I’m Michael Schramm, CFA. For over a decade, I’ve written about money at USA TODAY, Morningstar, the Federal Reserve, and J.P. Morgan.

And I’ve noticed a problem. Finance is obsessed with logic, almost to the point that the field worships it.

Now listen. I am all for data, spreadsheets, and clear arguments to make decisions, but when people treat logic like a god, they often dismiss emotions as irrational and unserious. Silly and frilly. 

That used to be me. I believed that mental health, feeling your feelings, and healing from trauma weren’t logical—and, no offense, a little embarrassing.

Then therapy… humbled me. As I learned the science behind emotions, I realized their power. And how emotions and logic aren’t mutually exclusive.

For example, emotions can be powerful signals from our bodies that often arrive before conscious thought. If we can interpret these signals, we can use them to make better decisions, including with money. (Or, just as importantly, know when not to act on them.)

That brings me to why I started Emotional Finance. I want to write about emotions and mental health in a way that would’ve resonated with someone like me. Specifically, I want to reframe how you understand emotion so you can transform your relationship with money.

Why money? After writing about it for over a decade—and growing up working class—I see many connections to emotions and money that are undiscussed.