195: Carl Richards on Money, Meaning, and the Art of Actively Doing Nothing

Retirement Living

Nov 11

Watch my conversation with Carl on YouTube or listen on the podcast player below

I was excited to chat once again with Behavior Gap author and financial storyteller Carl Richards about the ideas behind his brand-new book, Your Money: Reimagining Wealth in 101 Simple Sketches.

Carl’s famous hand-drawn sketches have helped millions simplify complex financial concepts — but beneath the simplicity lies profound wisdom about living a meaningful, values-driven life. Together, we explore how our relationship with money shapes our happiness, the tension between working hard and letting go, and why sometimes the bravest thing we can do as investors is nothing at all.

In this episode we discuss:

· Carl’s journey from financial planner to New York Times columnist and author of the beloved “Sketch Guy” series.

· The power of simple visuals to create clarity and spark real conversations about money.

· “Actively doing nothing” — why patient investing and staying the course is one of the hardest (and most valuable) disciplines.

· The spending practice — connecting your money to what you truly care about, and how everyday spending can become a reflection of your values.

· “Spend the money” — why many retirees need permission to stop deferring joy and start living now.

· Days or decades — tuning out the noise, avoiding anxiety-driven media, and focusing on what genuinely matters in the long term.

Carl Richards is a Certified Financial Planner™, author, and creator of The Behavior Gap and The Sketch Guy column for The New York Times, where his hand-drawn sketches made complex financial ideas beautifully simple. Through his work at behaviorgap.com, Carl helps people and advisors worldwide have better conversations about money, decisions, and what truly matters most.