Work Your Money, Not Your Life

Introduction

On paper, everything seemed to be falling into place for me. I was in my late 20s, living in the center of Manhattan, thriving at a top investment bank, dining at Michelin-starred restaurants, and traveling to stunning international destinations. This is why I had worked so hard through high school and college – to be able to live this “dream life.” But on the inside, something didn't feel right.

Work and money were at the heart of my struggles, despite the fact that I had what was considered a “good” job and ample savings. Most mornings, I'd hear my alarm and dread having to go into the office. My hours were long and unpredictable, often stretching into the late evenings, some early mornings, and most weekends. The grueling schedule meant missing friends' birthday parties, cancelling dates, and having little time to relax or recharge.

The actual nuts and bolts of my job were far from being glamorous. Even worse, the work I did on a day-to-day basis didn't align with my interests. This was definitely not how I had imagined my career unfolding. But ironically, at the same time that I was trying to figure out how to right the ship and change my situation, others were reaching out to me for advice on how to get on the same path I was on — leaving me confused about what, if anything, I should do to improve my job.

When it came to personal finance, I was no better off. As the child of immigrant parents, I had always been good at saving (sometimes to an extreme), and ...