplines ranging from ancient history to modern neuroscience. He contends that tackling the big questions about a joyful life and tending to financial decisions are complementary, not separate, tasks.
These big questions include:
• How is the human brain wired for two distinct experiences of happiness? And why can money “buy” one but not the other?
• What are the touchstones of a meaningful life, and are they affordable?
• Why is market savvy among the least important sources of wealth but self-awareness is among the most?
• How does one strike a balance between striving for more while being content with enough?
This journey memorably contours along three basic shapes: A circle, triangle and square help us to visualize how we adapt to evolving circumstances, set clear priorities, and find empowerment in simplicity. In this accessible and entertaining book, Portnoy reveals that true wealth is achievable for many – including those who despair it is out of reach – but only in the context of a life in which purpose and practice are thoughtfully calibrated.

Brian Portnoy, Ph.D., CFA, is an expert at simplifying the complex world of money. In his three books — The Investor’s Paradox, The Geometry of Wealth, and How I Invest My Money (edited with Josh Brown) — he illustrates how to not only make better financial decisions but also figure out how money fits into a joyful life. Brian is the founder of Shaping Wealth, a financial wellness platform that works with individuals and organizations to make better money decisions. He has served as keynote speaker, seminar leader, and coach to thousands of investors on topics ranging from portfolio strategy to the connection between money and happiness. For more than two decades, Brian has worked in the hedge fund and mutual fund industries as portfolio manager and educator. He is a CFA Charterholder, earned his doctorate at the University of Chicago, and serves on the advisory board for the Alliance for Decision Education. He lives in Chicago with his wife and three children.

In The Geometry of Wealth, Brian Portnoy has used his incredible talent for translating financial drudgery into simple, accessible, and entertaining prose to help us re-define our satisfaction with money. He has written a book that will leave you truly wealthier for reading it. –Corey Hoffstein, Chief Investment Officer, Newfound ResearchThe Geometry of Wealth walks you through what really matters in our relationship with money. In clear language, simple enough for my kids to understand and sophisticated enough for professionals, Portnoy gets to the heart of the issue. And that’s the point – our relationship with money is about what’s in our heart and what troubles our mind. Geometry brings it all together in a framework that every reader can follow to live a more contented life. -Ted Seides, Managing Partner, Hidden Brook InvestmentsGood books about money are few and far between. Great books about money – which provide useful investment analysis and helpful personal insight presented powerfully and engagingly – are as rare as a bad investment by Warren Buffett, largely because the universe of terrific writers with the academic power and practical experience to write such a book is vanishingly small. The Geometry of Wealth is a great book about money because of who Brian Portnoy is, what he knows, and how well he writes. Don’t miss it. -Bob Seawright, Chief Investment Officer, Madison Avenue SecuritiesIn The Geometry of Wealth, Brian Portnoy has done something wholly unique and framed the conversation around money in a manner never before previously considered. Using a simple framework to make profound points, Dr. Portnoy has crafted a work that is simultaneously educational and poignant. For those looking to revolutionize their approach to money and even life, this book receives my highest recommendation. -Dr. Daniel Crosby, NYT bestselling author of The Laws of WealthManaging one’s money is an emotionally fraught job, and comes with a confusing lexicon to boot. Is it any wonder so many individuals devote less time to their personal finances than they do planning their next vacation? Brian Portnoy’s The Geometry of Wealth makes a bracing assertion: it doesn’t have to be this way. In this elegant and insightful volume, he imparts the crucial message that building “wealth” isn’t strictly about money, but finding the intersection between our life’s purpose and the funds needed to achieve it. It’s essential reading for serious and novice investors alike. -Christine Benz, Morningstar, Director of Personal FinancePortnoy’s The Geometry of Wealth is an ensemble of profound wisdom, written in a clear and inviting format, that will inspire anyone who is looking to take responsibility for their own finances and wealth. It masterfully blends psychology, neuroscience, and economics – along with the author’s own professional background in investing – to demonstrate that the power to create wealth starts from within. It inherently takes a ‘coach approach’, built on self-reflection and enquiry, while offering a goal-focused, practical framework, for actionable insight. I will definitely be recommending this book to any business leader or coach helping their clients through the stages of career and life planning. At last, a book on managing one’s own finances, in a way that is both accessible and personal! -Katherine Tulpa, CEO Association for Coaching and Wisdom8