Do you recognize yourself when you imagine who you’ll be in the future?

Or does it feel like you’re looking at a stranger?

In this episode of WealthStyle, Evan Wohl speaks with Hal Hershfield, professor of psychology, marketing, and behavioral decision-making at UCLA’s Anderson School of Management on why it is so hard for most people to envision their future selves.

Listen in as Hal reveals the psychology behind this common mindset and what we can do to alter how we perceive ourselves presently and in the future.

Engage in a few “ah-ha” moments as Hal explains:

• Why it’s a struggle to achieve goals, even if they are well planned
  
• How envisioning and connecting with your future self can increase asset accumulation
  
• The power of auto-enrollment for 401k contributions
  
• Why we tend to live in a state of “status quo” versus looking ahead to the future
  
• And more
  

Resources: 

• UCLA Anderson School of Management
  
• Your Future Self by Hal Hershfield
  
• EverPresent
  

Connect with Evan Wohl:

• Opus Private Client, LLC 
  
• ewohl@opus-pc.com 
  
• LinkedIn: Evan Wohl
  

Connect with Hal Hershfield:

• Hal Hershfield
  
• LinkedIn: Hal Hershfield
  
• Twitter: Hal Hershfield
  

About Our Guest:

Hal Hershfield is a Marketing, Behavioral Decision Making, and Psychology Professor at UCLA’s Anderson School of Management and holds the UCLA Anderson Board of Advisors Term Chair in Management. His research, which sits at the intersection of psychology and economics, examines how we can improve our long-term decisions. He earned his Ph.D. in psychology from Stanford University.