Money is emotional. It carries baggage—shaped by our earliest memories, our missteps and sometimes real trauma. Fear, guilt and shame often shape financial decisions. And financial strain, in turn, can surface as anxiety, stress, even anger.
“Playing with my money is like playing with my emotions,” says Big Worm in the 1995 film Friday—a line that lands because it’s true. When money feels precarious, emotions run high. Warren Buffett puts it more plainly: “If you cannot control your emotions, you cannot control your money.”
Seen this way, wealth isn’t just about accumulation or restraint. It’s about intention—using money as a tool, understanding its purpose beyond spending, and prioritizing freedom and experience over possessions. This issue explores what that can look like in practice.
Our cover star, Jasmine Rashid, is an Oakland-based author and financial activist who empowers everyday people with insider knowledge on moving money toward a more equitable economy. Elsewhere, local experts share wealth-protective strategies for baby boomers, seniors and their heirs. We also examine community banks—relationship-driven institutions that reinvest local deposits into area businesses, strengthening the community they serve.
Beyond finance, this issue widens the lens. We introduce mobile veterinarians offering compassionate end-of-life care for our furred companions. One new book maps great hikes across the Bay Area, while another spotlights 35 historical women who helped shape this region for the better. Our dining reviewer visits Bar Panisse, the newest lounge next door to Chez Panisse, and our film critic weighs in on which Oscar contenders are worth your time.
It turns out that time is the common element among these pages. Because how you spend your time determines what you become—and what you value enough to invest in.
