Lavaali

Co-founder of a group of self-service laundromats, self-storage,  coworking and virtual spaces.

Co-Founder

ISCAL-Lisbon Accounting and Business School

Professor of Financial Markets and Calculus.

Professor of Financial Markets

Independent

I like to work with Behavioral Data, Emotions, and Storytelling. 

Economics, Finance, and Markets are about people. Behaviors are what authentically define people and businesses.

Financial Analyst

Sustainable Destinations

Invest in small businesses, real estate, digital real estate, and domains.
Currently, owner of a Real Estate Property in the Azores. 
Sold my first real estate property in 2023.

Property Investor

Blog - Para lá do Homo Economicus

Co-author of opinion articles on financial literacy, finance and economics (inactive)
http://paraladohomoeconomicus.blogspot.pt

Co-founder financial literacy blog

Universidade da Beira Interior

Researcher in crowdfunding and alternative markets.

The role of microcredit in promoting financial and social inclusion. Projeto financiado por fundos nacionais através da FCT – Fundação para a Ciência e a Tecnologia, I.P., no âmbito do projeto “The Role of Microcredit in Promoting Financial and Social Inclusion” (PTDC/EGE-OGE/31246/2017).

Researcher

Refood

Manager of Volunteers at Refood.

Collecting food from restaurants and coffee shops to deliver to families in need.
http://www.re-food.org/

Volunteer from almost the beginning of Refood project in the county of Nossa Senhora de Fátima. Actively collaboration with the food collection team. 

More recently, working as well as Volunteer Manager (since February 2016) in the new Refood Sacavém. The main tasks developed are data collection, training, share procedures and experiences about Refood, operations, and managing volunteer. 
http://www.re-food.org/pt/nucleos/portugal/lisboa/sacavem

Like it and share it:
https://www.facebook.com/Refood-Sacav%C3%A9m-1551333215128436

Volunteer Manager and Volunteer

JOPA - Núcleo de Jovens Profissionais de Águas (Young Water Professionals)

Coordinator of JOPA, managed members and their activities.  

The Núcleo de Jovens Profissionais de Águas - Group of Young Water Professionals (JOPA) aims to ensure adequate preparation of new generations of leaders and technicians in several areas of knowledge, helping them to meet the growing challenges facing the water sector in the present and in the future. The purpose of JOPA is to enhance professional training of young water professionals of the water sector and all who would come to be a part of JOPA.

Facebook - www.facebook.com/nucleo.jopa
Twitter - https://twitter.com/nucleo_jopa
LinkedIn - https://pt.linkedin.com/pub/jopa-núcleo-de-jovens-profissionais-da-água/b1/58b/92b/en.

Additional information: jopa.apda@gmail.com

JOPA was developed within APDA (Portuguese Association of Distribution and Water Drainage) in 2013 and is also connected to the IWA (International Water Association).

Coordinator

Climber Hotel

Mentor for the growth strategy using Behavioural Science and Financial Tools of the Portuguese Startup Climber - Hotel Revenues Strategies. 

Climber is a revenue management tool that provides independent hoteliers optimal, dynamic pricing using local data and customer analytics. 
http://climberhotel.com

Blog 
http://blog.climberhotel.com

Behavioral Finance Advisor and Growth Mentor

ISCTE-IUL

PhD in behavioral economics. applied to water resources and consumer behaviors.

PhD in Economics with a FCT Scholarship

Helping 23K families navigate AI-driven education & finance | Daily insights on early careers & AI education’s impact on your child’s future | Keynote Speaker & Financial Psychology PhD

AI is destroying your financial future. 🤖

Here’s the brutal truth what you need to pay attention:

While you’re distracted by endless AI tools and digital noise, your money decisions are getting worse.

Not smarter. Worse.

Why?

Because 97% of professionals now suffer from decision fatigue and lack of mental space to plan the journey.

Your brain makes 35,000 choices daily.

By afternoon, you’re mentally exhausted.

You leave your journey, and make life a prison.

That’s when you make your worst financial mistakes.

The result?

- Financial stress eating your relationships 💔
- Emotional investment decisions 📉
- Delayed wealth building 💰
- Career stagnation 📱

But here’s what changes everything:

Understanding your money psychology.

I’m Emanuel Balsa.

PhD in Behavioral Economics.

14+ years studying why intelligent people make terrible money decisions.

My discovery:

The difference between financial struggle and freedom isn’t intelligence.

It’s behavioral patterns.

Top 1% think differently about money.

They use evidence-backed psychology, not just logic.

I teach you:

→ How to rewire money fears using Nobel Prize research 🧠  
→ Why your “smart” investments are emotional traps 📊  
→ AI tools that actually improve financial decisions 🤖  
→ Behavioral patterns to fight inflation and win 💎

My credentials:

📚 Professor of Finance | ISCAL  
🔬 Behavioral Finance Researcher | 14+ years  
🇵🇹 #1 Male Finance Creator in Portugal  (LinkedIn)
🌍 #40 Worldwide Personal Finance (Favikon, June 2025)

My Mission is too help others to don’t lose where I lost in the past, and win more than I win 🏆 

I am building a network to transform 100,000+ professionals through psychology-based wealth education, financial education for financial independence.

No fluff.

No get-rich-quick schemes.

Just proven behavioral science.

Ready to learn like the top 1%?

Get my free psychology playbook:  
👇 https://lnkd.in/d5Shnd83

Join 23,000+ professionals in my community, and get 500 Career & Finance chatGPT prompts :  
👇 https://lnkd.in/d5fXZeUQ

⚠️ Warning: Once you see these patterns, you can’t unsee them.

I’m a professor, not a guru, so always Financial Psychology education, not financial advice.

Speak soon,
Balsa 

P.S. Message me to accelarate your learning. ✍️

Every generation teaches kids about money wrong.
They use their parents' playbook.
Here's what changes everything.

