The Psychology of Money: Human Behavior & the Future of Flourishing Economies

​Financial markets are often treated as rational systems driven by information and incentives. But beneath every investment decision, advisory relationship, and capital allocation strategy are deeply human forces: trust, emotion, identity, stress, and behavior.

Join the CFA Society Philadelphia Sustainable Investing Thought Leadership Group for a conversation exploring the intersection of psychology, money, and flourishing economies. Drawing from behavioral economics, financial advisory, organizational dynamics, and human flourishing research, this panel will examine how emotional and social systems shape financial outcomes at the individual, institutional, and community levels.

Together, we’ll explore what it means to build financial systems that support long-term resilience, stewardship, and human flourishing – and why understanding human behavior may become one of the most important investment and leadership competencies of the future.

​Generously hosted by the Close School of Entrepreneurship at Drexel University

​About the Speakers:

​Nick Ashburn (Moderator)

​CEO, Calibrate

​Nick is the founder and CEO of Calibrate, a fintech company that helps individuals, families, and the institutions that serve them manage the emotional, relational, and technical complexity of modern financial life. A recognized expert in behavioral finance and sustainable investing, Nick formerly led Responsible Investing at PNC Bank and impact investing at the Wharton School. He was formerly host of “Dollars & Change” of SiriusXM’s Business Radio Channel and is now co-host of the HomeEc podcast, exploring money, relationships, and mental health. He holds a master’s degree from Penn and a graduate certificate in financial therapy from Kansas State University.

​Kate Duffy, FBS®, MFP

​Senior Financial Advisor, Bryn Mawr Trust

​Kate is a Senior Financial Advisor and has spent over two decades specializing in portfolio management and comprehensive financial planning for clients. She’s passionate about helping clients understand their unique relationship with money while optimizing outcomes by incorporating structure and pragmatism. Based on thoughtfulness and careful listening, Kate's interpersonal approach prioritizes the purpose and meaning of client wealth beyond the analytics underpinning her expertise. She is a Certified Financial Behavior Specialist® and holds a master’s degree in financial planning and financial psychology from Creighton University’s Heider College of Business. Kate is also the co-host of The Planning Perspectives Podcast, a planning and advice podcast from Bryn Mawr Trust.

​Michael O’Bryan

​CEO, Humanature | Executive Director, Wealth + Work Futures Lab

​Michael O’Bryan is a nationally respected strategist and social designer focused on how institutions support human potential, economic opportunity, and community wellbeing. He is the Founder and CEO of humanature and Executive Director of The Wealth + Work Futures Lab, where he leads work at the intersection of organizational performance, workforce systems, research, and community design. His practice brings together strategy, facilitation, and participatory design to help organizations build stronger collaboration, respond to complexity, and create more meaningful experiences for the people they serve. Past clients include the Federal Reserve Bank of Philadelphia, NeighborWorks America, the Boston Public Health Commission, and Triple Bottom Brewing. He has spoken at national convenings hosted by Comcast NBCUniversal, SOCAP, Jobs for the Future, and the National Skills Coalition, and his work has been recognized with the Diversity in Business Award from the Philadelphia Business Journal and City & State’s “40 in Their 40s.”