Many people are taught to chase financial freedom as the ultimate life goal. And while achieving financial security is crucial, an increasing number of people are asking a more profound question: Does money alone make life meaningful? The emerging answer is clear—you need both freedom and fulfillment. The real challenge is creating a life that balances both, without sacrificing your values or mental well-being in the process.

Financial freedom allows you to live without financial stress, but fulfillment gives your life a reason to wake up every day. As psychologist Carl Jung put it, “The privilege of a lifetime is to become who you truly are.” True success isn’t measured only in dollars—it’s measured in alignment, purpose, joy, and impact.

Rethinking What It Means to Be “Free”

Financial freedom typically means having enough income—through savings, investments, or passive streams—to live your desired lifestyle without being dependent on a job. While the FIRE (Financial Independence, Retire Early) movement made this concept popular, it often misses an essential piece: what you’re retiring to matters as much as what you’re retiring from.

According to a study by Harvard’s T.H. Chan School of Public Health, people with a strong sense of life purpose have a 15% lower risk of death than those without one (source). Another study in The Journal of Positive Psychology found that people who reported feeling fulfilled also reported higher well-being, more resilience, and lower stress (source).

The science is clear: fulfillment isn’t a luxury—it’s a life extender.

Steps to Create Financial Freedom and Fulfillment

1. Define what freedom actually looks like for you.
    Is it traveling the world? Having more time with your family? Building something meaningful? Use tools likeMonarch Money to track financial goals, but pair that with a journal to track emotional goals too.
2. Create a values-based budget.
    Spend with intention. Use apps likeYNAB (You Need a Budget) to build a system where your spending reflects your values—not just obligations. Ask yourself: Does this bring me closer to a life I love?
3. Build your “fulfillment fund.”
    Just like an emergency fund, set aside money for things that light you up: art classes, sabbaticals, volunteering, or launching a side project. This fund is for soul returns, not just financial ones.
4. Design a purpose-driven life plan.
    Use resources like theLife Compass Tool to align your life around purpose, not just productivity. Explore your core values, strengths, and dreams.
5. Diversify your time, not just your portfolio.
    UseTimeular or a simple weekly planner to balance time between income-generating work and fulfillment-generating activities. When time reflects your priorities, burnout fades.
6. Invest in lifelong learning and growth.
    Whether it’s taking a course onCoursera or joining a mastermind community, investing in your potential often leads to both greater income and deeper fulfillment.

Redefining Rich

True wealth is about more than a number in your bank account. It includes time freedom, health, purpose, community, and contribution. When you pursue financial freedom in service of your fulfillment, rather than as the end goal, your entire life opens up.

As author and entrepreneur Derek Sivers once said, “If it’s not a hell yes, it’s a no.” This applies not only to money decisions, but to how you spend your days.

Tools to Help You Navigate Both Paths

• Zeta – Financial planning for couples, making money conversations part of relationship fulfillment.
• BetterUp – Coaching for personal development, purpose, and fulfillment.
• FutureMe – Write letters to your future self and reflect on whether you’re on track with both money and meaning.

Let’s Reflect Together

What does financial freedom mean to you—and how does it support or distract from your fulfillment?
 If you had all the money you needed today, what would you choose to do tomorrow?
 Where in your current life are you sacrificing joy for money—or vice versa?
 What’s one small shift you could make this week to feel both richer and more aligned?

Join us in theAge Brilliantly Forum and share your perspective. Whether you’re just starting out or recalibrating your path, your story can inspire someone else. Let’s build lives that are not only financially free—but deeply fulfilling, too.