IDEAS home Printed from https://ideas.repec.org/a/vrs/finprj/v11y2025i2p15n1001.html
   My bibliography  Save this article

The Role of Positive Framing in the Future of Financial Planning

Author

Listed:
  • Lutter Sonya

    (Texas Tech University 1301 Akron Ave. Lubbock, TX 79409)

  • Koochel Emily

    (eMoney Advisor, LLC, Four Radnor Corporate Center, 100 Matsonford Rd., Suite 200 Radnor, PA 19087)

  • Heckman Stuart

    (Texas Tech University 1301 Akron Ave. Lubbock, TX 79409)

  • Collins J. Michael

    (University of Wisconsin-Madison, 4206 Nancy Nicholas Hall, 1300 Linden Drive Madison, WI 53706)

Abstract

As financial planning increasingly incorporates psychological and therapeutic techniques, a focus on framing has become particularly relevant. Previous research suggests that regular use of positive framing offers several advantages in influencing and improving individuals’ personal behaviour. This study examines how the framing of peer financial comparisons influences financial wellness. Using a quantitative survey (N = 899), respondents were prompted to consider whether they were financially better or worse off than their peers. The results indicate respondents who were presented with positive framing (i.e. better off than peers), responded more favourably to subsequent financial questions. When financial planners use positive framing, they can help clients avoid short-sightedness and build resilience. While positive framing can be highly effective, it is important not to overlook potential risks or negative outcomes.

Suggested Citation

  • Lutter Sonya & Koochel Emily & Heckman Stuart & Collins J. Michael, 2025. "The Role of Positive Framing in the Future of Financial Planning," Financial Planning Research Journal, Sciendo, vol. 11(2), pages 1-15.
    • Handle: RePEc:vrs:finprj:v:11:y:2025:i:2:p:15:n:1001
    DOI: 10.2478/fprj-2025-0005
    as

    Download full text from publisher

    File URL: https://doi.org/10.2478/fprj-2025-0005
    Download Restriction: no
    File URL: https://libkey.io/10.2478/fprj-2025-0005?utm_source=ideas
    LibKey link: if access is restricted and if your library uses this service, LibKey will redirect you to where you can use your library subscription to access this item
    ---><---

    References listed on IDEAS

    as
    1. Annamaria Lusardi & Olivia S. Mitchell, 2014. "The Economic Importance of Financial Literacy: Theory and Evidence," Journal of Economic Literature, American Economic Association, vol. 52(1), pages 5-44, March.
    2. Annamaria Lusardi & Olivia S. Mitchell, 2005. "Financial Literacy and Planning: Implications for Retirement Wellbeing," CeRP Working Papers 46, Center for Research on Pensions and Welfare Policies, Turin (Italy).
    3. Jinhee Kim & Swarn Chatterjee, 2019. "Student Loans, Health, and Life Satisfaction of US Households: Evidence from a Panel Study," Journal of Family and Economic Issues, Springer, vol. 40(1), pages 36-50, March.
    4. Brüggen, Elisabeth C. & Hogreve, Jens & Holmlund, Maria & Kabadayi, Sertan & Löfgren, Martin, 2017. "Financial well-being: A conceptualization and research agenda," Journal of Business Research, Elsevier, vol. 79(C), pages 228-237.
    5. Richard G Netemeyer & Dee Warmath & Daniel Fernandes & John G LynchJr. & Eileen FischerEditor & Olivier ToubiaAssociate Editor, 2018. "How Am I Doing? Perceived Financial Well-Being, Its Potential Antecedents, and Its Relation to Overall Well-Being," Journal of Consumer Research, Journal of Consumer Research Inc., vol. 45(1), pages 68-89.
    6. Thomas Korankye & Charlene M. Kalenkoski, 2021. "The Effect of Households’ Student Debt on Life Satisfaction," Journal of Family and Economic Issues, Springer, vol. 42(4), pages 757-772, December.
    Full references (including those not matched with items on IDEAS)

