Ep 15 | “Rich” Feels Cringe – Here’s What High Achievers Actually Want

For high-achieving 30-somethings, the word "rich" often feels loaded—tied to guilt, judgment, or outdated ideas of success.

Instead, Priya reframes the conversation around building wealth—not just in terms of money, but in terms of freedom, clarity, and intentional living. She unpacks why “rich” feels performative, while wealthy feels personal—and why that shift in mindset might be the key to finally feeling like your financial success fits.

Tune Into This Episode to Hear:

• Why “rich” feels cringe—and how the wealthy mindset offers something more meaningful.

• How growing up without money can shape your view of success (and make you flinch at the word “rich”).

• What it actually means to live well—not just look like you’re doing well.

• The difference between income and clarity—and why only one leads to real wealth.

Follow Priya Malani:

LinkedIn | Instagram | Youtube | Stash Wealth

THE STUFF OUR LAWYERS WANT US TO SAY: Stash Wealth is a Registered Investment Advisor. Content presented is for informational and educational purposes only and is not intended to make an offer or solicitation for any specific securities product, service, or strategy. Consult with a qualified investment adviser (that's us) before implementing any strategy. Investing involves risk, including the loss of principal. Past performance does not guarantee future results. There…we said it.

Transcription

They’re not trying to flex. They’re trying to optimize. They want clarity, control, and confidence with their money. Most of all, they want to use their income as a tool to create a life that feels free—not flaunted.

Hey guys, welcome back to The F Word. Today, I’m talking about a term that we used to love. It’s a label we actually helped popularize, but one that, if I’m being honest, just no longer feels like it fits. It’s the term HENRY—High Earner, Not Rich Yet.

If you’ve followed Stash Wealth for a while, you’ve definitely heard us use it. We built an entire business around the idea, helping high-earning 30-somethings who looked great on paper but felt behind in real life. For a while, the term HENRY gave a name to something real. It helped people feel seen.

But lately, it’s felt off—especially one word: rich. Let’s talk about it.

At Stash Wealth, we’ve been working with high earners since day one. Six-figure incomes? That’s par for the course. Ambitious 30-somethings trying to build a life they’re proud of? That’s our bread and butter. But the word rich—it just doesn’t reflect how our clients feel, what they value, or what they’re really after.

Because our clients aren’t just high earners—they’re high achievers. They’re not trying to show off. They’re trying to make smart, aligned choices. They want clarity, control, and confidence with their money. And again, they want to use their income as a tool to create a life that feels free, not flaunted.

So yes, while we technically still serve HENRYs, we’ve started speaking to a more evolved version—a more sophisticated 30-something who isn’t trying to look rich. They’re just trying to live well. And that’s a huge, huge difference.

In today’s episode, I want to unpack why we’re over the term rich, why high earner doesn’t tell the whole story, and what actually matters when you’re trying to build wealth.

Let’s start with the term high earner. If you make six figures but still hesitate when someone suggests splitting the bill evenly—congrats. You’re in this weird middle class of adulthood. The term high earner gets thrown around a lot these days, usually by people who are trying not to sound like they make a lot of money.

And in places like New York, where your rent is $4,800, your therapist charges $300–$500 an hour, and your dog walker likely makes more than your cousin with a sociology degree, the line between comfortable and rich gets blurry real fast.

So what even is a high earner? Is it a number, a lifestyle, a dishwasher in your city apartment?

We’ve heard it defined a few ways. Some people say you make over $100,000, or over $250,000. Or that you work in tech, law, finance, or something else no one understands. One of our personal favorites? You Venmo people back without rounding.

But here’s the thing—being a high earner is less about income and more about options. It’s about making good money, having the ability to make intentional choices with it, and not having to stress over every purchase—even though you still might.

Now let’s talk about the next term that really trips people up: rich.

Here’s why rich doesn’t land. For one, it feels out of touch. In a world where the wealth gap is on full display, calling yourself rich can feel like you’re ignoring reality. So people downplay their wins to stay relatable. They say, “I’m doing okay,” instead of, “I’m crushing it.”

Also, being rich has a branding problem. We’ve been trained to equate rich with greedy—with privilege, hedge funds, Hamptons brunches, and Patagonia vests worn unironically.

And if you grew up in a household where money was tight—especially if you’re first-gen—the word rich can carry even more baggage. It can feel like you’re betraying where you came from, like you’re ungrateful, or inviting judgment. Like you should feel guilty for wanting more.

And here’s the kicker—even if you are rich, it probably doesn’t feel that way.

Because being rich should mean freedom. But for a lot of high earners, it just means higher rent, higher taxes, and more expensive problems. It’s therapy, dog walkers, weddings, $19 matcha.

So when someone calls you rich, you might flinch. Because it doesn’t feel accurate. You’re still figuring it out. Still wondering if you’re doing it right. Still anxious about investing or behind on saving.

And if rich means you’ve got it all figured out—well, most of us don’t.

What happens? We reach for safer language. “I’m comfortable.” “We’re surviving.” But here’s the twist: avoiding the label doesn’t make you smarter with your money. In fact, it might be keeping you from owning your power.

When you distance yourself from terms like rich, you also risk distancing yourself from the confidence, the clarity, and the financial control that should come with making good money.

The clients we work with aren’t trying to look rich—they’re trying to live well. And that’s a major mindset shift.

It’s not about having a certain number in the bank. It’s about knowing that your money has purpose—that it’s working for you. That you’re working toward the life you want. That you’re making intentional decisions. That your success actually feels like success.

Because income alone doesn’t build wealth. Clarity does. Strategy does. Confidence does.

I’m here for that.

So, are we over the word rich? Yeah, kind of. But we’re not over ambition, or alignment, or helping high-achieving 30-somethings finally feel like they’re on the right track.

So whether you call yourself rich, a high earner, or just doing fine, here’s what we care about:

Are you ready to make your money work for you? To use your income as a tool, not a trap? To build wealth in a way that feels personal, aligned, and—dare I say—freeing?

Because if you are, you don’t need a new label. You just need a plan.

If this episode made you rethink how you talk about money—or gave you permission to want more without the guilt—share it with someone who needs that reminder.

All right. See you next time, and thanks for listening. I’m Priya Malani.

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