Everyone's saying:
"Just save your allowance"
"Money doesn't grow on trees"
"We can't afford it"

But behavioral psychology shows different.

The worst money teaching by generation:

1/ Silent Generation (taught scarcity):
"Don't spend anything, ever"

2/ Baby Boomers (taught loyalty):
"Work 40 years, retire with pension"

3/ Generation X (taught independence):
"Figure it out yourself"

4/ Millennials (taught education):
"Get good grades, get good job"

5/ Gen Z (taught hustle):
"Start your side business now"

Meanwhile, the top 1% teach differently:
→ Systems over rules 
→ Psychology over math 

The uncomfortable truth about generational money teaching:

💰 Silent Generation (2% workforce):
Taught fear-based saving that killed wealth building

💰 Baby Boomers (18% workforce):
Taught loyalty to jobs that disappeared

💰 Generation X (34% workforce):
Learning fastest that old rules don't work

💰 Millennials (32% workforce):
Teaching debt-avoidance instead of wealth-building

💰 Generation Z (15% workforce):
Teaching entrepreneurship without financial fundamentals

The truth?
Every generation teaches money lessons.
But from the wrong psychological framework.

The smart move isn't teaching them to save or invest.

It's teaching them money psychology:
→ How to build systems that work automatically
→ How emotions drive financial decisions
→ How to recognize behavioral traps

Your kids' financial future doesn't start at school.

It starts with your behavior.

The most powerful financial education tool isn't a curriculum.
It's your psychological approach to money.

You're not just their parent.
You're their first financial role model.

Sound familiar?

Still figuring this out alone?

...
Get my psychology playbook to outsmart the job market's reality here:
🤝🤝 https://lnkd.in/d5Shnd83
...
♻️ Repost to help others teach what old schools won't
🍀 Follow Emanuel Balsa for behavioral psychology tips
✅ Save this generational money teaching guide

Emanuel Balsa

#1 Finance Creator🇵🇹 | Finance Psychology PhD| I help execs & professionals eliminate money anxiety + parents raise financially smart kids |Keynote Speaker |23K→100K

40% of couples are hiding money from each other.

Most relationships fail over financial secrets.
(here's the system that prevents it)

Not because they don't earn enough.
But because they never designed a shared system.

The data reveals a brutal truth:

→ 47% of UK adults hide money from their partner (Aviva, May 2025)
→ 67% of Gen Z keep financial secrets (Bankrate, 2025)
→ 62% of US couples keep money completely separate (Bankrate, 2025)

Financial secrets destroy trust faster than anything else.

Here's the 50-30-20 rule adapted for couples:

The Transparent Partnership Model

1| Joint Household Account (50% from EACH partner)

↳ Rent, utilities, groceries, insurance
↳ Vacations, house fund, kids' needs
↳ Shared dreams and major purchases

2| Partner 1 - Personal Savings (30%)

↳ Emergency fund (6+ months expenses)
↳ Personal financial goals

3| Partner 1 - Personal Freedom (20%)

↳ Stocks, ETFs, retirement accounts
↳ Hobbies, education, personal spending

4| Partner 2 - Personal Savings (30%)

↳ Emergency fund (6+ months expenses)
↳ Personal financial goals

5| Partner 2 - Personal Freedom (20%)

↳ Stocks, ETFs, retirement accounts
↳ Hobbies, education, personal spending

Real example: $100k household income

Partner A ($60k): $2,500 joint + $1,500 savings + $1,000 personal
Partner B ($40k): $1,667 joint + $1,000 savings + $667 personal

Why this works:

• Financial secrets become unnecessary
• Money arguments drop 99%
• Both partners feel secure
• Joint goals get achieved faster
• Trust deepens significantly

Most couples think joint accounts mean love.

Smart couples know structured systems mean trust.

Don’t get me wrong, my parents merge everything. 

Make what both agree, 
that’s the better system for you.

Financial harmony isn't merging everything.

It's designing a system where both partners:

→ Contribute fairly to shared goals (50%)
→ Build independent security (30%)
→ Maintain personal freedom (20%)

This one example of a system, 
you should make a system that work for you.

When both see the system and keep autonomy,
secrets become pointless. 

Money stops being a tabu.

P.S. What's stopping you from having this conversation tonight?

Note: Financial education, not financial advice.

…
Get my psychology playbook to outsmart financial stress here:
🤝 https://lnkd.in/d5Shnd83
…
♻️ Repost to help couples build financial transparency
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✅ Save this money framework

I teach money psychology and everyday lessons through simple stories, without quick-win BS

8 Social Rules That Kill Career Growth Forever:

(and what top performers do instead)

Most people destroy their credibility without realizing it.

Stanford Research Institute and Carnegie Mellon Foundation surveyed Fortune 500 CEOs.

The discovery?

75% of long-term career advancement comes from social intelligence.

Not technical skills. Not education. Communication patterns.

Here's what kills professional growth:

❌ Arguing to win every point
✅ Silence > Arguments - Not every opinion needs a reply

❌ Raising your voice for attention
✅ The calmest voice controls the room - Power doesn't shout

❌ Sharing workplace gossip
✅ Gossip once, lose trust forever - People remember

❌ Talking more than listening
✅ Ask more, talk less - Listeners win hearts

❌ Criticizing colleagues publicly
✅ Praise in public, correct in private - Respect goes viral

❌ Matching workplace chaos
✅ Mirror their energy, not their chaos - Stay in control

❌ Interrupting to prove your point
✅ Interrupting = Weak self-control - Let them finish

❌ Speaking first in every meeting
✅ Watch first, talk later - Smart people speak last

The brutal truth:

Social intelligence compounds faster than technical skills.

Your kids need these rules before their first job interview.

P.S. Which rule do you struggle with most?

Image: Pinterest
…
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🤝🤝 https://lnkd.in/d5Shnd83
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♻️ Repost to help others build influence
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Behavioral Finance Explained to Kids (and Adults)

Your 8-year-old understands money better than you think:

But we’re teaching them all wrong.

