Building Wealth Without Betraying Your Values: Tips for Mission-Driven Careers

Can you be a good person and still get rich? We're digging into that with today's listener question, which comes from Leanne.

[upbeat music]

Welcome to Nerdwallet's Smart Money Podcast, where you send us your money questions and we answer them with the help of our genius nerds.

I'm Sean Pyles.

And I'm Elizabeth Ayoola.

Today's question is from a listener named Leanne, and Leanne sent it via email, and it's about how to grow your money while aligning your job choice to social justice beliefs.

Juicy topic here, Leanne.

All right.

Here goes the question.

"I recently heard a guest on the show, Mrs. Dow Jones, talk about evaluating your finances, earning more rather than side hustles or cutting back.

Her point, if you're already giving 100%, you need to assess your work and worth.

My concern with this perspective is how do you apply it when financial gain doesn't align with your values? I am a nurse who intentionally works in a public safety net hospital that serves communities in need, many of whom cannot afford care.

I knowingly earn less than my peers at private hospitals, yet I choose this path to serve underserved patient populations.

I also have a side job teaching wilderness medicine to individuals and nonprofits who often cannot afford this education.

Many of them are seasonal workers or part of underfunded nonprofit organizations.

I deliberately charge minimal fees and actively seek ways to reduce barriers to education, in essence offering my labor for equity and inclusion.

My question inspired by this segment, in a situation like mine, how can one build wealth while staying true to values of social justice and service? Thank you.

Leanne."