Donna Skeels Cygan, CFP®, MBA was intrigued throughout her financial planning career by the complex relationship between money and happiness. In addition to helping her clients manage their money wisely, she emphasizes that money should be used as a tool to increase our happiness. Convinced that money does not buy happiness but it definitely impacts our happiness, she set out to design strategies to help people take control of their money while also maximizing their happiness.

Cygan devoted six years to researching and writing The Joy of Financial Security. The book is grounded in research from psychology, neuroscience, and economics. It provides proven financial planning topics—such as how to determine an appropriate asset allocation, how to design an investment portfolio, good debt versus bad debt, and how to plan for retirement. The book also provides strategies from psychology research for adding more happiness to our lives, such as focusing on gratitude, recognizing that experiences are far more important than more “things” in our lives, and how nurturing our creativity and having a sense of purpose can help us develop a healthy perspective about money. The final chapter teaches readers how to implement small, deliberate changes that can lead to a richer (and happier) life. The book has received two awards: an International Book Award and an IPPY.

Cygan is the owner of the financial advisory firm Sage Future Financial, LLC. Recognized numerous times as one of the top financial advisors in the U.S., she has contributed to articles and has been quoted in national newspapers and magazines, including the Wall Street Journal, The New York Times, The Chicago Tribune, Forbes, Kiplinger’s, and Investment News. She has appeared on TV programs in New York, Seattle, Portland, Phoenix, Minneapolis, and Memphis, and has appeared on many radio shows across the U.S.

She enjoys speaking on many topics related to money and happiness, as well as international economic and psychology research on well-being, and potential policy changes that may increase happiness. She is passionate about educating others on how to manage their money wisely while also becoming happier. She is available as a key-note speaker and she also conducts two hour and half-day seminars. For more information, visit the website www.joyoffinancialsecurity.com.

Book Cover
Download High Resolution Image