Here’s how I explain behavioral finance to kids:
(And why adults need to hear this too)

Lesson 1: The Cookie Experiment
“Would you rather have 1 cookie now or 2 cookies tomorrow?”

↳ This teaches delayed gratification
↳ The foundation of all investing
↳ Kids who wait perform better financially as adults

Lesson 2: The Allowance Game
Give them $10 weekly allowance with 3 jars:
→ Spend Now jar (50%)
→ Save for Big Thing jar (30%)
→ Never Touch jar (20%)

↳ This teaches mental accounting
↳ They see money grow in different categories
↳ The “Never Touch” jar becomes their first investment

Lesson 3: The Grocery Store Test
“Why do stores put candy at checkout?”

↳ Teaches them about impulse buying
↳ They learn companies use psychology against them
↳ Recognition = resistance later in life

Lesson 4: The Toy Price Experiment
Show them the same toy at different stores:
$20 at Store A
$30 at Store B (on “sale” from $50)
Ask: “Which is cheaper?”

↳ Teaches anchoring bias
↳ They learn “sale” doesn’t mean “good deal”
↳ Original price is often manipulated

Lesson 5: The Trading Card Trap
“Why do you want that card more after your friend got one?”

↳ Introduces herd behavior concept
↳ They recognize FOMO before it costs them
↳ Peer pressure applies to money too

The psychology behind teaching kids early:

Financial habits form by age 7 (According to a study from Cambridge University study from Dr. David Whitebread and Dr. Sue Bingham)

Most parents teach kids WHAT to do with money.
Smart parents teach kids WHY they make money mistakes.

They’ll thank you in 20 years.

Visual inspired by: Nicolas Boucher

P.S. What money lesson do you wish your parents taught you?

♻️ Repost to help parents teach better
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✅ Save these lessons for your kids

Using ChatGPT for every task = using Excel to write emails.
Still waiting for ChatGPT to cite sources?
(here's how to fix this fast).

- don't forget to 🔖 save for later -


A colleague asked yesterday: "How do I use AI for Literature Reviews?"

I showed him Scopus AI.

His response: "I've been wasting MONTHS on ChatGPT."

Here's the brutal truth about AI tools

ChatGPT is NOT designed for 99% of what you do, like: 
❌ Academic research with citations 
❌ Financial data analysis 
❌ Literature reviews 

ChatGPT is designed for (some of my daily uses): 
✅ Voice note to brainstorming ideas (going to work)
✅ A super mentor explaining concepts simply
✅ General writing assistance for PPT, emails 

You wouldn't use Word to make charts.

So why use ChatGPT for specialized research?

Here are my 7 Right AI Tools at 0€ Cost:
1| Scopus AI (free for professors and students)
↳ Searches millions of academic papers (no hallucinations) 
↳ Finds research gaps automatically (save you 100s of hours)
https://lnkd.in/dTq4sA34

2| Consensus.app 
↳ Retrieves evidence-based answers from research 
↳ Highlights scientific consensus on topics
https://consensus.app

3| Elicit.ai 
↳ Summarizes academic papers quickly 
↳ Organizes results into helpful tables
https://elicit.com

4| Perplexity AI (Finance Mode)
 ↳ Provides real-time financial data 
↳ Tracks trends and checks sources
Tip: You can also use academic mode for online research
https://lnkd.in/dcgtR3Gn

5| Semantic Scholar 
↳ Ranks research by influence in the field 
↳ Identifies important new findings
https://lnkd.in/dwakWXQ4

6| ResearchRabbit 
↳ Builds maps of research connections 
↳ Helps discover related studies easily
https://lnkd.in/dw_crA8Z

7| NotebookLM 
↳ Converts research into audio notes 
↳ Makes study guides from your readings
https://notebooklm.google

Here's the shaking truth:
Before: +25 hours/week on ChatGPT 
After: 3 hours/week with specialized AI
 
Change your AI stack in Q4.
Or spend 2026 explaining why you wasted these last 3 months.

P.S. Which tool are you switching to first?
…
♻️ Repost to save your network 20+ hours weekly
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✅ Save this before wasting another week

Struggling to get right AI: 7 solutions

Even high-paid people need 100+ years to save $1 million.

The problem isn’t your salary (It’s your savings psychology)

Here’s the financial timeline with everything you need to know:

🟡 Software Engineer: 123 years
🟡 Physical Therapist: 142 years
🟠 Architect: 147 years
🟠 Teacher: 205 years
🔴 Hairdresser: 417 years
🔴 Bartender: 481 years

💡 Reality Check: These numbers assume you save 10% of every paycheck after taxes and never touch that money for emergencies, job loss, medical bills, or life.

But here’s what the numbers don’t show:

97% never reach $1 million in savings.

Not because they don’t have high salaries.

Because they never develop investor psychology.

Here are the 5 “savings traps” costing even smart professionals decades,

that keep even smart earners stuck in the slow lane for decades:

1| The Salary Addiction Trap
↳ Higher income doesn’t means more wealth
↳ A software engineer making $102K can still be broke if they spend $100K

2| The Time-for-Money Prison
↳ Your wealth is capped by hours you can work
↳ No work = no money = financial fragility

3| The Compound Interest Myth
↳ “Just save 10% for 40 years” sounds safe but keeps you poor
↳ You’re betting your entire future on market returns you can’t control

4| The Lifestyle Inflation Disease
↳ Every raise gets absorbed by bigger house, newer car, fancier vacations
↳ Your savings rate stays flat while your stress increases

5| The “Good Job” Delusion
↳ Society celebrates your impressive title and steady paycheck
↳ Meanwhile, entrepreneurs build assets that work while they sleep

Teach your kids to:

- Build assets that generate income
- Create systems that compound value
- Think in decades, not paychecks

Most families teach “get a good job and save 10%.”

Smart families teach “build income streams that don’t require your time.”

Millionaire Fast Lane isn’t about working harder.

