So Money with Farnoosh Torabi

Love is beautiful. But love is not a financial plan. What happens when you're the breadwinner in your marriage? When your aging parents haven't saved enough for retirement? Or when protecting your financial future means having some pretty uncomfortable conversations with the people you love most? This week, I'm joined by Jannese Torres, creator and host of Yo Quiero Dinero, author of Financially Lit, entrepreneur, and one of my favorite voices on women's financial independence. Jannese is no stranger to challenging traditional expectations around money and relationships. She's the breadwinner in her marriage, runs a real estate business with her husband, and is a passionate advocate for prenups and financial boundaries. She's also navigating something many of us in midlife can relate to: the growing realization that our parents may be counting on us for financial support. We get into the messy intersection of love, money, marriage, and family obligations, including Jannese's remarkable experience of getting…

Take Farnoosh's midlife survey What if the retirement you’re saving for isn’t the life you actually want? This week on Ask Farnoosh, we unpack a story about Gen X’s willingness to “blow up” their lives—from downsizing to moving overseas—to make room for more freedom. Plus, a closer look at a headline about retirement savings at age 84, what those numbers really tell us, and this week’s mortgage-rate news. Then, three questions adapted from public Reddit conversations: I inherited $25,000. Should I pay off debt, invest—or enjoy some of it? How to prioritize competing goals, weigh a nine-percent car loan, and make a thoughtful decision without making a joyless one. We want to pay our nieces’ and nephews’ college tuition. What if one doesn’t go? Setting clear expectations, supporting different paths, and understanding a useful gift-tax distinction. Someone sent me money through Zelle by mistake. Why shouldn’t I just send it back? Sending a new payment doesn’t undo the original transaction—and that difference…

You’re not ready to retire. But you might be ready to stop working—and living—the way you have been. How do you figure out what you can afford to change? Farnoosh welcomes certified financial planner Sara Stanich, founder of Cultivating Wealth and author of Crossroads: A Financial Fable for Women Navigating the Decisions, Transitions, and Pivots of Peri-Retirement. Sara calls this stage “peri-retirement”: the stretch when your relationship with work, money and identity begins shifting, even though retirement may still be years away. Her book follows four childhood friends navigating caregiving, divorce, career burnout and entrepreneurship—and the financial decisions that come with each. The conversation explores why midlife calls for a different financial playbook, one that makes room for both future security and a better life today. Topics include: What peri-retirement means and why it can begin earlier than you expect. How to assess whether you can afford a career change, lower income or more flexibility.…

Can you afford to retire—and what do you want life to look like when you do? Financial advisor and former Wimbledon quarterfinalist Dan Goldie joins Farnoosh to discuss his new book, The Retirement Answer: The Six Key Decisions Every Retiree Needs to Make, and the financial and emotional decisions that shape life after full-time work. From growing up with a single mother facing financial insecurity to navigating his own early exit from professional tennis, Dan shares the experiences that inform his approach to helping people plan for their futures. In this episode: How to figure out what you need for retirement beyond the intimidating headlines. Social Security timing and the tradeoffs of waiting to claim benefits. Opportunities to boost retirement savings in midlife. Why Dan favors flexible withdrawals over a rigid application of the 4% rule. How to prepare for changes in identity, purpose and daily routine. Why retirement can be a gradual transition, including consulting or part-time work. How's midlife…

Join Farnoosh's newsletter. When does a bad shopping experience deserve a public callout? Farnoosh weighs in on Kelly Clarkson’s mechanical bird brouhaha and the responsibility that comes with an audience. Then, this week’s Ask Farnoosh tackles three money worries: Is six months of emergency savings enough? How do you choose health insurance without an expensive mistake? And what if your peak earning years end before your biggest bills do? How's midlife going? Fill out Farnoosh's survey and help shape the podcast in 2027. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Today's episode is for anyone who has ever stood in the vitamin aisle reading about the exact right creatine dosage for a woman "in this stage of life" and thought... okay but where's the aisle for my retirement savings? I'm right in the thick of this myself. Midlife money is basically all I want to talk about lately, because I think we are the forgotten demo. There's an entire industry telling us how to optimize our sleep, our supplements, our skin. But when it comes to actually managing our money at this stage, when the stakes are higher and the runway to retirement is shorter, the advice mostly dries up. So I'm thrilled to have Lindsay Goldwert here. She's the co-author, with Gabrielle Moss, of The Midlife Plot Twist, and she's spent a lot of time talking to women about the money moment we're in right now: the shame, the catching-up, the marriages where one partner has quietly been steering the ship, the total reinvention some of us are doing in our forties and fifties. Lindsay, welcome to So Money. How's…

