Why ‘Walk-Away Wealth’ Rarely Delivers the Freedom People Expect

Everything changes when you’ve made it… right? Well, maybe not. Ask the athlete who grew up poor and suddenly signs a deal for life-changing wealth. The founder who has just passed through the chaos of an exit. The artist who finally breaks through to stardom.

No matter how successful they become, some continue to seek validation, finding that earlier pressures do not automatically disappear with financial success. They wrestle with the same fears and pressures they started off with.

Financial success does not necessarily alter a person’s core traits, but it can make existing patterns more visible.

When Uma Viswanathan and Johann Berlin began comparing notes on their own money stories, the fears, habits, and hopes that shaped their financial lives, they realized something: For many, the challenge lies less in a lack of information and more in how they relate to money.

What is wealth, and why are people seeking it?

That question became the seed for TruWorth, a financial wellness platform that Berlin and Viswanathan founded.

Viswanathan, a Harvard graduate in neuroscience, psychology, and the history of science, and Berlin, a transformation leader with two decades in behavior change, asset management, and organizational development, bring both rigor and reflection to their shared mission. Their aim is to help people win back freedom, power, and agency with money, wealth, and worth.

The Grind That Never Loves You Back

So much of culture and identity is built on the idea that having more, doing more, and producing more will buy purpose and freedom. Whether it is about accumulating money through a higher salary or a better stock portfolio, or winning status with more followers, fans, or visible markers of success, momentum is generated by ensuring the lights never go off.

Momentum does not always translate into a sense of satisfaction.

When every moment can be turned into content, and every hobby can be monetized, a profound fear of missing out on potential opportunity can take hold. “Always-on” culture does not just ask for productivity; it demands performance. It keeps people constantly hooked. Identity itself is being monetized, and something essential is being lost in the process.

“We have worked with highly successful people who are masters of their craft. People who know when and how to release music or launch breakthrough products that will cut through the competition. People who can build a brand that stands apart, or are generating real assets,” Berlin reflects. “So many of them are wondering the same thing,” he shares. “When do we get to feel like we’ve finally arrived?”

Striving for more has carried people far in life, perhaps farther than once imagined. There is a desire to break out from the past, to move further than previous generations, yet the bar keeps moving. An idea forms of what is wanted, only to give way to wanting more.

Absolute Financial Independence Is Often Oversimplified

A popular cultural narrative has emerged around wealth as a symbol of complete independence. It’s about keeping enough cash on hand, like an emergency fund or liquid investments, so you can walk away from a bad situation or take advantage of an opportunity.

Viswanathan shares, “We’ve bought into an illusion that we have the power to say no or to slow down, and that we’re just choosing not to. But most of us haven’t asked ourselves what we’re truly after. And without answering that question, we are stuck.”

An abundance of choice can sometimes make clarity harder to achieve. Behavioral science calls it choice overload. The input never stops, so the brain keeps scrolling, overthinking, and comparing. Over time, the noise grows so loud that personal instincts can no longer be heard.

Research shows that the more choices people face, the harder it becomes to discern what truly matters. This is known as decision fatigue, and it slowly chips away at the ability to trust oneself. There is little pause to reflect on where things are going or why. Life slips into autopilot, and it can seem impossible, or even naive, to ask questions.

“We’ve bought into the belief that if you do your own thing, be your own boss, and build your own brand, you’re free,” Viswanathan shares. “It sounds countercultural to what our parents might have taught us. Buy a house, build a steady career, play it safe. But how many of us even know what will fulfill us? How many of us are ready to fight for and build what we want?

Small Acts of Financial Rebellion

When you know what matters to you, not what should matter, not what your algorithm thinks you probably want, and when you take small actions that align with your intent, over time, these factors can compound.

Greater autonomy over financial decisions can contribute to a stronger sense of control.

Berlin and Viswanathan are inviting people to rethink not just their finances, but the story of who they’re becoming in relationship with money. Through TruWorth and in their upcoming book “Wealth and Why We Seek It,” Berlin and Viswanathan’s mission to make wealth alignment a daily practice rather than a distant goal has already drawn attention from culture-forward companies seeking to support employee well-being in more human ways.

The point is not to tell people how to live. It is to help create clarity and build small daily habits that lead to intentional, fulfilling, and meaningful financial and life choices — on individual terms.

Because for them, wealth isn’t a number. It’s a relationship.

The information provided in this article is for general informational and educational purposes only. It is not intended as financial or professional advice. Readers should not rely solely on the content of this article and are encouraged to seek professional advice tailored to their specific circumstances. We disclaim any liability for any loss or damage arising directly or indirectly from the use of, or reliance on, the information presented.