Combined strength of team drives innovation in human-centric financial planning

Shaping Wealth, the global wealth industry’s premier learning and development platform powering human-first financial guidance, today announced the appointment of Dr. Meghaan Lurtz as Partner. Dr. Lurtz, a leading global expert on the psychology of financial planning and an esteemed educator, will play a pivotal role in supporting Shaping Wealth's vision to enable funded contentment—the ability to underwrite a meaningful life—for everyone.

“Meg brings an extraordinary blend of scholarly insight and practical expertise to the Shaping Wealth team,” said Brian Portnoy, CFA, Ph.D., founder of Shaping Wealth. “Her profound understanding of financial psychology is perfectly aligned with our core mission, and her appointment is pivotal as we continue to innovate and serve a growing global community of motivated financial advisors.”

Shaping Wealth, led by experts in applied behavioral finance, emotional intelligence, and positive psychology, trains financial advisors in the psychology of financial planning. Through its innovative content, coaching, and technology, the firm delivers modern, evidence-based research combined with timeless wisdom on a life well-lived to guide and inspire the global wealth management industry and beyond.

Dr. Lurtz will serve as learning and development specialist at Shaping Wealth, and join the firm’s distinguished leadership team under the direction of Dr. Portnoy and his co-founders Neil Bage, behavioral science expert, and Dr. Joy Lere, licensed clinical psychologist. Together, the team will continue to advance Shaping Wealth’s mission to build the world’s leading engagement platform—encompassing content, coaching, and community—to help people understand, navigate, and improve the human experience of money.

“Understanding the psychology of money is key to the future of financial planning, and Shaping Wealth is leading the charge on a global scale,” said Dr. Lurtz. “I’m thrilled to join the team and look forward to contributing to our collective effort to enable advice professionals and their clients to flourish.”

Dr. Lurtz brings an extensive background in applied behavioral finance and financial planning education. Previously, she served as Senior Research Associate at Kitces.com. She is also a dedicated educator, holding Professor of Practice positions at Kansas State University and Columbia University, specializing in Advanced Financial Planning, Financial Therapy, and Financial Psychology. Beyond academia, Dr. Lurtz actively contributes to the fintech space, advising multiple financial technology boards on the intersection of finance and mental health.

Her unique blend of academic rigor, industry experience, and passion for empowering advice professionals through knowledge complement the team’s expertise in neuroscience, psychology, sociology, and philosophy.

Dr. Portnoy added, “With the depth and breadth of Dr. Lurtz’s expertise, Shaping Wealth is poised to cover more ground in our effort to catalyze human-centric financial guidance worldwide.”

Shaping Wealth's platform, supports advisors worldwide in delivering superior client engagement through programs like Building the Behavioral Advisor and Foundations of Behavioral Advice and an always-on content and coaching engagement platform, the Outsourced Chief Behavioral Officer (OCBO). These resources foster a deep understanding of the human aspects of financial planning, emphasizing emotional intelligence, resilience, and client-centered strategies.

To learn more about Shaping Wealth and its services offered, visit https://www.shapingwealth.com/.

About Shaping Wealth

Shaping Wealth is a leading provider of learning and training solutions for the global wealth management industry, specifically in applied behavioral finance and the psychology of financial planning. Led by a team of experts in behavioral finance, psychology, neuroscience, and financial planning, Shaping Wealth develops coaching and content experiences designed to educate and inspire advice firms ranging from small RIAs to Fortune 500 companies. The firm has pioneered “human first” financial guidance through transformative programs such as Building the Behavioral Advisor and the Foundations of Behavioral Advice. To partner with Shaping Wealth in the humanizing of financial advice, visit us at www.shapingwealth.com.

Tina Powell Intention.ly for Shaping Wealth shapingwealth@growintentionally.com 201-212-0072