It’s about building smarter systems that work without you 24/7.

P.S. Which savings trap hits closest to home?

Table inspired by: US Labor Statistics (2017), from Millionary Fastlane Book. 
-----
Get my psychology playbook to outsmart the savings trap: 🤝🤝 https://lnkd.in/d5Shnd83

-----
♻️ Repost to help others build financial literacy 
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✅ Save this career-anticrisis reality check

I teach money psychology through simple stories, without quick-win BS

#1 question I get “Are we in a crisis?”

Headlines trigger panic. Base rates reveal truth.

That’s the secret question I get the most from students.

Most people make terrible decisions because they react to news instead of history.

I sold all my portfolio in March 2020 during COVID panic. 
Only relying on gold.
 
Not because the panic wasn't real. 
Because I ignored 100 years of market history.

Here's what separates rational investors from reactive ones:

They apply the Base-Rate Rule before making ANY major financial move.

The Base-Rate Rule: 
Historical average = your default expectation 

Use it before reacting to market news, big purchases, or career moves:

Step 1| Write the Decision Question (Plain English)
✅ DO: "Should I pause my investments after this crash?" 
❌ DON'T: Mix multiple questions into one decision

Step 2| Find Base Rates (Similar Cases)
✅ DO: Look for long-run data from credible sources 
↳ Example: "S&P 500 has had -13% average max annual drawdown since 1980"
❌ DON'T: Rely on single short-term studies, influencer threads, or anecdotes

Step 3| Compare Headlines to Base Rates (Note the Gap)
✅ DO: Extract the claim in numbers and contrast with history 
↳ Headline: "Market crash imminent - experts predict 10% drop" 
↳ Reality: S&P 500 drops 13% on average within the year, yet 64% of the time still finishes positive 
❌ DON'T: Treat any single anecdote as a predictive trend

Step 4| Adjust Expectations to Most Likely Range
✅ DO: Convert single-point predictions into probability ranges 
↳ "Only 11 years had -20%+ (based on 151-year history of S&P500)"
❌ DON'T: Anchor to single-point predictions without acknowledging uncertainty

Step 5| Choose a Reversible First Step
✅ DO: Take the smallest action that tests your plan 
↳ "Automated contributions: dollar-cost average €50/week for 4 weeks" 
❌ DON'T: Make all-in irreversible moves based on headlines

Step 6| Log Falsifiers (What Would Change Your Mind?)
✅ DO: Write 2-3 conditions that would invalidate your thesis 
↳ "If unemployment rises above 7% AND earnings revisions drop 20%, pause contributions"
❌ DON'T: Move the goalposts after the fact

The psychology behind base rates:
Our brains are wired for recency bias.

We overweight the last headline
underweight 150 years of history.

When I panicked in March 2020 and sold, 
I missed the fastest recovery in market history.

Don’t sell the news, 
Analyze them with emotional intelligence.

Young workers and graduates need to learn this rule before their first job.

P.S. Do think bad news are good news?
…

Get the free psychology playbook: 
🤝 https://lnkd.in/d5Shnd83
…
♻️ Repost to help others make data-driven decisions 
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✅ Save this before the next headline panic

No alternative text description for this image

Financial problems cause up to 40% of divorces.

Most couples fight about expenses. (here’s how to stop it)

Most couples split expenses 50/50 by income.

Here's why that destroys relationships:

The "fair split" myth is killing marriages.

Real financial harmony comes from balanced contribution.

I’ve experienced this in my marriage, after 7 years. 

The “fair split" myth explained: 

Equal dollar contributions can actually destroy relationships 💔 

if it does not account for income differences.

If you earn $80k and your partner earns $40k:
❌ Both pay 50/50 Income “fair split”. 
✅ Both pay proportional split (by Income %).

Partner A: 
→ 33% of total income pays 33% of $60k expenses ($19,800)

Partner B: 
→ 67% of total income pays 67% of $60k expenses ($40,200)

The psychology behind proportional systems:
→ Nobody feels financially punished 
→ Both partners sacrifice equally (percentage-wise)
→ Higher earner doesn't feel taken advantage of
→ Lower earner doesn't feel inadequate

Here’s my financially intelligent secret to avoid divorce:
→ both can have a joint couple’s dreams account
→ both can have individual dreams accounts

Marriage isn’t about sacrificing who you are, 
it’s about nurturing yourself.

Just. Start. Now.

Here's the system to prevents a money heartbreak:

Shared Expenses Pool (Both contribute proportionally):
- Rent/mortgage
- Utilities and Groceries
- Childcare
- House down payment

Individual Freedom Accounts:
- Personal hobbies
- Individual goals
- Guilt-free spending

Joint Dreams Account:
- Vacations together
- Emergency fund
- Couple goals
- Surprises

When was the last time you gave a gift?

I challenge you: make her/him a surprise this week.

Unexpected surprises show you care. 💐🎁🍣🌅

Your kids need to see financial partnership, 
not financial competition.

Every relationship has their couple goals, 
And both should’ve a personal view.

That’s a healthy relationship lasting decades instead of months.

P.S. Agree? ♻ What % split works for your relationship?

Comment “debt free” to receive my ebook now! ✍️ 

Get my psychology playbook to outsmart crises here:
🤝🤝 https://lnkd.in/d5Shnd83
…
♻️ Repost to help others build mental strength 
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✅ Save this personal crisis decision map

Most people chase 10x returns.

The hard truth: wealth isn’t built overnight. It’s built 1% at a time.

Here's the math that separates the anti-hustle from everyone else:

The Power of Tiny Financial Gains.

If you improve your financial decisions by just 1% every day:

🗓️Day 1: 1.00 (baseline)
🗓️Day 30: 1.35 (35% better than start)
🗓️Day 90: 2.45 (145% improvement)
🗓️Day 365: 37.78 (3,678% improvement)

This isn't about money invested.
This is about decision quality compounded.

