In this episode of Money Tales, our guests are Uma Viswanathan and Johann Berlin. What if the most powerful money tool is not a spreadsheet, but a pause? In this episode, Uma and Johann, cofounders of TruWorth, explore how our earliest experiences and cultural expectations shape the way we save, spend, give and talk about money, often without us realizing it. From immigrant family sacrifice to the lasting imprint of losing a home in the savings and loans crisis, they show how money stories can create both strength and shadow.
Johann is the co-founder of TruWorth, where he helps first-generation wealth builders, high earners, and leaders understand the deeper motivations shaping their financial decisions. His work sits at the intersection of behavior change, investing and identity, grounded in both lived experience and two decades of leadership across sustainable investing, fund management, leadership development and neuroscience-based tech. Johann brings a pragmatic and rigorous approach to helping people shift their behavioral patterns around wealth and worth.
Uma is the co-founder of TruWorth, where she helps people – especially women and first-generation wealth builders – rewrite the money stories that no longer serve them. Her work lives at the intersection of identity, culture, and finance, shaped by years of navigating those tensions in her own life. Before launching TruWorth, Uma led over $200 million in mission-driven investments through major foundations and collaboratives focused on racial equity, healing and systems change. She brings two decades of experience in psychology, philanthropy, and narrative strategy to help people move out of shame and into clarity, so they can shape a life that feels both aligned and abundant.
Looking to go deeper? Explore more Money Tales episodes alongside insights from Fathom, Aspiriant’s blog, for practical guidance on uncovering the beliefs and experiences that shape your financial decisions—and how to shift them with greater awareness and intention.
If you’d like to work with an Aspiriant advisor to better align your financial plan with your values, behaviors and long-term goals, connect with us here.
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