Doing Well
May 09, 2026 • Estimated Reading Time: 5 minutes
Have you ever stayed in a job longer than felt right?
Not because things were great, but because leaving felt financially too risky. New expenses, no cushion, the uncertainty of it all.
It's one of those things nobody really talks about: how connected our finances and our career confidence actually are. When one feels shaky, the other usually does too (And recent data even backs this up).
This week I'm breaking down how financial stress creeps into your career, and sharing some concrete steps toward building a little more financial runway.
If this resonates, hit reply and tell me your story. I read every single one and write back 💌
P.S. If you want to talk through your own finances, you can book a free 1-hour coaching call here ☎️
Where did the word "salary" come from? |
(Actual answer at the end of the newsletter 👇)
Here's something that doesn't get talked about enough.
When you're stressed about money, you stop taking risks. You stay in the job that's draining you because you can't afford not to. You skip the salary negotiation because asking feels dangerous when you're already stretched thin. You put the business idea on hold. Again.
It's not a confidence problem. It's a cash flow problem.
PwC's 2026 Employee Financial Wellness Survey put numbers to what so many people already feel: financial insecurity doesn't stay in your personal life. It follows you to work, sits in every meeting, and quietly makes decisions on your behalf.
The career ceiling most people can't see isn't about talent or ambition. It's about financial runway.
The good news? You don't need to be wealthy to break the cycle. Here's where to start:
1️⃣ Build a "courage fund" before you need it
An emergency fund isn't just for crises. It's what gives you the confidence to ask for a raise, leave a toxic job, or say no to a bad opportunity. Even $1,000 set aside changes the way you make decisions. Start there.
2️⃣ Figure out your actual number
Most people don't know exactly how much they need to feel financially stable. They just know they feel stressed. Sit down and calculate your monthly bare minimum: rent, food, bills, transport. Knowing your number takes away some of the fear. It turns "I can't afford to leave" into "I need three more months of savings and then I can."
3️⃣ Stop leaving benefits on the table
PwC's data shows that many workers aren't fully using the financial benefits their employer already offers (things like HSA contributions, 401(k) matching, or employee assistance programs that cover financial counseling). Before you look for a new job, make sure you're maxing out what your current one offers.
4️⃣ Treat the salary conversation as non-negotiable
Financial stress and under-earning are often the same problem. If you haven't negotiated your salary in the last two years, you've likely lost ground to inflation. Research your market rate, document your impact, and ask. The worst they can say is no, and you'll be no worse off than before.
5️⃣ Get a plan, not just a budget
A budget tells you where your money went. A financial plan tells you where it's going and gives you something to work toward. When you can see a path forward, the anxiety starts to loosen its grip. That's when you start making career decisions from ambition instead of fear.
If money anxiety is running your career, let’s talk about it. Book a free call with one of our coaches here.
🚨 Take action
‘Friction maxxing’ to fight the system built to make you spend
Your shopping apps are engineered to get you to click "buy" before your brain catches up. Here's a simple system to slow that down.
Source📌 Pay attention
Your HSA could be a record-keeping time bomb
HSA assets hit $174 billion in 2025 but if you've been taking distributions without saving receipts, you could owe taxes and penalties years down the line. The IRS's statute of limitations on HSA withdrawals is longer than most people realize.
Source👀 Keep an eye
A gas tax holiday could be coming (but don't count on big savings)
Gas prices are above $4/gallon and Congress is debating a federal gas tax holiday. Even if it passes, experts say drivers would likely save only 10 to 16 cents per gallon (and not all of that would reach you). Worth watching, but not worth planning around.
Source👌 Looking Up
New retirement accounts are coming for millions of workers left behind
56 million Americans (gig workers, part-timers, small business employees) have never had access to an employer-sponsored retirement plan. A new federal platform launching in 2027 will let workers compare and open low-cost IRAs, with up to $1,000/year in government matching for eligible earners. It's not a perfect fix, but it's a real step toward closing the retirement gap.
SourceThe Panic Meter reflects our editorial read on urgency — not financial advice.
Americans who struggle to meet household expenses on time
Nearly half of all workers can't cover their basic household expenses on time — not because they don't earn enough, but because financial systems aren't built in their favor.
Average time spent thinking about personal finance per week
That's almost a full workday lost to money stress every single week. Imagine what you'd do with that headspace back.
Would rather have a better quality of life than more money in the bank
Which raises the question: is your financial plan actually built around your life… or just a number?
Need to talk numbers? We can help you sort out your money.
C. Salt
In ancient Rome, soldiers were given a specific allowance to buy salt, an essential (and expensive) commodity at the time. That allowance was called a ‘salarium’, and it's where the word salary comes from.
