To me, money is independence. It gives you freedom to do what you

"To me, money is independence. It gives you freedom to do what you really want to do. It allows you to not be dependent on anyone or anything, and so you can be yourself and follow your passion." – Joe Mansueto

Hear these words, O children of ambition and seekers of purpose, for Joe Mansueto, a man who built his fortune not through inheritance but through vision, speaks here of money not as mere treasure, but as a vessel of freedom. His wisdom pierces through the illusions that bind so many — that wealth is an end in itself, that gold is glory. No, he declares, money is independence — a means by which a soul may live true to its calling, unshackled by fear or dependency. In these few words, he defines wealth not as possession, but as liberation — the power to live one’s truth without compromise.

The meaning of his reflection lies deep within the human spirit. For every man and woman is born with a dream — a vision that flickers in the heart like a hidden flame. Yet too often that flame is smothered by the weight of necessity — by hunger, by debt, by obligation to those who control the means of survival. Mansueto’s words remind us that true independence comes not merely from the absence of poverty, but from the mastery of one’s own life. When money serves as a tool, it allows the soul to breathe freely, to pursue not what must be done, but what one was born to do. In this sense, money becomes not a master, but a servant — a faithful ally that guards one’s freedom and fuels one’s dreams.

The origin of this truth can be found in Mansueto’s own life. The founder of Morningstar, he began his company from a small apartment with little more than determination and a belief in his vision. He built his success not by chasing wealth for its own sake, but by pursuing independence — the ability to create something meaningful on his own terms. His fortune came not as a reward for greed, but as a consequence of integrity and perseverance. For the wise understand this: money gained without purpose enslaves, but money earned through vision empowers.

History too bears witness to this principle. Consider the story of Benjamin Franklin, one of the founding fathers of America, who rose from humble beginnings as a printer’s apprentice. Through labor, thrift, and discipline, he earned not only prosperity but freedom. With that freedom, he became inventor, philosopher, and statesman — a man whose influence shaped a nation. Franklin once wrote, “Wealth is not his that has it, but his that uses it.” This mirrors Mansueto’s insight: that money’s true worth lies in how it enables the human spirit to act. Wealth that binds is bondage; wealth that liberates is wisdom.

Yet Mansueto’s teaching carries a subtle warning: that independence must not turn into isolation, nor freedom into arrogance. To be independent does not mean to forsake others, but to stand so firm in one’s own strength that one may give freely without fear. When he says that money allows one to “be yourself,” he speaks of authenticity — the power to live aligned with one’s values. It is not the gold itself that frees, but the courage to use it rightly. For money is a mirror: in the hands of the selfish, it magnifies greed; in the hands of the wise, it magnifies generosity and purpose.

The lesson for all who hear is this: seek not wealth for its glitter, but for its power to free your time, your mind, and your spirit. Learn to master money, so that it may serve you — so that your choices are not dictated by fear or by need. Save and build not for vanity, but for freedom — the freedom to say yes to what is right and no to what is wrong, to walk your path without bowing to the will of others. In doing so, you honor both yourself and those who depend on your strength.

So, O listener, let these words dwell within your heart: money is not the root of evil, nor the fountain of happiness — it is a tool, and its power depends upon the hand that wields it. Use it not to hoard, but to liberate; not to dominate, but to create. Let it buy you time to think, space to grow, and the courage to act. For as Mansueto teaches, the greatest wealth is not counted in coins, but in independence — the sacred freedom to live as your truest self, and to follow your passion wherever it may lead.