But the 1% rule works both ways:
→ 1% better daily = 37.78x improvement
→ 1% worse daily = 0.03x (97% decline)

Same salary. After 10 years:

Person A (1% better daily):
→ Tracks spending weekly
→ Automates 15% savings
→ Learns about money monthly
→ Result: €180,000 net worth + zero financial stress

Person B (1% worse daily):
→ "I'll save when I earn more"
→ Lifestyle inflation every raise
→ Waits for perfect time to invest
→ Result: €12,000 net worth + constant anxiety

Same income. Opposite outcomes.

The difference? Tiny daily decisions compound.

Your daily €5 coffee = €208,000 over 30 years invested.
Started investing at 25 vs 35 = €500,000 difference.

Start today. Start tiny. Pick ONE:

□ Delete one shopping app
□ Track spending for 1 week
□ Automate €50 monthly investment
□ Learn one money concept this weekend

That's it. Just 1%.

In 365 days, you'll be unrecognizable financially.

Your kids won't remember your money talks.
They'll copy your daily decisions.

P.S. What's your 1% improvement starting today?

Image (Inspiration): James Clear
…
♻️ Repost to help others build wealth slowly
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✅ Save this compound framework for financial education

Get 1% better: Power of Tiny Gains 

Most professionals write emails that kill their credibility.

Here's how to write emails that get results:

I spent 3 years in a Big 4 consulting company, sending dozens of emails daily.

Most got ignored or misunderstood.

Then I learned the R.E.S.P.E.C.T. Framework:
- Respectful tone
- Easy to scan 
- Specific requests
- Professional structure
- Empathetic approach
- Clear next steps
- Timely answers

This is how to get over 50% response rates.

Here are 9 core templates that work every day:

1/ Requesting Information
❌ Don't write: "Hi, need details about your services."
✅ Instead write: "Hi [Name], Could you share pricing and timeline for [specific service]? I'm making a decision by Friday."

2/ Scheduling Meetings 
❌ Don't write: "Let me know when you're free."
✅ Instead write: "Hi [Name], Would you be available for a 30-minute discussion about [topic]? Options: Tuesday 2-3pm, Wednesday 10-11am, or Thursday 3-4pm?"

3/ Following Up Professionally
❌ Don't write: "Just checking if you saw my email."
✅ Instead write: "Hi [Name], Quick follow-up on [specific topic]. This helps us move forward with [outcome]. Could you review by [day]?"

4/ Declining Requests Gracefully
❌ Don't write: "I can't do this right now."
✅ Instead write: "Hi [Name], Thank you for thinking of me for [request]. I can't commit due to [brief reason], but let's reconnect in [timeframe]."

5/ Apologizing for Delays
❌ Don't write: "Sorry I'm late with this."
✅ Instead write: "Hi [Name], [Deliverable] will be ready by [new date]. The delay ensures [quality improvement]. Thanks for your patience."

6/ Providing Feedback
❌ Don't write: "This needs work."
✅ Instead write: "Hi [Name], Strong work on [project]. Highlights: [specific strength]. To strengthen: [clear suggestion]. Want to discuss details?"

7/ Disagreeing Respectfully
❌ Don't write: "I don't think this will work."
✅ Instead write: "Hi [Name], Thanks for your approach on [topic]. Here's another perspective: [alternative]. Let's discuss what works best."

8/ Confirming Details
❌ Don't write: "Got it."
✅ Instead write: "Hi [Name], Received and confirmed: [specific details]. I'll have [deliverable] ready by [date]."

9/ Introducing Yourself
❌ Don't write: "Hi, let's connect."
✅ Instead write: "Hi [Name], I'm [title] at [company]. I'd like to explore [specific opportunity] that could benefit [their goal]."

Check the visual for templates 10-12, so you don't miss any of them.

The pattern is simple:
• Lead with respect
• Focus on their needs
• Be specific, not vague
• Make responding easy
• End with clear next steps

Your email tone reflects your professionalism.
Make every message count.

P.S. What email situation stresses you most? 📧

Join the free clarity code: ↗
https://lnkd.in/d5fXZeUQ

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Most people think chocolate empires are built on taste.

Michele Ferrero proved them wrong with identity.

In the 1960s, Michele revolutionized how families consumed chocolate by understanding one key behavioral insight: people don't just buy products, they buy identity rituals.

While competitors focused on sugar content and advertising gimmicks, 

Michele applied psychological frameworks that built a $44.5 billion empire.

Here's the consumer psychology that transformed global food habits:

While other companies sold chocolate as candy, 
Michele positioned his products as family connection tools.

Ferrero's "Identity-Based Marketing": 
"Create emotional connections, not just taste preferences."

Competitors' "Volume Strategy": 
"Produce cheaper, sell more units."

Both approaches were tested during Europe's economic recovery in the 1960s.

→ Other brands competed on price while chocolate remained a luxury
→ Michele enhanced Supercrema quality when people could afford "real chocolate"
→ Both needed to capture families emerging from post-war austerity

The 3 powerful psychological principles Michele used:

1| Routine Integration Psychology
↳ Most brands target special occasions.
Michele flipped this:
↳ He made Nutella part of daily breakfast rituals across Europe.

For families: Spreading Nutella became "morning love language."

2| Premium Accessibility Strategy
↳ He enhanced ingredient quality while keeping prices accessible to average Italian families.
↳ This "everyday premium" psychology created loyal generational consumers.

For parents: Quality became affordable family tradition.

3| Market Adaptation Intelligence
↳ Under Michele, Ferrero adapted products to suit each market's psychological preferences.
↳ Kinder Surprise for Europe, mints for North America - same psychology, different expressions.

For global families: Local relevance with universal appeal.

The brutal truths are these:
- Ferrero became the world's 3rd largest confectionery company
- Ferrero consumes 25% of the world's hazelnut supply
- Nutella production could circle the globe 1.8 times annually

Most parents dismiss marketing psychology as "manipulation."

