Investing in Yourself: Where Wellness and Financial Health Meet w/ Bri Fiedler
In this episode of Tips for Change, host Tiffany Mutchler sat down with B|Well Company founder Bri Fiedler to explore a topic that resonates with many: how our approach to health and wellness can shape the way we think about money — and why both are worth investing in.
Bri, who grew up in a small South Dakota town south of Sioux Falls and later built B|Well into a thriving wellness community with locations in Brookings and Sioux Falls, didn’t start her journey with the intention of launching a business.
“I was actually attending school to become a registered dietician,” she says. “I was focusing more on the nutrition side of wellness… group fitness was just something I was doing on the side for fun.” But what began as a passion quickly became much more as she found that fitness gave people not just strength, but a sense of connection and purpose.
As Bri explains, that realization helped shift her perspective. “There was definitely moments where… this passion that I had was also my purpose,” she shared. “When I saw people find joy for the first time ever through working out — knowing that I helped them find that — that’s when I knew this was exactly what I was supposed to be doing.”
Rethinking Wellness as an Investment
One central theme of the conversation was the idea that wellness is an investment, not an expense. And not just in terms of physical health — but in your financial future too.
“You can either choose to invest into your wellness now, or you can choose to invest into your health later,” Bri says. “And it’s going to look a lot differently… through healthcare bills, prescription drugs, assisted living… versus finding more life and longevity through your later years.”
At B|Well, this mindset shapes everything — from accessible membership options to the emphasis on consistency over quick fixes. It’s not about short-term transformation. It’s about building habits that support long-term health — physically and financially.
It’s a powerful reframing that challenges the common idea that gym memberships and wellness programs are luxuries. Instead, Bri suggests seeing them as a proactive decision for future stability and quality of life. Check out our recent blog on budgeting using the 50/30/20 rule.
Aligning Priorities and Your Wallet
For many people, wellness is one of the first things cut when tightening a budget. But Bri asks listeners to take a closer look at their priorities.
“We’ll often take the price of our membership… and compare it to eating out, movies, or subscriptions,” she explains. “And oftentimes it’s pretty eye-opening because a gym membership can be one of the first things that will get shaved off of a budget.”
It’s true — we rarely blink when trimming entertainment expenses, yet we treat health investments as optional. Bri believes this comes down to priorities and purpose: knowing why you’re investing makes it easier to make thoughtful choices.
Small Shifts Can Have Big Results
Interestingly, the connection goes both ways. Bri shared how wellness habits often lead to better financial behaviors almost unintentionally.
Bri has seen it happen time and time again. When someone commits to moving consistently — whether at B|Well in Brookings or Sioux Falls — their decision-making often becomes more intentional across the board.
“If I’m making conscious efforts to move daily, improve my health, I’m probably going to think twice about hopping in the drive-through line,” she says. This shift toward intentional living — whether choosing to cook at home or avoiding impulse purchases — naturally frees up money and builds discipline.
Bri also encourages people to be mindful about how they spend on wellness accessories. “There’s a lot of fun things in fitness… but maybe reward yourself with those after you hit a goal,” she suggests. By treating gear and extras as motivations rather than prerequisites, you build consistency without overspending.
Building Something That Lasts
When it comes to B|Well’s growth, Bri credits humble beginnings and demand-driven decisions for the company’s sustainability.
“I didn’t make that next step until I knew for certain that the demand was there to support it,” she explains. That patience, she says, removed pressure and protected the business financially and creatively, allowing B|Well to grow without unnecessary risk.
She also touched on balancing business growth with personal wellbeing — and the value of complementary strengths. “My husband is here… he’s the yin to my yang,” she chuckles, acknowledging the importance of teamwork in managing growth and staying grounded.
A Simple, Powerful Mindset Shift
Toward the end of the episode, Bri offered a nugget of wisdom that applies to both health and finances:
“There is not a wellness routine that will be effective for you unless you’re consistent with it. And there will never be a wellness routine that you’re consistent with unless you enjoy it.”
In other words, sustainability trumps intensity. Find something you enjoy — whether exercise, budgeting, or meal planning — and you’ll be far more likely to stick with it and see results.
That philosophy drives the programming at B|Well and serves as a powerful reminder for financial wellness too.
For listeners trying to be more intentional with their health, their money, or both, Bri’s message was clear: explore, experiment, and make choices that support your long-term wellbeing. When you do, the benefits extend far beyond your workout routine — into how you live, how you spend, and how you plan for the future.
At the heart of this conversation — and many Tips for Change episodes — is the idea that personal growth and financial wellness aren’t isolated goals. They’re woven together in the choices we make every day.
Episode Mentions:
About the Guest
Bri Fiedler is the founder of B|Well Company, a community-focused fitness and wellness studio with locations in Brookings and Sioux Falls, South Dakota. A lifelong athlete and former nutrition professional, Bri turned her passion for group fitness into a growing wellness brand built on connection, consistency, and long-term sustainability. She is passionate about helping people view wellness as an investment in both their physical health and their financial future.