What would you do if caring for a parent meant putting your own financial future—and your kids’—on hold? That’s not a hypothetical. It’s the reality facing millions of Americans right now, including Senator Andy Kim—a father of two, a son navigating his own father’s Alzheimer’s diagnosis, and now, one of the leading voices in Washington pushing for change. Today’s episode is a deeply personal and urgent conversation about the true cost of caregiving in America—financially, emotionally, and systemically. This interview is also a special crossover with The Montclair Pod, my local news podcast, where I co-host alongside Michael Schreiber—who you’ll hear in this conversation as well. Together, we sat down with Senator Kim to talk not just about policy, but about what happens when aging, illness, and money collide inside your own family. Before serving in the Senate, Andy Kim worked in national security and diplomacy, and today he represents nearly 10 million New Jersey residents. But in this conversation, what…

Can you pause your 401(k) contributions when life gets expensive? This week on Ask Farnoosh: balancing retirement savings with immediate needs, navigating student loans after SAVE, and helping parents who have little saved for retirement. Plus, why some retirees are returning to work, a lawsuit challenging McDonald’s use of AI in pricing, and updates on Book to Brand, MidiCon and So Money’s midlife-focused next chapter. How's midlife going? Fill out Farnoosh's survey and help shape the podcast in 2027. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Today I’m joined by Carrie Joy Grimes. founder of WorkMoney(opens in new tab) and the author of the new book The Joy of Money(opens in new tab). She’s a former union organizer who spent years helping workers fight for better wages and benefits while also trying to untangle her own complicated relationship with money — debt, shame, financial anxiety, all of it. In this episode, we talk about why so many women still avoid taking ownership of their finances, how to rebuild confidence after money mistakes, whether homeownership still makes sense, and how to separate what society tells us should make us happy from what actually does. We also talk about the inspiration behind her new book, The Joy of Money, and why she believes financial security is not just about numbers — it’s about feeling safer, freer, and more in control of your life. This episode originally aired on May 13. How's midlife going? Fill out Farnoosh's survey and help shape the podcast in 2027. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more…

If you've ever felt like the math just doesn't work anymore, you're doing everything right, still coming up short on your housing payment, groceries, student loans, this episode's for you. My guest, Freddy Smith, spent nearly 20 years acting, including nine of those years on Days of Our Lives, before a business manager, who was supposed to be handling his money, stole it and stopped filing his taxes. Then came the pandemic. He lost the show. He moved to Florida and had to rebuild his finances from zero in a brand-new career. That personal collapse turned into a mission. Freddy started sharing what he was learning about taxes, investing, inflation, and the Fed on TikTok and Instagram, not as an expert, but as someone figuring it out in real time alongside his audience, and that honesty struck a nerve. He's now built a community of two million people in three years, and it's now the subject of his new book, Generation F'd: How Millennials and Gen Z Were Robbed of the American Dream and How We Can Fix Our…

This week on Ask Farnoosh, we unpack the latest updates to Trump Accounts, including new workplace contribution options that could make these child investment accounts more appealing for families. We also dive into the rise of "money maxxing"—what this viral trend gets right (and where it goes too far)—plus the surprising economics behind the stay-at-home boyfriend phenomenon. Also on the show: why customer service frustrations are fueling record levels of consumer rage, what Realtor.com's hottest ZIP codes reveal about today's housing market (including why Montclair, NJ, ranks #2), and answers to two listener questions on avoiding common pre-retirement mistakes and deciding where to put your next dollar after you've built an emergency fund and are saving for retirement. This episode originally aired on August 14, 2026. How's midlife going? Fill out Farnoosh's survey and help shape the podcast in 2027. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

