What if we were able to talk about money the same way we discuss music?
Money and music might seem like two different worlds, but they have more in common than you think. Just like a great song follows a rhythm and a hook, smart personal financial decisions follow that same pattern. The biggest difference is how they’re typically shared: money behind closed doors and music an experience for all.
Queue David Bowie: “Let’s Dance.”
Relatability
A great song must be relatable. It has to speak to you, not over you. It’s from your own experiences that you find commonality in the lyrics. That’s why music is derived from the complications and emotions of life and our relationships. Taylor Swift has made a No. 1 career on it.
These same commonalities affect financial education and advice. If it doesn’t resonate, no one listens — and if no one listens, the purpose is lost on deaf ears. There’s a saying in the financial industry that it’s “male, pale and stale.” There is a visible lack of diversity and creativity.
This void hides behind acronyms, racing stock ticker symbols, and ever-changing numbers to create a barrier for anything or anyone new. This financial confusion keeps the education you need out of reach and leaves you just getting by while the big financial institutions keep business as usual.
Let’s flip that script.
With the onset of social media “finfluencers” that speak to niche markets like divorced women or affluent millennials, there’s been a concerted effort to talk real and and relatable to their growing audiences. It’s as refreshing as hearing a new song from an undiscovered band to see them explain and share this content.
But listener beware: Most of these so-called experts carry no financial industry licenses nor experience. The actual licensed and accredited financial professionals can only say they have experience and expertise. Follow someone who speaks your money language, but verify the accuracy of the info.
Pressing play is fine at first, but eventually you want to be able to “read the music.” Guess what happens next? The money language barriers fall and new opportunities begin to open up to you on your financial education journey.
Rhythm
Music and money both work at their best when repetition is applied and they stay on rhythm. You don’t want to listen to a song that is constantly jumping all over the place or out of tune, right? Even in the improvisational world of jazz, there’s a theme that you return too every so often to lock back-in with the audience. Go listen to John Coltrane’s cover of “My Favorite Things”.
Most people prefer the simple and concise experience of pop music: a predictable 4:4 beat, catchy hooks, sing-a-long choruses and a bridge to break-up the song just enough to bring it home. The same goes for personal finance: you’re working Dolly Parton’s “9-5“ to provide for those steady needs, Instagram-able wants and universal goals like a home and retirement.
The problem with both is when they get out sync and lose their structure. Just like a great song, your personal finances need to stay in step. You can think of budgeting as the right tempo for your money. When your spending gets out of alignment, the rhythm gets off beat, and you’ll find yourself struggling each month.
Dance as you may, but always keep your footwork in rhythm for a balanced financial life. Pro-tip? Follow a simple budget like the 50/30/20 Rule: 50% for your needs, 30% for your wants and 20% for savings.
Emotions
Both music and money are highly connected to our emotions. How you feel when you just purchase a new car might mirror an epic concert experience whereas the feeling of shame from bad debt decisions can bring you down like the blues. They both can move you up or down and that’s the normal human experience. Just like investing.
The stock market moves are unpredictable and moving in all directions daily. It can become confusing and alienating, just like when you can’t control your emotions.
What can balance out these emotional highs and lows? Great music and a grounded money mindset. Think of this mindset as your financial plan to fall back on when things go haywire, like losing a job or a divorce. “What now?” can be replaced by a cash emergency account with additional time to consider your options.
The emotional rollercoaster with no rhythm day-to-day can be slowed to a carousel ride. Life is always full of surprises, good and bad, but the soundtrack that smooths out your ride is having a financial plan that you put into action. Couple this with your money mindset and you can ride out those storms.
Just like in music, we all feel better when we share our experiences together and talk about our wins, fails, goals and dreams. Let’s normalize those money conversations as easily as listening to a hit record with friends.
Lose those personal money stigmas and be open to sharing your experience. Take those headphones off and use your speakers. Remember, it’s not about the ending, it’s about enjoying the Journey. Are you ready?
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