Money With Meaning: The 4 Horsemen That Pull Women Off Course By Lindsay Hollinger

We all want to live by our values—especially as women.
We want to feel aligned, clear, and grounded in what matters.

But let’s be honest: sometimes that’s harder than it sounds.

Suzy Welch, a professor, researcher and author on topics related to values and finding our purpose shares a powerful idea. She describes “The Four Horsemen of Values destruction” that quietly pull us away from living in alignment. On Suzy’s podcast, “Becoming You with Suzy Welch” (ep. 24) and in conversation with Jean Chatzky on “Her Money with Jean Chatzky” (ep. 477), we learn about these four forces: 1) expectations, 2) events, 3) expediency and 4) economic security. They don’t just show up during major life decisions. They have the power to influence our group chats, our calendars, our spending, and our careers.

Sometimes, they make us forget what our values even are.

But when we name them, we take our power back.

1. Expectations

What we were taught. What others assume. What we think we should do by a certain age.
Women carry a lot of invisible scripts—about success, motherhood, money, and ambition. Often, those scripts aren’t ours.

Reclaim it: Ask, Whose story am I living? Then start writing your own.

2. Events

Life doesn’t sit still. There’s a move, a breakup, a baby, a diagnosis. Even the beautiful things—new roles, new cities, new relationships—can throw us off balance.

Reset it: Your values can flex and evolve. What mattered last year might shift—and that’s okay. 

3. Expediency

Convenience has power. We say yes when we mean no. We stay quiet to keep the peace. We choose the easy path because we’re tired, or time-starved, or just trying to get through the day.

Catch it: Expediency feels efficient—but it rarely feels true. Slow down just enough to choose what’s right for you.

4. Economic Security

Even when we’re doing well, the fear of not having enough can run the show. We stay in roles we’ve outgrown. Chase titles we don’t care about. Prioritize income over impact—because safety matters.

And it does. But so does meaning.

Rethink it: Ask, Is this adding to the life I want—or just padding the one I’ve outgrown?

The Real Talk:

Living in alignment isn’t about being perfect. It’s about being aware. These Four Horsemen show up for all of us—but once we learn to see them, we start making choices that feel less reactive and more real.

It’s not always easy to know what your values are—especially when the noise is loud. But getting clear is worth it. Living by them? Even more so.

Because when women live with clarity, we lead with power.

By Lindsay Hollinger – Portfolio Manager, Financial Educator, Big Believer in Doing Money Differently #MoneyWithMeaning #LiveYourValues #WomenAndWealth #GraniteFamilyOffice #FinancialWellness