What did your family teach you about money, and how much of that still influences your financial decisions today?

In this episode of Shop Class Finance, John Ryan explores why financial planning begins with understanding yourself, your values, and the life you want to build.

John discusses how childhood experiences shape our relationship with money, why couples often have different financial philosophies, and how defining your personal goals can make saving, investing, and other financial decisions more meaningful.

He also introduces the six types of wealth and shares stories from his childhood on a dairy farm in Central New York in 1975, reflecting on the family, community, and economic environment that helped shape his perspective.

This conversation is an invitation to examine the beliefs you've inherited, think more deeply about what financial security means to you, and begin building a financial plan around the life you actually want.

TIMESTAMPS:

00:00 Why financial planning starts with you
04:03 Defining financial peace and finding motivation
07:59 The six types of wealth and your money beliefs
14:08 Building lasting motivation
17:15 Learning from the past and planning for the future
23:11 How family experiences shape your perspective
25:08 The stories we tell ourselves about our upbringing
27:20 Examining your life and building your future

Connect with John Ryan

Website: https://www.johnedwardryan.com/
LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/coachjohnryan/