What happens when you've checked all the boxes? The career, the family, the financial success, the home. You've done everything you were supposed to do, and yet something still feels...off. Maybe you're exhausted. Maybe you've become so good at achieving that you don't actually know how to stop. Or maybe, as you move through midlife, you're starting to wonder: Is this really what I want? And who am I when I'm not busy getting things done? My guest today knows this reckoning intimately. Unni Turrettini is an author, speaker and former Wall Street professional whose latest book, Soulware, explores how we can reconnect with ourselves in a world that increasingly rewards productivity, performance and external validation. Unni spent years in high-pressure legal and financial roles, pushing herself so hard that she once physically collapsed at a professional event. But even after building what looked like a picture-perfect life, she found herself questioning why she still felt unfulfilled. Today, we're exploring…

If you’ve ever thought about starting a business in midlife, you probably know the idea is often the easy part. Finding the money, the support and frankly the confidence to actually do it? That’s where things get complicated. Today we’re talking about what it really takes to launch and grow a business in your 40s, 50s and beyond, especially at a time when borrowing is expensive and traditional funding can be tough to come by. My guest is Trae Bodge, longtime consumer expert, entrepreneur and co-founder of the Threadneedle Alley Foundation, a nonprofit helping midlife entrepreneurs turn their ideas into sustainable businesses through grants and mentorship. Trae and I talk about where entrepreneurs can find funding right now, including grants that many business owners don’t even realize they qualify for, why applying for every grant you see may actually be a terrible strategy, and how even $5,000 can completely change the trajectory of a small business. We also get into something I think is especially…

This week's Ask Farnoosh includes Farnoosh's best money moves in her 30's that led to more ease and financial flexibility in midlife. Plus: the cost of dinner and the iced coffee internet wars. Is it OK to bring an iced coffee to work? Check out the WSJ article about the hell that is family dinner planning. How's midlife going? Fill out Farnoosh's survey and help shape the podcast in 2027. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

What if the reason your habits never seem to stick isn’t a lack of discipline—but the way you’ve been taught to build them? Today, I welcome back Monica Packer, founder of About Progress and author of the new book Sticky Habits: A Woman’s Guide to Reclaim Happiness, Ditch Perfectionism, and Create Habits That Last. Monica is a certified habits and identity coach who has helped thousands of women move away from all-or-nothing thinking and toward sustainable growth. We explore why so many of our best intentions fall apart the minute life gets busy, how perfectionism can sabotage our routines, and why lasting habits may have less to do with streaks, elaborate trackers, or waking up at 5 a.m. and more to do with identity, flexibility, and choosing progress over perfection. How's midlife going? Fill out Farnoosh's survey and help shape the podcast in 2027. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

How much of what you want for your life is actually yours — and how much of it has been negotiated around one very powerful question: What will they say? What will your family say if you make more money? If you become too successful? If you leave the safe job, start the business, move away, ask for more, speak up — or simply decide you want something different? My guest today, Denise Soler Cox, has spent years thinking about this, particularly through the experience of high-achieving Latinas who can find themselves caught between two competing messages: You’re not enough. But also? Don’t become too much. Denise is a filmmaker, speaker and now the author of What Will They Say? Confront Cultural Taboos and Discover Your Inner Power. And this conversation goes places. We talk about the cultural scripts that can make ambition feel almost like betrayal. Why being taught not to ask too many questions can eventually affect everything from your career to your relationship with money. Why so many women are…

Big changes are coming to So Money. Farnoosh shares more about the show’s 2027 evolution into a weekly, video-first podcast focused on money in midlife—and why the overwhelming response from listeners has reinforced her decision to go deeper on the financial questions that emerge in our 40s, 50s and beyond. Then, it’s time for the news. The Federal Reserve raised interest rates for the first time in three years, and Farnoosh breaks down what the move could mean for your credit cards, HELOCs, mortgages, savings and even the job market. Plus: why higher rates make this an especially important moment to review your debt, credit score and emergency savings. In the mailbag, Farnoosh offers an order of operations for a listener wondering whether to prioritize paying off high-interest debt, building savings or continuing to invest. And a parent asks how to teach teenagers about investing. Farnoosh shares ideas including custodial Roth IRAs, investing tools for kids and some of her favorite resources for raising…