But smart families understand these consumption patterns.

Your kids need to recognize these psychological triggers
before they become automatic purchasing habits.

P.S. Which family ritual psychology do you notice in your daily routines?

Image: Grok.

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The masses admire successful companies.

But failure stories hide the biggest lesson:

During World War II, the Allies analyzed planes that returned from battle.
They mapped every bullet hole.

The red dots showed damage on wings and fuselage.

Military leaders wanted to reinforce those areas.

Abraham Wald, a mathematician, saw what others missed:
"These are the planes that survived."

The real danger was in the places WITHOUT dots.

Because planes hit in those areas never came back.
 
This is survival bias.

And it's costing you money right now.

Here's where you see it in finance:
In Investing: 
→ You study Warren Buffett's wins 
→ You ignore his failures
“Most regrets are ones of omission, not commission” W. Bufett 

In Career Decisions: 
→ You follow successful entrepreneurs who dropped out 
→ You ignore the millions who dropped out and failed 

In Financial Education: 
→ You tell stories about successful investors 
→ You skip the behavioral traps that destroy wealth 
→ You miss teaching them about the "missing dots"

The planes that didn't return hold the real lesson.

During my PhD in Behavioral Economics, I learned this:
The most dangerous decisions come from studying only what worked.
 
Image credits: respective owner
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Most people use AI to validate their preconceptions.
That's exactly why they stay stuck.

I wasted 6 months asking ChatGPT to confirm what I already believed.

Zero critical thinking. 

Maximum confirmation bias.

Then I discovered this Devil's Advocate Framework:

Step 1| Facts Only (Strip the Emotions)
👟 Collect verifiable data before asking AI anything
👟 Save links to credible sources
👟 Remove emotional language

Why: AI amplifies your input. Garbage in = garbage out.

Step 2| Ways You're Wrong (Attack Your Idea)
👟 Prompt: "List 5 ways this could fail. Include base rates."
👟  Request evidence for each counter-argument
👟 Rank risks by probability + impact

Why: Confirmation bias is your default. Force AI to expose blind spots.

Step 3| Clarifying Questions (Force Precision)
👟 Add to prompts: "Ask me 3 questions before suggesting anything"
👟 Provide specific numbers: budget, timeframe, max loss
👟 Revise your question based on what AI asks

Why: Bad prompts → bad advice. Precision beats speed.

Step 4| Options + Trade-offs (Compare Deliberately)
👟 Request: "Give 3 options scored on fit/risk/reversibility"
👟 Ask: "What are second-order effects?"
👟 Eliminate duplicate options
Why: False dichotomies trap you. Multiple paths reveal opportunities.

Step 5| Convert to Rules (Make It Actionable)
👟 Example write Entry : "Start when X condition is met"
👟 Assign a review date 
👟 Save rules where you’ll see them

Why: Ideas without rules = gambling. Pre-commitment beats willpower.

Step 6| Review vs Prediction (Learn From Reality)
👟 Schedule a 10-minute review 
👟 Log what happened vs what you expected
👟 Keep/Adjust rules based on evidence, not emotion

Why: Feedback loops create expertise. Most never review decisions.

Step 7| Continuous Learning (Refinement)
👟 Revisit prompts, methods, assumptions regularly
👟 Adjust rules as new data emerges
👟 Treat AI as learning partner that evolves with you

Why: Your decision-making improves through iteration, not perfection.

Intelligence isn't having right answers.

It's asking the right questions.

P.S. What decision did AI help you avoid?

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93% of drivers rate themselves above average.

Investors make the same mistake with money. Kahneman said it best: “We think that there were people who knew that there were going to be a recession” 

Nobel Prize winner Daniel Kahneman spent 50 years proving this costs fortunes.

His research revealed two brutal mistakes destroying wealth:

Mistake #1: Overconfidence Bias
↳ We believe we can predict what's unpredictable

Mistake #2: Knowledge Illusion
↳ Experts can't forecast recessions better than chance

Here’re 7 psychological mistakes everyone makes (how to avoid them):

1| Emotional Regret Paralysis
↳ Replaying "I should've invested earlier" blocks action
↳ How to avoid: Set monthly auto-invest regardless of past regrets

2| Information Overload Freeze
↳ Too many conflicting opinions cause analysis paralysis
↳ How to avoid: Follow 3 trusted sources maximum, ignore the rest

3| Loss Aversion Trap
↳ Selling winners too early, holding losers out of fear
↳ How to avoid: Set rule-based exit points before emotions kick in

4| The Knowing-Doing Gap
↳ Understanding what to do ≠ doing it daily
↳ How to avoid: Automate decisions so willpower isn't required

5| Dark Money Scripts
↳ Hidden beliefs like "I don't deserve wealth" sabotage success
↳ How to avoid: Write down your money beliefs, challenge each one

6| Perfect Timing Delusion
↳ Waiting for "the right moment" is fear disguised as patience
↳ How to avoid: Start with the smallest possible amount today, not tomorrow

7| Goal-Action Disconnect
↳ Long-term vision exists but daily choices don't align
↳ How to avoid: Track one daily action that serves your 10-year goal

Kahneman's final lesson:
The smartest investors know they're NOT that smart.
They build the financial psychology that protects them.

P.S. Which mistake hits closest to home?
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Most people waste money asking the wrong things.

Here are 16 prompts to fix what's destroying your hard work:

They ask: "How do I make more money?"
Smart people ask: "Why am I losing money I already have?"

The real wealth killers hide in your daily money psychology.

Here are 16 Perplexity prompts that expose what's really destroying your finances:

1| EBITDA Explained
"Companies often hide trouble in how they report profits."

Prompt: Break down a company's EBITDA for me with real numbers, then highlight what hidden costs or risks aren't shown in EBITDA, so I avoid overvaluing the business? Can you apply it to NVIDIA?

2| 50/30/20 Budget Rule 
"Most people struggle to save because they have no structure."

