Breaking Free from Financial Fear: A Candid Conversation with Niraj Chhabra

In this week’s episode of Conscious Corner, I’m joined by someone whose work deeply resonates with the journey so many attorneys find themselves on, especially those standing at the crossroads of “I want to make a change” and “I’m terrified of what that means for my finances.”

My guest, Niraj Chhabra, is a Managing Director at Sidebar Advisors and a Financial Advisor who specializes in working with attorneys. With credentials including CFP, MBA, CLTC, and CRPC,

Niraj brings both expertise and heart to the financial challenges attorneys face - from billable-hour pressure to golden-handcuffs compensation structures to the fear of stepping off the traditional legal path.

We first connected while presenting at a wellness summit for female attorneys, and I knew immediately that his grounded, practical perspective would be invaluable for this community.

Together, we explore one of the most common, and most misunderstood, barriers to change in the legal profession: financial fear.

We talk about:
-Why so many attorneys feel “locked in” to roles they’ve outgrown
-How to begin creating an exit strategy that feels responsible rather than risky
-What it looks like to build a financial cushion that buys you choice, agency, and breathing room
-Common money mistakes attorneys make (and what to do instead)
-How to reframe the rigid belief of “I must earn X” into a more realistic and liberating understanding of what’s truly enough
-The trade-offs between income, fulfillment, flexibility, and health and how to evaluate them with intention
-Real examples of attorneys who have shifted their money mindset and found greater ease, clarity, and freedom

Niraj also shares the single best first step you can take this week toward financial clarity, along with resources and tools to help you get started, no matter how overwhelmed you may feel.

If you’ve ever stayed in a job longer than you wanted because you were afraid of losing financial security, or if you’re contemplating a shift and don’t know where to begin, this conversation is for you. It’s honest, compassionate, and full of practical guidance for anyone ready to move from fear to intentional planning.

Connect with Niraj:
Sidebar Advisors Website: https://sidebaradvisors.com
Sidebar Advisors Podcast: https://www.buzzsprout.com/2033338/ep...
Sidebar Advisors LinkedIn:   / sidebar-advisors  
Niraj’s LinkedIn:   / nirajchhabra  

Connect with me:
www.CourtneySchulnickMindfulness.com

And if this episode resonates with you, please subscribe, leave a review, or share it with a colleague who might need to hear it.

And as always, remember to be gentle with yourself.