YFP 426: Income Is a Vanity Metric: Here’s What Really Matters

Are you measuring your financial success by the wrong metric? In this episode, Tim Ulbrich, PharmD, dives into why income can be misleading and why net worth is the true measure of financial progress.

This episode is brought to you by First Horizon.

Episode Summary

Are you measuring your financial success by income alone? In this episode, Tim Ulbrich shares the wake-up call that changed everything for him: despite earning a six-figure pharmacist salary, his net worth was negative $225,000.

Tim dives into why income is a vanity metric and why tracking net worth is the key to true financial progress. He breaks down the difference between income and net worth, why net worth matters more, and four powerful reasons to make it a monthly habit.

What you’ll learn in this episode:

• The wake-up moment that shifted Tim’s financial mindset
• Why income alone doesn’t reflect real progress
• How tracking net worth builds momentum, clarity, and motivation
• Practical tips for measuring what truly matters

Mentioned on the Show

• Your Financial Pharmacist
• Your Financial Pharmacist on YouTube
• The Millionaire Next Door by Tom Stanley
• Rich Dad Poor Dad by Robert Kiyosaki