.jpg)
Land & Everything Else
Land & Everything Else is dedicated to demystifying the world of alternative investments. Brought to you by the department of Agriculture and Consumer Economics within the College of Agricultural, Consumer and Environmental Sciences at the University of Illinois, Land and Everything Else will explore the nuts and bolts of non-stock and bond investing. From dirt to derivatives, this podcast will guide financial planners, wealth managers and consumers into the land of alternative investing.
Land & Everything Else
55. Money and Happiness with Professor Donovan Sanchez
Money shows up in nearly every major life decision, but it almost never comes with clear guidance on how to use it in a way that actually supports our long-term satisfaction. In this episode, Dr. Craig Lemoine sits down with Professor Donovan Sanchez to explore how financial education is evolving and why happiness deserves a place in the conversation alongside returns, income, and planning models.
The discussion moves through what the data says about income and well-being, how people adapt to comfort and convenience, and why experiences and relationships consistently matter more than most financial upgrades. The episode also takes a thoughtful turn into higher education, examining what it means to train future advisors and how research reshapes the way we think and question assumptions.
Key topics discussed in this episode:
- How income relates to happiness and why the relationship is weaker than most people expect
- The role of hedonic adaptation in everyday financial decisions
- Why experiences tend to create longer-lasting satisfaction than material purchases
- How spending on others strengthens relationships and personal well-being
- What the research says about money, meaning, and life evaluation
- How financial education can better connect numbers to human outcomes
Connect with us!