How a former Wall Street trader discovered the power of curiosity to transform our most difficult financial conversations

“Come to the conversation curious.”

Five simple words that have revolutionized how Emily Scott approaches one of our most taboo subjects: money. In her chapter for The Wisdom Collection, this former Wall Street trader turned financial therapist shares the profound insight that has transformed not just her own relationship with money, but the lives of countless clients over nearly a decade of practice.

Beyond the Quick Fix

In a world obsessed with financial hacks and instant solutions, Emily’s approach stands apart. She doesn’t offer budgeting spreadsheets or investment strategies. Instead, she asks the questions most financial advisors never think to explore: “What’s behind that reaction? What are you feeling? What do you experience?”

“There will be a time for a fix,” Emily explains. “But in order to determine what the destination is—what the fix should be—what’s the journey that leads you to that? And there’s the curiosity.”

This distinction is crucial. While traditional financial advice focuses on behavior modification, Emily recognizes that lasting change requires understanding the emotional landscape that drives our financial decisions. Your money story, she emphasizes, is as unique as your fingerprint—shaped by early messages, cultural influences, and deeply personal experiences.

The Sacred Space of Financial Exploration

What makes Emily’s work particularly powerful is her ability to create what she calls a “safe, sacred space” for money conversations. In this environment, freed from judgment and shame, something remarkable happens: “Every client has said, ‘I’ve never told anybody this before.'”

Think about the weight of that statement. These aren’t conversations with teenagers—these are accomplished adults who have carried financial secrets and shame for decades. Emily’s curiosity-based approach provides perhaps the first opportunity they’ve ever had to explore their money story without fear of judgment.

From Fear to Understanding

Emily’s own journey illustrates this transformation. For years, she operated from what she calls “horrible bag lady syndrome”—the fear of ending up financially destitute and alone. Through two decades of applying curiosity to her own money story, she moved from paralyzing fear to empowered understanding.

“If I wasn’t aware of my money story and how it impacts how I think and feel, if I wasn’t curious about that… I would be under the bed in a fetal position,” she admits with characteristic honesty. Instead, she’s built a thriving practice helping others navigate their own financial emotional landscapes.

The Ripple Effect of Curiosity

Emily’s approach creates powerful ripple effects beyond individual transformation. When she encourages a client to ask her husband, “Can we talk about what happens to you when you see those packages? I want to understand what you’re feeling,” she’s not just addressing a spending conflict—she’s modeling a completely different way of engaging with difficult conversations.

This curiosity-based approach naturally leads to empathy, understanding, and genuine dialogue. It transforms defensive interactions into opportunities for connection and growth.

A Message for Our Times

Emily’s decision to share her message in The Wisdom Collection reflects her recognition of a crucial need. “Study after study shows that we need community more than ever,” she notes. “We need to figure out how to be as non-divisive as possible. We need to listen to each other.”

In our increasingly polarized world, Emily’s practice of approaching conversations with genuine curiosity offers a pathway back to understanding. Her work demonstrates that when we set aside the need to be right and instead seek to understand, transformation becomes possible.

The Wisdom Collection: Stories That Transform How We Live, Connect, and Lead releases June 24th. Emily Scott’s chapter offers a revolutionary approach to money conversations that could transform not just your finances, but all your most important relationships.

Ready to explore your own money story with curiosity? Contact Summit Press Publishers by hitting reply to discover how your unique insights could become part of our next transformative collection.