Why Gratitude Might Be Your Most Powerful Financial Tool
By Drake Richey
Many years ago, I sat in a New York City conference room with young, high-income Christian professionals listening to a well-known hedge fund manager share his story. During Q&A, someone asked about giving. He waved it off. “Small gifts don’t really matter,” he said. “Save, build wealth, and give later once you’ve made it.”
I left that meeting thinking about all the young professionals in the room trying to steward well with what they had. Years later, research confirms what many of us have experienced: giving matters at all levels—not just for the good it does in the world, but for the good it does in you.
The Research: Gratitude Reduces Financial Stress
A recent study in Open Psychology found that people who report higher levels of gratitude experience significantly lower financial stress—even after accounting for income, age, and demographics.
The finding is counterintuitive: when you’re grateful for what you have and generous with your resources, you experience less financial stress than when you focus primarily on accumulation. The psychological link between gratitude and financial well-being has real implications for everyday money management.
The Bottom Line: Generosity Changes How You Relate to Money
You don’t need wealth to practice gratitude and generosity. Whether you’re retired without traditional income or just starting out in an expensive city, giving can be part of your financial plan.
Giving generously helps us keep perspective when markets fluctuate. It reminds us that financial planning is about more than optimization—it’s about living out our values and contributing to something beyond ourselves.
Simple Ways to Align Money and Meaning
Start with a ten-minute conversation at the dinner table about what matters to you and why. That exchange can be more powerful than any spreadsheet. Then ask whether your time and resources reflect those values. Consider how you’d like to express them going forward—through time, talent, or treasure. Revisit your priorities, notice your progress, and celebrate small wins.
These moments build momentum and reinforce behaviors that help you stay faithful and financially well over time.
How We Support Your Financial Journey
Our role is to help you make thoughtful, well-informed decisions at a pace that feels right. We do that by helping you identify the best financial tools to accomplish your goals, providing clear education in plain English, coordinating with your tax and legal professionals, stress-testing assumptions, and keeping your plan aligned with your values and risk tolerance.
Gratitude may not move markets, but it changes how we save, spend, give, and stay the course.
Sources
“How Gratitude Mitigates the Impact of Financial Stress,” Science (Sept. 10, 2025)
Hayward, D. & Hart, R., “The Role of Gratitude in Financial Stress and Financial Behaviours,” Open Psychology (2025), De Gruyter Brill