Prompt: Analyze my expenses from last month and sort them into "needs," "wants," and "savings" using the 50-30-20 rule, then tell me exactly where I can cut without hurting my lifestyle.

3| Pareto Principle
"Hard work isn't enough; results come from focusing smart."

Prompt: Review my investment portfolio and show which 20% of my holdings have contributed 80% of my gains over the past year—then suggest what I should double down on and what's wasting my time.

4| Dollar-Cost Averaging
"Market timing causes regret; consistency beats luck long-term."

Prompt: Simulate how €200 monthly invested in SP500 versus trying to pick 'best days' over the past 3 years would have performed—show me losses avoided and peace of mind gained.

5| Compound Interest
"People underestimate how small habits turn into life changes."

Prompt: Chart the future value of starting to invest €50 per month at age 22 versus age 32—then explain how much difference those 10 years make and why the best time to start is now.

6| Debt Avalanche
"Hidden interest keeps you broke longer than you think."

Prompt: List my debts with balances and interest rates, then use avalanche method to show which debts I should pay first to save the highest amount in interest over the next 12 months. (Provide your excel file)

7| Side Hustles
"Everyone wants more income, but which ideas actually work?"

Prompt: Recommend five proven side hustles I can start with under €500, including real examples and expected monthly profits for each, tailored to someone with zero tech skills.

[Check the prompts 8-16 in the visual]

The difference between struggling and thriving financially isn't intelligence. 

It's asking better questions about your money psychology. 

Your kids need to learn these thinking frameworks, not just saving tips.

P.S. Which prompt hit closest to home?

Note: All content is not financial advice. Financial education only.    
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33 ChatGPT Shortcuts That Save Hours

(bookmark this for your next prompt session)

Most AI users waste 10/hours a week rewriting prompts.

Smart professionals use these shortcuts instead.

Just add one at the start of your prompt:

Example: "BRIEFLY: [your question]" → instant concise answer

Here's your complete shortcut library:
/ELI5 → explains concepts in simple, clear language
/TLDL → condenses long content into key points
/STEP-BY-STEP → breaks down logic clearly
/CHECKLIST → organizes output as actionable items
/EXEC SUMMARY → creates business-ready overviews
/ACT AS → makes AI adopt specific expertise
/BRIEFLY → delivers ultra-short, direct answers
/JARGON → switches to technical terminology
/AUDIENCE → tailors response to target readers
/TONE → adjusts style (professional, casual, technical)
/DEV MODE → gives raw developer viewpoint
/PM MODE → frames as project management
/FORMAT AS → structures response (tables, lists, JSON)
/COMPARE → places options side-by-side
/MULTI-PERSPECTIVE → shows different viewpoints
/SCHEMA → generates organized outlines
/REWRITE AS → transforms into different style
/CONTEXT STACK → maintains multiple discussion layers
/BEGIN WITH / END WITH → controls response structure
/ROLE: TASK: FORMAT: → defines complete framework
/REFLECTIVE MODE → reviews its own response
/EVAL-SELF → critiques answer quality
/DELIBERATE THINKING → forces deeper analysis
/NO AUTOPILOT → prevents generic responses
/SYSTEMATIC BIAS CHECK → identifies hidden assumptions
/PARALLEL LENSES → examines from multiple angles
/CHAIN OF THOUGHT → reveals reasoning process
/PITFALLS → highlights potential mistakes
/METRICS MODE → adds measurable data points
/GUARDRAIL → sets firm boundaries
/DECISION FRAMEWORK → structures choices with clear criteria and trade-offs
/FIRST PRINCIPLES → builds from core fundamentals
/SWOT → analyzes strengths, weaknesses, opportunities, threats

Try this today:
Pick 3 shortcuts from this list and test them in your next ChatGPT session.

Your prompts will get 10x better instantly.

Image Inspired by Ruben Hassid.

P.S. Which shortcut surprised you most?
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33 ChatGPT shortcuts on How to increase your productivity with AI. AI Education and Literacy, Emanuel Balsa

Over 80% of day traders quit within two years.

Not because they picked the wrong stocks. 
Because they traded their feelings, not their rules.

Meaning 8 out of 10, according to Bloomberg.
I still can’t believe it.

In a study by Dalbar Inc., the finding over a 20-year period is shocking: 
Average retail investor underperformed the S&P 500 by 6.1% annually. 

Here's the Pre-Investment Checklist that can help you avoid mistakes:

Step 1| Write the Thesis (Why Now?)
Do: Create one-sentence explanation you can share with a 12-year-old 
↳ "I believe Company X will grow 30% because demand for Y is increasing" 
↳ Be specific enough to prove or disprove later
DON'T: Write vague narratives, follow influencer hype, or say "it can only go up"

Step 2| Set Amount, Horizon, Max Pain
Do: Decide EXACT numbers before you commit: 
↳ Position size: "€500 maximum" 
↳ Time horizon: "Hold for 6 months minimum" 
↳ Maximum loss you can mentally handle: "35% stop-loss"
DON'T: Use "I'll just put some money to play"

Step 3| Define Base Rates & Alternatives
Do: Research historical outcomes for similar situations 
↳ Note long-run returns and risks 
↳ List at least 2 comparable investment options
DON'T: Ignore simpler choices (like index funds)

Step 4| Pre-Write Exit Criteria
Do: Write the conditions that would close your position 
↳ Price target: "Sell when position gains 75%" 
↳ Time trigger: "Exit if thesis unchanged after 12 months" 
↳ Condition change: "Exit if earnings miss by 20% or CEO resigns"
DON'T: Plan to move exits after entry 

Step 5| Identify the Opportunity Cost
Do: State clearly what you're NOT doing with this capital/time: 
↳ "This €500 could compound at 8%/year in index fund for 10 years” 
↳ "I'm spending 3 hours researching this vs learning a new skill"
DON'T: Pretend the next-best option has zero value

Step 6| Log the Decision + Sources
Do: Record in one place (Notion, Excel, Google Sheet) 
↳ Date, thesis in one sentence, entry price, exit rules 
↳ Links to research sources (articles, earnings reports) 
↳ Set review date (6 months minimum)
DON'T: Trust your memory or scatter notes across multiple apps

When you write your exit rules BEFORE you enter:
- You remove emotion from the hardest decisions
- You can compare your predictions vs reality later
- You learn what actually works

Pre-commitment beats willpower every time.

