Michael Sakraida didn’t write a money manual. He wrote a mindset shift.

In Part One, the author of Money, Balance and Joy shares how his upbringing, career in finance, and burnout led him to a new definition of wealth—one that includes time freedom and emotional fulfillment, not just financial metrics. He questions why Wall Street ignores the emotional toll of economic instability and how media-driven fear only adds to our sense of isolation and failure.

This episode covers the emotional underbelly of money: why we feel stuck, what control really looks like, and how to take back our narrative without a million-dollar bank balance. 

Key Highlights of Our Interview:

The Road Less Paved: Michael’s Unconventional Journey

“I took the road that wasn’t finished. It had potholes, wrong turns—but it made me who I am.”

Mentors, Musicians, and Money Lessons from Long Island

“Growing up, I met people who had money—and had fun. That stuck with me.”

Why He Turned Down the High-Paying Job

“I didn’t want to cold-call my way through life. I took less money for more meaning.”

The First Investor Who Hung Up—Then Jumped In

“He slammed the phone down. I called back and said, ‘You just made a mistake.’ He became our first big client.”

The Real Wealth Equation: Money, Time, Joy

“We’ve built a system that glorifies income but ignores how people spend their time—or who they spend it with.”

Why Wall Street Doesn’t Understand Real People

“For the top 10%, inflation is inconvenient. For the rest, it’s identity-shattering. And no one talks about it.”

Triage Your Change: Where to Focus, Where to Let Go

“Some changes aren’t worth the emotional capital. Focus on the ones that truly move your life forward.”

How Action Shapes Outlook

“You don’t change how you think by thinking. You change how you think by doing something different.”

Feeling Powerless Is the Real Crisis

“Money brings control. When we don’t have it, we need other ways to reclaim power—and move forward.”

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Host: Vince Chan | Guest: Michael Sakraida

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