Navigating Money and Mindset:
An Interview with Jared Aquilina on Financial Freedom and Well-being
Trainer and Financial Coach Jared Aquilina
Can you tell us a little bit about what you do?
I help trainers and small business owners increase their wealth using my signature 'Money Mapping System.' Essentially, if you were to work with me, I’d identify your top three financial goals and automate a system around those goals to eliminate any stress and confusion for you.
But sometimes, achieving those financial goals requires building new habits. As a coach, I help my clients develop that “habitual muscle” so it becomes ingrained over time.
For those just starting to take control of their finances, what are three simple steps they can take today to begin building a more secure financial future?
I’m taking this literally—as in what you can do TODAY:
Start by writing down your 5, 10, and 20-year goals. It’s helpful to have a compass or beacon guiding where you want to be.
If you're a sole proprietor or business owner, separate your tax savings from your profits (revenue minus expenses), setting aside roughly 20-30%, depending on your business structure.
2A) If you're a W-2 employee, automate 10-20% of your paycheck to pay off debt or, if you’re debt-free, build an emergency fund of about three months' living expenses. Think of this as the concrete foundation for building wealth.
Open a high-yield savings account and funnel your tax savings and/or emergency fund into this account.
What are some common financial mistakes you see people making, and what practical advice can you offer to help them avoid or correct these mistakes?
A) Buying things to impress others or fill a void in their happiness. The satisfaction from making a purchase is often temporary and not fulfilling in the long term. The most satisfying part of the purchasing journey is often the process—finding a product, reading reviews, and doing research. Ultimately, we seek a sense of purpose, productivity, and accomplishment, which can be found in many other ways in our personal and professional lives.
To avoid impulse purchases, give yourself a 7-day rule. Take that time to think about whether the purchase will realistically add value to your life.
B) Not saving money for taxes as a business owner. You need to immediately separate money that isn’t yours to have more clarity around your finances. Set up a separate savings account and automate 20-30% of your monthly business profits into this account.
How closely linked do you see mental health, fitness, and finance?
VERY closely. Having a routine, structure, and habits around all three is the ultimate path to freedom and happiness in life.
It all STARTS with your mindset. Are you ready to make a change? Do you have the mindset to make those changes? Do you have the growth mindset to consistently strength train or reach your financial goals, even when you experience setbacks? All three require consistent efforts over long periods of time.
As someone who doesn’t fit the traditional mold of a financial advisor, how do you leverage your background as a personal trainer to connect with clients and differentiate your coaching approach from more conventional financial advisors?
What I love most about training is the program design aspect. The template, the routine, the system—these form the foundation for reaching a goal. When a client comes to me with a goal, I create a plan individualized to their specific needs, then put it into action with hands-on training. Doing that for 16+ years has allowed me to develop a similar system for people's money.
Everyone has a unique history and journey with both their body and their finances.
You’ve talked about how gaining clarity in your finances enhanced your personal and professional life. What has been the most significant change you've noticed in your mental health or overall life, and how has it influenced your approach to your work with others?
Knowing that I can be happy and fulfilled in the present because I’m not worrying about the uncertainty of my financial future.
Not to be meta here, but… Money is ENERGY. It’s involved in everything in our lives—from the roof over our heads to the food we consume that literally becomes part of us.
We are money energy. If you have anxiety around it, that anxiety will deter you from truly being happy. That’s what inspires me to help others—bringing more positive energy around money.
Thank you for taking the time to chat with us. If people are interested in working with you, how can they find you?
Aquilinafinance.com or @jared.aquilina on Instagram.
Last question: If you were to take yourself on a "wellness date," what would it be? Here are the rules: It has to be solo and some type of outing or expedition to explore something that interests, inspires or increases your well-being.
I’d love to sit down at a simple, rustic family dinner in Sardinia, where the food comes straight from your neighbors. Picture a long wooden table set in the middle of rolling hills and olive groves, covered with hand-cooked pasta, fresh cheeses, sweet honey, and slow-roasted meats cooked over an open fire. The only sounds are the ocean breeze, the crackle of the fire, and laughter. We’d wash it all down with wine that tastes alive, a little funky, and just a bit cloudy when poured, but you know it’s got soul—just like the dinner. No cell phones, just real connections.
Careless or Care·Less?
Our culture is productivity obsessed and often the idea of slowing down and doing less can feel inaccessible or even irresponsible. Simultaneously, experts across all fields advise us that slowing down is good for our health and leads to a deeper sense of happiness and fulfillment.
British pediatrician and psychoanalyst D.W. Winnicott coined the term “good enough mother” in his 1953 book Playing and Reality. His theory posits that a “good enough” caregiver provides a sufficiently nurturing environment for a child’s psychological development, without being perfect. Within the “good enough mother” framework, the caregiver uses attunement to strike a balance between meeting the child’s needs for physical and emotional safety while also allowing for safe testing of boundaries and slight frustration for the child.
Many of us in the therapeutic space work on “re-parenting” with our clients - essentially helping clients develop the ability to offer themselves the nurturing care and understanding that they needed as children. Can part of this kindness and self-compassion focus on allowing ourselves to be “good enough” in our own endeavors? Can we, using mindful reflection, make choices about where we want to invest our time and energy and in doing so slow down and do less? Can we still care but care just a little less?
Doing less doesn’t mean that we are lazy. Or that we lack ambition. It means that we are able to set realistic expectations for ourselves (and others) and move forward with intention, acknowledging that relaxation is essential for our overall wellness. Winnicott's work highlights the importance of a nurturing environment for a child's development, which includes periods of calm and rest. By being our own good enough caregivers and allowing ourselves the same access to rest, we create a nurturing environment for our own growth and happiness.
Winnicott also emphasizes the importance of presence and attunement. A good enough caregiver is attuned to the child’s needs, providing comfort and security. By doing less and focusing on the present moment we can also become more attuned to our own needs. This presence fosters deeper connections with loved ones and a greater sense of fulfillment.
When our busyness is persistent, our minds are cluttered. We approach tasks on autopilot without the mental space necessary to generate new ideas or understand different perspectives. Rest allows the mind to wander and engage in reflection, which can increase creativity and assist in problem-solving. Winnicott believed that play and creativity were vital for a child’s healthy development. As adults, we also benefit from the freedom and space to play, explore, and create.
Winnicott's idea of the "good enough mother" reinforces what we already know - that perfection is antithetical to our well-being. Rest is essential for our mental and emotional health, fostering creativity and deeper connections. Can we take stock and not only do a little less but care a little less about doing it all to enhance balance and create a nurturing environment for our own growth?