Long before he became a miser, Scrooge was a lonely boy left behind at boarding school—forgotten, unwanted, and emotionally starved. In this IFS-informed exploration, Rick traces how those early wounds formed exiled parts burdened with shame and abandonment, which in turn gave rise to the controlling, isolated adult we meet in A Christmas Carol. Scrooge’s obsession with money, his cold demeanor, and his rejection of connection weren’t signs of greed—they were survival strategies. Through this lens, Dickens’ story becomes more than a tale of redemption—it’s a powerful look at how childhood trauma shapes adult financial behavior and how healing begins when we finally turn toward those long-forgotten parts.

A podcast that blends the nuts and bolts of financial advice with the emotions that drive making them.
Rick Kahler, CFP®, CFT-I™, has helped people make better money decisions by integrating financial planning. He blends the nuts and bolts of financial advice with the emotions that drive making them and shares them on his financial therapy podcast.

In this episode, Rick dives into the evolving and sometimes murky intersection of Internal Family Systems (IFS) and financial coaching, raising critical questions about where the line is drawn between coaching and therapy. He explores the growing interest in using IFS-informed language and concepts—like parts work—in coaching settings, even as concerns mount about untrained coaches inadvertently wading into therapeutic territory. With transparency about the current shifts in IFS training access, Rick offers a thoughtful look at both the promise and pitfalls of this integration. Whether you’re a coach, therapist, or simply IFS-curious, this episode sheds light on how the language of parts can deepen financial conversations—while reminding us that healing exiles may require more than curiosity alone.

A podcast that blends the nuts and bolts of financial advice with the emotions that drive making them.
Rick Kahler, CFP®, CFT-I™, has helped people make better money decisions by integrating financial planning. He blends the nuts and bolts of financial advice with the emotions that drive making them and shares them on his financial therapy podcast.

Merging finances as a couple isn’t just about numbers—it’s about navigating emotions, values, and long-held money beliefs. Many financial planners aren’t trained to handle the dynamics of couples’ financial decision-making, which can lead to unresolved conflicts and misaligned goals. But some advisors are embracing skills from financial therapy and conflict resolution to better support couples in making shared financial choices. Rick Kahler shares insights from his own journey, including training designed for couples therapists, to help couples find an advisor who truly understands their unique challenges. The right planner can help both partners feel heard, reduce money conflicts, and create a financial plan that works for both.

A podcast that blends the nuts and bolts of financial advice with the emotions that drive making them.
Rick Kahler, CFP®, CFT-I™, has helped people make better money decisions by integrating financial planning. He blends the nuts and bolts of financial advice with the emotions that drive making them and shares them on his financial therapy podcast.