Jul 15, 2026
Social media can make it seem like everyone else is earning more, spending more, and living better. But what you see online rarely tells the full story.
In this episode, Regina breaks down money dysmorphia, the feeling that you are financially behind even when you may actually be doing just fine. She explains how influencers, algorithms, luxury content, and constant comparison can distort your idea of financial success and quietly affect your spending habits.
You’ll also learn how to recognize these pressures, create healthier boundaries with social media, and bring your focus back to your own financial goals, values, and progress.
Episode Highlights:
0:00 - Introduction
1:48 - Influencers, consumerism, and unrealistic financial
comparisons
5:12 - When wealth becomes tied to personal worth
8:03 - How money dysmorphia affects different generations
9:21 - Feeling behind even when your savings are on track
11:01 - Reducing social media’s influence on your spending
12:06 - Building financial confidence around your own goals
13:21 - Simple ways to create healthier digital habits
13:52 - Final thoughts and episode wrap-up
ABOUT REGINA MCCANN HESS
Regina is the author of Super Woman Wealth: How to Become Your Own Financial Hero. As an advocate for women’s financial freedom, she wrote this book to help empower women to take a bigger role in handling their money.
Regina has appeared on Schwab TV, Yahoo Finance, Forbes.com, NTD Television, CBS 3 Philadelphia, Fox 29 Philadelphia, King 5 Seattle, KTLA 5 Los Angeles and Scripps News. She has also been quoted in numerous articles in publications such as Forbes, Business Insider, U.S. News & World Report, Yahoo Finance, USA Today, USA Wire, Word in Black, WTOP News, Mind Body Green, Money Digest, New York Post, Defender, Authority Magazine, GoBankingRates.com, Scripps and The Muse.
As Founder of Forge Wealth Management, Regina utilizes her 25+ years of financial services experience to help individuals plan, preserve and diversify their wealth. She focuses on educating her clients while building long-term relationships with them and their families. Her experience throughout major shifts in the markets, enables Regina to structure balanced portfolios to address specific financial goals.
CONNECT WITH REGINA
Website: https://www.forgewealth.com
LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/reginamccannhess/
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/ForgeWealth
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/forgewealthmanagement/
YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@ForgeWealth
Email: reginahess@forgewealth.com
Securities offered through LPL Financial, Member FINRA/SIPC www.finra.org, www.sipc.org
Third-party posts found on this profile do not reflect the view of LPL Financial and have not been reviewed by LPL Financial as to accuracy or completeness.
This material was prepared by Hartford funds.
For a list of states in which I am registered to do business, please visit www.forgewealth.com. Hartford Funds is not affiliated with, nor endorsed by LPL Financial, Private Advisor Group, or Forge Wealth Management