Your investment results have nothing to do with intelligence. 
They have everything to do with discipline.

If you don't have written rules, you're gambling.
If you change rules mid-trade, you're gambling.
If you trust memory over systems, you're gambling.

Financial freedom isn't about finding the next Tesla. 
It's about having rules that survive market crashes.

P.S. What rule would you add?
Note: Financial education, not financial advice.
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Most workers worry about their financial future.

150 years ago, Samuel Benner created something controversial: a chart predicting economic cycles with scary accuracy.

He called it "Periods for Making Money" and identified three recurring phases:
• Panic Years (crisis hits)
• Good Times (growth happens) 
• Hard Times (opportunities emerge)

The shocking part?

Benner's predictions lined up with:
→ The Great Depression
→ The Dot Com bubble
→ Even the COVID crash

The secret part, the popular chart was made by George Tritch, a businessman from Denver, CO. 

He took Benner’s ideas and shared them through the pamphlet in the visuals.

The main additions:
- He extended Benner’s original 1891 end-date, up to 2059. 
- Added helpful visual aids to explain each category to investors. 

Right now, according to his cycle, we're in Period “B”, 
The phase of High prices and time to sell. 
According to his prediction until 2026!

Here's what this means for your financial independence goals:
1| These cycles repeat because human psychology never changes
2| "Hard Times" create the best opportunities for building wealth
3| Teaching your family about cycles prepares them for any economy
4| Your children will face around 3-4 major cycles in their lifetime

The truth most parents miss:
Financial education isn't only about teaching kids to save pennies. 
It's about teaching them to recognize patterns that repeat.

When I understand cycles, 
I stop panicking during crashes.

This 1875 chart reminds us the harsh truth: 
Fundamentals of money psychology haven't changed in 150 years.

Your kids need timeless principles 
more than they need, the latest apps.

P.S. Do you believe in these predictions or not?
Share it below 👇 

Image credits: Ritholtz.com

P.S. If you want to learn more about cycles, check Ray Dalio’s video here:
https://lnkd.in/dEGmk2Wu
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6-figure couples are going broke.

Even with $400k (Here's the brutal math nobody talks about).

A couple making $400k per year.

6-figure salaries: 
She earns $220k. 
He makes $180k.

They should be building wealth.
Instead, they're draining savings every month.

Her expenses: $5,700/month
• Rent (half): $3,000
• Restaurants: $1,200
• Amazon: $1,000
• Credit card interest: $500

His expenses: $8,195/month
• Rent (half): $3,000
• Groceries: $1,700
• Child activities: $2,600
• Childcare: $995
• Utilities: $1,000
• Cleaning: $550
• Car payment: $450
• Pets: $900

Total monthly burn: $13,895

Here's what's fair based on income:
• She should pay: $7,642 (55%)
• He should pay: $6,253 (45%)

Current reality:
• She pays: $5,700 (41%)
• He pays: $8,195 (59%)

He's covering $1,942 MORE than his fair share.
Every single month.

The spending gap crisis:
→ 84% of Americans face financial stress
→ 40% would leave a partner over money problems
→ Financial fights cause 40% of divorces

#1 reason rich people go broke: overspending.

Income means nothing without a system.

The fix? Three accounts:

1| Shared mandatory account
→ Fixed expenses split proportionally

2| Individual freedom accounts 
→ Personal spending, zero judgment

3| Joint savings goal
→ Build future together

As the husband said:
"She contributes 25% of our obligations, then says she has no money. I pay 75% of mandatory expenses while she spends on restaurants and shopping, other things."

High income doesn't solve your monthly problems.
A system that teaches you emotional intelligence does.

Image via: Ramit Sethi

P.S. Do you agree in split expenses fairly?

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Most people research everything with ChatGPT.

Many will disagree, but ChatGPT is not the best. 

(Stop making this mistake, use these 6 better assistants):

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Here are 7 Free AI tools that every financial and business team should know:
 
1| Perplexity Finance 
→ Real-time market data with verified sources 
→ Cites every claim with financial data links 
🏆 Best for: Stock analysis, market research, company financials

2| Claude (Sonnet 4.5)
 → Analyzes 200+ page financial reports instantly 
→ Summarizes earnings calls with key takeaways 
🏆 Best for: Annual reports, investment memos, due diligence

3| Grok (xAI) 
→ Access to real-time X/Twitter market sentiment 
→ Tracks trending stocks and crypto movements 
🏆 Best for: Breaking financial news, market sentiment analysis

4| DeepSeek 
→ Strongest at financial modeling and calculations 
→ Handles complex Excel formulas and Python code 
🏆 Best for: Quantitative analysis, algorithmic trading research
 
5| Gemini 
→ Integrates with Google Sheets for portfolio tracking 
→ Analyzes financial charts and graphs visually 
🏆Best for: Visual data analysis, spreadsheet automation
 
6| Microsoft Copilot 
→ Embedded in Excel for financial modeling 
→ Accesses enterprise financial databases 
🏆Best for: Corporate finance, professional portfolio management

7| ChatGPT 
→ Creative brainstorming for financial topics 
→ Explains complex concepts in simple terms 
🏆 Best for: Learning finance, ideation, and explanations


The truth most people miss:

The right AI tool depends on your problem.

Stop using the same tool for everything.

TLDR: For real-time financial markets, I use Perplexity Finance. 

It gives me sourced data in seconds, not hallucinations.

Your research quality determines your ROI in career, finance, and life.

P.S. Which AI tool should I add to this list?
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