A reader’s response was, “stick to finances please.” According to them, I shouldn’t “mix business with [my] personal political views.”
I received this in July when I wrote a piece sharing how I went from being sad about President Biden’s decision to drop out of the 2024 presidential race to being energized by his unwavering endorsement of Vice President Harris to become the nominee.
I chose not to respond to their comment for this reason:
I’m not here to persuade anyone to adopt my beliefs or vote as I do.
But the reality remains—when you’re talking about money and business, you’re talking about life and politics, too. You are also talking about power—how it’s gained, maintained, and wielded.
All of which affects every person, family, and business on a daily basis. And from my perspective, this intersection is one we cannot afford to ignore.
Because politics shapes the very foundations of business and finance, creating the reality we live in and work in. So, inevitably, it’s an intersection we need to discuss.
Policies Are Choices
You very well may be tired of me saying, “money is never just about the numbers.” You may even think my suggesting you go beyond the math of money is woo-woo.
But the reason money is about more than the numbers is because, on a balance sheet or income statement, those numbers are not just reflections of your choices.
They are also a by-product of policies that affect every aspect of your life and mine – from the taxes we pay to the social safety nets we subsidize and rely on.
When minimum wages are set, tax structures are changed, or healthcare access is expanded or restricted, these decisions don’t exist in a vacuum. They impact the daily lives of individuals, families, and business owners.
For instance, a policy as seemingly straightforward as a tax credit can mean the difference between a small business hiring new employees or cutting back on expenses just to survive.
Then there’s the matter of tariffs. Sure, these aren’t directly levied on individuals like income or sales taxes, but they function as a “hidden tax” affecting a cross-section of goods – e.g., electronics, automobiles, and clothing.
For businesses – large and small – relying on imported materials or goods, tariffs translate into higher production costs. Costs which can either be passed along to you and me via increased prices, or absorbed by the business by taking a smaller profit.
Translation: No one is left untouched by the financial implications of tariffs.
Or, consider the impact of healthcare policies.
In my case, I’m not eligible to get my health insurance off the exchange, otherwise known as the Affordable Care Act.
But, entrepreneurs and small business owners like me benefit from its existence because it makes my (our) monthly premiums more affordable than they would be otherwise. So, a policy that gets rid of the ACA or raises healthcare premiums or limits access to affordable care directly affects our P&L – our bottom-line.
Similarly, healthcare policies are often a key determinant for whether someone chooses to stay in a traditional job or start their own venture. Especially if the trade-off is having access to stable healthcare…or not. Countless would-be business owners make career decisions based on precisely these realities, everyday.
Taxes, tariffs, and healthcare are but a few direct examples of how politics shapes the financial landscape for individuals, families, and businesses.
That is why…
These policies (and others) aren’t abstract issues—they’re personal ones.
So, when I talk about business and money, I’m talking about how people navigate and survive these realities, how they try to grow amid shifting policy landscapes. This is why I say money and policy intersect.
Another critical example lies in educational policy, which directly influences people’s financial futures.
You know, you wouldn’t be wrong if you thought educational policy was just about funding schools. (I know I did.) But it isn’t; it’s an investment in the workforce and future stability of every business and community.
Policies that govern funding for public schools, the availability of grants or scholarships, and student loan interest rates shape who can afford a quality education—and by extension, who can access higher-paying job opportunities.
For entrepreneurs and business owners, the educational resources available in a community can mean the difference between an accessible, skilled workforce and a shortage of qualified candidates.
When schools are underfunded or college becomes financially inaccessible, the effects ripple out: individuals face limited career prospects, businesses struggle to find talent, and communities lose the economic growth that comes with a well-educated workforce.
Policies Shape Direction
I feel fortunate. I get to work with people who are building their financial futures, who are trying to create something meaningful not just for themselves but for their families and communities. And if they are business owners, their employees, too.
That’s why my disappointment with the outcome of the 2024 presidential election isn’t simply about the person for whom I voted losing. It’s rooted in the direction I worry our country could take on issues that affect people’s financial security and opportunities.
Because, the policies championed by any administration are much more than political talking points—they’re decisions that touch people’s wallets, dreams, and futures. With very real and far-reaching implications that will be felt today and in the future.
It’s why I feel so strongly about the importance of not shying away from talking about money and politics. It’s inseparable from business and life.
Not only do I see this firsthand with my clients; I experience it firsthand in my own business.
The pros and cons of every financial decision happens in the context of politics and policy, and the possible effects it may have on your financial well-being.
The Choice You Can Control
As someone who works closely with people building businesses and managing finances, I see the ways in which political decisions translate directly into the:
- questions that are asked;
- strategy that is followed or abandoned;
- goals that set or re-evaluated;
- financial constraints that are honored;
- or opportunities that are pursued.
All done in order to set the stage for lives and businesses that either thrive…or are held back.
And here’s the sobering truth: Sometimes, what you ultimately experience is not entirely based on your effort or choices alone.
Politics and policy play a key role, too.
In the end, policies are choices about who gets access to resources, who gets breaks, and who bears the costs.
I take my job to serve my clients seriously. Therefore, I can’t afford to ignore the forces shaping their financial and business realities. Nor, can I afford to let them ignore them.
So, nah, I won’t just “stick to finances.” Because talking about money means talking about everything that influences it…and is influenced by it.
