212 - River Nice - Socially Responsible Financial Planning to Support the Collective, not Capitalism
“My number one piece of financial advice is to be intentional.” - River Nice
Money: the root of all evil or a force for good? Maybe you grew up with little financial security, and that anxiety now strains your attempts to plan responsibly. Perhaps you’ve accumulated some wealth but have no idea where to invest it. Regardless of where we land on the income spectrum, capitalism makes it nearly impossible to find the energy, time, or tools to make socially responsible choices with what money we have. River Nice, the founder of Be Intentional Financial, LLC, wants to turn that storm of individual financial worry into a tsunami of collective financial activism, one client at a time.
River is an anti-capitalist financial planner. They acknowledge the harms of white supremacist, patriarchal capitalism and help families use their money to get as close to their ideal lives as possible. They help clients with budgeting, debt, emergency preparedness, investing, insurance, and planning how to afford life goals like gender transition, family planning, buying a house, and retirement. So what does River’s profession have to do with healing? Oof. Capitalism has seeped into and monetized almost everything we come into contact with. Isn’t it time we liberated ourselves and our communities from its grasp?
OK then! But, before everyone starts tossing fistfuls of cash into the streets as earnest reparations… “We can't just make it black-and-white, you're good or evil,” River cautions. “I think there's gotta be a more nuanced way to help people manage their assets while still being in solidarity with the rest of the world.” Part of River’s brilliance is helping clients sift through layers of shame-based judgment or misinformation surrounding money so that they can make sustainable changes and leave behind substantial* legacies.
*Money is, of course, a social construct. Despite what the wealth management commercials say, you aren’t defined by the physical collateral you leave behind.
That said, wouldn’t you take any opportunity to build an ethical business or set aside assets that directly addressed harm done to Black and indigenous communities? “It's not a coincidence that the entire US culture is based on individualism; it's based on what's best for me. That’s hand-in-hand with white supremacy,” River says. “I wanted to do something different.” Financial planning as a values-based resistance? More of this, please.
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GUEST CONTACT INFO & BIO
River Nice (they/them) is an anti-capitalist financial planner, meaning they acknowledge the harms of white supremacist, patriarchal capitalism and help individuals and families use their money to get as close to their ideal lives as possible! River helps their clients with topics like budgeting, debt, financial emergency preparedness, investing, insurance, and planning how to afford life goals like gender transition, family planning, buying a house, and retirement.
Let’s be friends! You can find me in the following places…
Website:
www.headheartbiztherapy.com/podcast
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