My clients wrestled with the belief that they weren't worth such generous investment, which was frequently followed by a manic drive to prove their individual value and worth to the world.

Walking alongside them through their journeys of creating an independent, fulfilling livelihood helped me see that while the number of zeros behind our transactions differed, the emotional shorthand was quite similar. It reconfirmed what I had suspected in Manhattan: while the math of money may be neutral, our feelings about it rarely are.

Anyone who tells you money is just math is either in denial or has never actually managed it. Yes, it is crucial to remain neutral and look at numbers objectively when making decisions. But today, as I closed their final accounts, I was acutely aware of the heavy emotional meaning behind every financial exchange. Money can be a profound symbol for love, care, validation, and encouragement. Conversely, it can carry negative beliefs about a recipient's capabilities—heavy with underlying attempts to control, manipulate, or silence.