The Wealth Effect, Eating, & More 5-19-26

Summary

Becker Business with Scott Becker

Episode: The Wealth Effect, Eating, & More – 5-19-26

Release Date: May 19, 2026

---

Episode Overview

In this succinct and candid solo episode, host Scott Becker reflects on psychological patterns linking personal finance and eating behaviors. He explores the “wealth effect”—how increasing asset values often lead to feeling richer and spending more—and likens it to the way weight loss sometimes leads to lapses in dietary discipline. Becker provides personal anecdotes, practical advice, and emphasizes the importance of intentionality in both spending and eating.

---

Key Discussion Points & Insights

The “Wealth Effect” and Its Pitfalls

• Definition: The “wealth effect” describes how rising markets increase people's net worth on paper, often prompting more liberal spending—even if gains are unrealized.
  • Scott Becker (00:39):

    “When the markets go up, most of us feel a little bit wealthier… And there’s a tendency to spend a little bit more freely when the markets go up.”

• Caution Advised: Becker urges listeners to avoid increasing spending purely based on these unrealized gains. He suggests being “purposeful and intentional,” using gains responsibly (like paying down debt or fulfilling charitable commitments).
  • Scott Becker (01:05):

    “I got to be purposeful, intentional in that spending... So I don’t just blow that money, because often when the markets go up, they also come back down.”

Parallels Between Spending and Eating

• Behavioral Similarities: Becker draws a comparison between financial behavior and eating patterns.
  • Scott Becker (01:38):

    “It’s very similar in eating. As soon as my weight goes down a few pounds... I tend to do the stupidest thing, much like wealth effect spending. As soon as the weight goes down a few pounds, I tend to eat too much.”

• Personal Anecdote: He recounts attending a graduation party, indulging in tacos, chips, pizza, and beer—undoing recent weight loss.
  • Scott Becker (01:56):

    “I was at a graduation party for one of the kids on Saturday. I ate the tacos, ate the chips, ate the pizza that came late night, I had a couple of beers and again then we're back in that cycle of oh my, it catches up to me.”

The Cycle: Gains and Backsliding

• Back-and-Forth: Both with wealth and weight, initial gains can quickly be negated by complacency, creating a constant cycle of progress and relapse.
  • Scott Becker (02:10):

    “So the realized gains of having lost a couple pounds come right back on and I've got to get back at it again.”

Takeaway & Episode Theme

• Unified Theme: The episode ties together two different sides of human psychology—how temporary gains (whether in finances or fitness) can lull us into counterproductive behaviors.
• Becker’s Tone: Honest, lighthearted, relatable—reminding listeners that these cycles are common and deserve vigilance.

---

Notable Quotes and Moments

• On feeling richer:
  “When the markets go up, most of us feel a little bit wealthier... And there’s a tendency to spend a little bit more freely.”
  — Scott Becker (00:39)

• On necessary caution:
  “I got to be purposeful, intentional in that spending... Because often when the markets go up they also come back down.”
  — Scott Becker (01:05)

• On behavioral parallels:
  “It’s very similar in eating... As soon as the weight goes down a few pounds, I tend to eat too much.”
  — Scott Becker (01:38)

• On undoing progress:
  “The realized gains of having lost a couple pounds come right back on and I’ve got to get back at it again.”
  — Scott Becker (02:10)

• Closing reflection:
  “That’s how we tie together the wealth effect and binge eating. It is what it is.”
  — Scott Becker (02:18)

---

Important Segment Timestamps

• 00:26 – Scott Becker introduces the theme: the wealth effect and “eating and more”
• 00:39 – Explanation of the wealth effect and how paper gains influence spending
• 01:05 – Advice on intentional spending and not over-committing based on market highs
• 01:38 – Parallels between wealth effect in spending and dietary habits after losing weight
• 01:56 – Personal anecdote: graduation party indulgence
• 02:10 – Reflections on cyclical nature of gains and losses
• 02:18 – Wrap-up: tying together the episode’s themes

---

Final Notes

Scott Becker delivers another accessible and honest episode, connecting everyday finance and wellness struggles. Listeners are left with practical wisdom: both wealth and health gains are fleeting if not handled with care, and lasting success requires ongoing intention and discipline.

Transcript

[A]

Great companies aren't built on average talent. In private equity backed high growth businesses, the right operator changes everything. Onward Headhunting partners with founders, operators and investors to build elite finance strategy and operations teams. From early hires to exit ready leadership, we deliver the talent that drives outcomes. If you are scaling or transacting, go onward. Visit onward headhunting.com or find us on LinkedIn to learn more.

[B]

This is Scott Becker with the Becker Business and the Becker Private Equity Podcast. Today's discussion is the wealth effect, Eating and more. So here's the issue and I'm reminded of this on Friday when the markets went down, it went down significantly. But you'll have podcasts this week on Elon Musk, Tesla, Twitter, SpaceX. Also on the markets generally, inflation, Iran and more. But today's discussion is the wealth effect, eating and more so so here's the issue. When the markets go up, most of us feel a little bit wealthier. Even though they're unrealized gains, we haven't yet sold the stocks to realize those gains. And there's a tendency to spend a little bit more freely when the markets go up. Because you know, why not you feel a little bit richer. And all I can tell you is this. I got to be purposeful, intentional in that spending pay down one of the kids college debts or give some of the money the charity they've committed or whatever it is. So, so I don't just blow that money because often when the markets go up they also come back down. So when I'm spending on the wealth effect, I have to be so careful not to put too much money on the wealth effects. It might not last. The second thing I'll talk about is it's very similar in eating. As soon as my weight goes down a few pounds and I get closer to what target weight I think I should have to have my physically where I want to be at and my class where I want to be at. I tend to do the stupidest thing, much like wealth affects spending. As soon as the weight goes down a few pounds, I tend to eat too much. So I was at a graduation party for one of the kids on Saturday. I ate the tacos, ate the chips, ate the pizza that came late night, I had a couple of beers and again then we're back in that cycle of oh my, it catches up to me. So the realized gains of having lost a couple pounds come right back on and I've got to get back at it again. So that's how we tie together the wealth effect and binge eating. It is what it is. Thank you so much for listening to the Becker Business the Becker Private Equity Podcast. I hope you enjoy this. It just is. It's the reality of it. We'll call this podcast the Wealth Effect and Binge Eating. Thank you for listening to the Becker Business the Becker Private Equity Podcast. We'll have one more episode this week where we talk about some shout outs that are that are deeply owed to some businesses. And thank you for listening. Thank you very, very much.

[C]

Ryan Reynolds here from Mint Mobile. I don't know if you knew this but anyone can get the same Premium Wireless for $15 a month plan that I been enjoying. It's not just for celebrities. So do like I did and have one of your assistant's assistants switch you to Mint Mobile today. I'm told it's super easy to [e-mail]

[D]

Switch upfront payment of $45 for three month plan equivalent to $15 per month required intro rate first three months only, then full price plan options available, taxes and fees, extra fee [e-mail].