    Most related items

    These are the items that most often cite the same works as this one and are cited by the same works as this one.
    1. Mahendru, Mandeep & Sharma, Gagan Deep & Pereira, Vijay & Gupta, Mansi & Mundi, Hardeep Singh, 2022. "Is it all about money honey? Analyzing and mapping financial well-being research and identifying future research agenda," Journal of Business Research, Elsevier, vol. 150(C), pages 417-436.
    2. Patel, Pankaj C. & Wolfe, Marcus T., 2019. "Money might not make you happy, but can happiness make you money? The value of leveraging subjective well-being to enhance financial well-being in self-employment," Journal of Business Venturing Insights, Elsevier, vol. 12(C).
    3. Carole Comerton‐Forde & John de New & Nicolás Salamanca & David C. Ribar & Andrea Nicastro & James Ross, 2022. "Measuring Financial Wellbeing with Self‐Reported and Bank Record Data," The Economic Record, The Economic Society of Australia, vol. 98(321), pages 133-151, June.
    4. Umer Mushtaq Lone & Suhail Ahmad Bhat, 2024. "Impact of financial literacy on financial well-being: a mediational role of financial self-efficacy," Journal of Financial Services Marketing, Palgrave Macmillan, vol. 29(1), pages 122-137, March.
    5. Osvaldo García-Mata & Mariana Zerón-Félix, 2022. "A review of the theoretical foundations of financial well-being," International Review of Economics, Springer;Happiness Economics and Interpersonal Relations (HEIRS), vol. 69(2), pages 145-176, June.
    6. Noviarini, Jelita & Coleman, Andrew & Roberts, Helen & Whiting, Rosalind H., 2023. "Financial literacy and retirees' resource allocation decisions in New Zealand," Pacific-Basin Finance Journal, Elsevier, vol. 79(C).
    7. Nisha Prakash & Aparna Hawaldar, 2024. "Investigating the Determinants of Financial Well-Being: A SEM Approach," Business Perspectives and Research, , vol. 12(1), pages 11-25, January.
    8. Sana Rashid & SMuhammad Bilal & SAbid Hussain & SManzoor Ahmad Shah, 2022. "Impact of Financial Inclusion on Financial Well-Being: Moderating Effect of Orientation towards Finance," Journal of Economic Impact, Science Impact Publishers, vol. 4(2), pages 124-133.
    9. Piyush Hooda & Anju Singla & Shivani Gupta, 2025. "Financial capability and financial well-being among small business owners: Does grit moderate the association?," Journal of Financial Services Marketing, Palgrave Macmillan, vol. 30(3), pages 1-20, September.
    10. Kleimeier, Stefanie & Hoffmann, Arvid O.I. & Broihanne, Marie-Hélène & Plotkina, Daria & Göritz, Anja S., 2023. "Determinants of individuals’ objective and subjective financial fragility during the COVID-19 pandemic," Journal of Banking & Finance, Elsevier, vol. 153(C).
    11. Piotr Bialowolski & Christos A. Makridis & Matt Bradshaw & Dorota Weziak-Bialowolska & Craig Gundersen & Noémie Pertel & Cristina Gibson & Sung Joon Jang & R. Noah Padgett & Byron R. Johnson & Tyler J, 2025. "Analysis of demographic variation and childhood correlates of financial well-being across 22 countries," Nature Human Behaviour, Nature, vol. 9(5), pages 917-932, May.
    12. Joe Gladstone & Jenna Adriana Maeve Barrett, 2023. "Understanding the functional form of the relationship between childhood cognitive ability and adult financial well-being," PLOS ONE, Public Library of Science, vol. 18(6), pages 1-34, June.
    13. Sandra Castro-González & Sara Fernández-López & Lucía Rey-Ares & David Rodeiro-Pazos, 2020. "The Influence of Attitude to Money on Individuals’ Financial Well-Being," Social Indicators Research: An International and Interdisciplinary Journal for Quality-of-Life Measurement, Springer, vol. 148(3), pages 747-764, April.
    14. Kovács Erzsébet & Vaskövi Ágnes, 2020. "Pension Pessimism in the Young Generation: Basics or Instincts to Blame?," Business Systems Research, Sciendo, vol. 11(2), pages 117-131, October.
    15. Mitchell, O.S. & Piggott, J., 2016. "Workplace-Linked Pensions for an Aging Demographic," Handbook of the Economics of Population Aging, in: Piggott, John & Woodland, Alan (ed.), Handbook of the Economics of Population Aging, edition 1, volume 1, chapter 0, pages 865-904, Elsevier.
    16. Sergio Longobardi & Margherita Maria Pagliuca & Andrea Regoli, 2018. "Can problem-solving attitudes explain the gender gap in financial literacy? Evidence from Italian students’ data," Quality & Quantity: International Journal of Methodology, Springer, vol. 52(4), pages 1677-1705, July.
    17. Laureane du Plessis & Yolanda Jordaan & Liezl-Marié van der Westhuizen, 2024. "Psychological needs and financial well-being: the role of consumer spending self-control," Journal of Financial Services Marketing, Palgrave Macmillan, vol. 29(4), pages 1197-1206, December.
    18. Malik, Faiza & Ishaq, Muhammad Ishtiaq, 2023. "Impact of minimalist practices on consumer happiness and financial well-being," Journal of Retailing and Consumer Services, Elsevier, vol. 73(C).
    19. Sergio Hernández Mejía & Elena Moreno García, 2025. "Ahorro para emergencias, la inclusión y la educación financiera en México," Remef - Revista Mexicana de Economía y Finanzas Nueva Época REMEF (The Mexican Journal of Economics and Finance), Instituto Mexicano de Ejecutivos de Finanzas, IMEF, vol. 20(2), pages 1-22, Abril - J.
    20. Marcin Kawiński & Piotr Majewski, 2017. "Financial and insurance literacy in Poland," Working Papers 2017-03, Faculty of Economic Sciences, University of Warsaw.

    More about this item

    Keywords

    ;
    ;
    ;
    ;
    ;

    Statistics

    Access and download statistics

    Corrections

    All material on this site has been provided by the respective publishers and authors. You can help correct errors and omissions. When requesting a correction, please mention this item's handle: RePEc:vrs:finprj:v:11:y:2025:i:2:p:15:n:1001. See general information about how to correct material in RePEc.

    If you have authored this item and are not yet registered with RePEc, we encourage you to do it here. This allows to link your profile to this item. It also allows you to accept potential citations to this item that we are uncertain about.

    If CitEc recognized a bibliographic reference but did not link an item in RePEc to it, you can help with this form .

    If you know of missing items citing this one, you can help us creating those links by adding the relevant references in the same way as above, for each refering item. If you are a registered author of this item, you may also want to check the "citations" tab in your RePEc Author Service profile, as there may be some citations waiting for confirmation.

    For technical questions regarding this item, or to correct its authors, title, abstract, bibliographic or download information, contact: Peter Golla (email available below). General contact details of provider: https://www.sciendo.com .

    Please note that corrections may take a couple of weeks to filter through the various RePEc services.

    IDEAS is a RePEc service. RePEc uses bibliographic data supplied by the respective publishers.