Q Wealth Partners presents
Episode
66
10.8.2026

Ben Carlson

Ben Carlson on Why Wealthy People Struggle to Spend

You did everything right with money. So why does spending it feel like losing?Ben Carlson manages money for a living. He’s been a saver since fifth grade, when he made his own lunches and pocketed the cash. Then his family hit an all-time high in savings and his wife asked a question the spreadsheet couldn’t answer. We talk about why so many successful people struggle to spend, what “enough” really means, and the letter his late brother left for his kids.

‍

🎯 IN THIS EPISODE:

  • ‍0:00 Intro
  • ‍0:16 The lake as a happy place
  • ‍1:58 Why buy a cabin when your advisors say don’t
  • ‍5:40 The fifth grader who pocketed his lunch money
  • ‍6:46 Everyone has a different money blind spot
  • ‍8:53 Investing through the 2008 crash in his twenties
  • ‍11:45 A record savings year — and a rethink
  • ‍15:08 Why wealthy clients struggle to spend
  • ‍17:12 Experiences and the memory dividend
  • ‍18:39 “12 more summers”
  • ‍19:25 What is enough
  • ‍22:46 The future is promised to no one
  • ‍24:36 Losing his brother
  • ‍30:03 When life isn’t fair: what clients go through
  • ‍32:10 The future of financial advice
  • ‍36:16 Risk and Reward, the new book
  • ‍40:29 Writing in your own voice
  • ‍42:32 What success means now
  • ‍44:19 Being a dad of three
  • ‍46:20 One last letter

‍

📚 ABOUT BEN

Ben Carlson works at Ritholtz Wealth Management, where he helps families and institutions with their money. He started his career managing money for pensions, foundations and endowments. He writes about markets and investor behaviour, co-hosts a podcast with his colleague Michael, and is the author of Risk and Reward, published by Harriman House.

‍

🎧 SUBSCRIBE TO YOUPOTENTIAL:

‍

CHECK OUT Q WEALTH PARTNERS:

Connect With Us
Whether you have a story to share, feedback to give, or are interested in being on the podcast, we want to hear from you.
Thank you!
Your submission has been received!
A member of our team will be in touch with you shortly to start the conversation.
Oops! Something went wrong while submitting the form.
Meaning. Purpose. Growth.
Subscribe to the YouPotential Podcast Today!