What if the secret to getting more done isn’t doing more, but getting ruthless about what you stop doing? My guest today, Mike Allen, has a pretty simple test for figuring out what stays and what goes. In fact, you just heard it: “Hell yeah.” If someone asks you to take on the project, go to the thing, have the meeting, make the commitment, and your reaction is anything less than hell yeah? Mike says that might be your answer right there. And listen, as someone who has spent a lot of her career saying yes, building, adding, producing, optimizing, I needed this conversation. Mike Allen is the co-founder of Axios and previously co-founded Politico. He’s also the longtime journalist behind the daily Axios AM and Axios PM newsletters. His new book, Simplify: Do 50 Percent More with 50 Percent Less, co-authored with Axios co-founders Jim VandeHei and Roy Schwartz, is essentially an argument against what they call toxic complexity. Because here’s the irony: AI was supposed to make our lives easier. Instead, we…

What if the thing standing between you and more success, more money, even better relationships…isn’t a lack of opportunity? What if it’s your ability to actually believe you’re worthy of what comes your way? My guest today is Dr. Marisa G. Franco, a psychologist, TED speaker, professor at the University of Maryland and New York Times bestselling author who has an incredible gift for taking complicated psychological research and making it feel deeply personal — and useful. You may know her from her bestselling book Platonic: How the Science of Attachment Can Help You Make—and Keep—Friends. Her newest book, Worth, goes even deeper, exploring how our sense of self-worth gets formed, how it shapes our relationships and choices, and how we can begin to change it. We talk about how the way we learned to connect with people as children can follow us into adulthood — showing up not only in our friendships and romantic relationships, but in how we earn, spend, invest and take risks with money. We get into why some…

You’ve been asking for this episode, and today I’m finally pulling back the curtain on my own financial plan. Consider this a very special edition of Ask Farnoosh — except this time, you’re asking the questions about my money. For roughly 15 years, much of my financial life was on cruise control: automate the investing, save for retirement, fund the kids’ accounts, maintain the emergency fund, repeat. But midlife has me asking a different set of questions. Am I still saving the right amount? Could I invest a little less and spend more on my life today? How much do we actually need for retirement? And, gulp…should I consider an annuity? My financial planner Maggie Johndrow of Johndrow Wealth Management joins me to reveal what we discovered after putting my entire financial picture under the microscope — including where I may have been over-saving, why we’re rethinking my SEP IRA strategy, and how we’re balancing retirement security with enjoying life now. Then Maggie’s colleague Colette Ward joins us for an…

We're taught our whole working lives to save. Nobody teaches us how to stop. That's the blind spot my guest today has spent the last several years staring down. Jean Chatzky has been one of the most trusted voices in personal finance for as long as I've been in this business, and she just published what she says is the best of her fourteen books, because it's solving a problem she's actually living through herself. Her new book is called The Forever Paycheck, and it's about the moment nobody plans for: the day the direct deposits stop and you're left staring at a lump sum that has to somehow last the rest of your life. Turns out most of us are terrible at this. Even people who did everything right, who saved diligently for forty years, freeze up when it's time to actually spend the money. Jean found that people with guaranteed income streams spend nearly twice as much as people sitting on identical savings, and that confidence to spend is tied to better health and longer life. We get into why our brains…

What does it mean to build wealth when you don't come from money and when getting ahead financially isn't just about you? My guest today is Maria Melchor, founder of FirstGenLiving and author of the new book Always Have Enough: How to Build Wealth When You Don't Come From Money. Maria grew up in a Mexican immigrant family, at one point undocumented in the United States, watching her parents piece together everything from paychecks and government benefits to food bank boxes to make ends meet. As a kid, she saw classmates get cars when they got their driver's licenses while she was waiting for the legal status that would eventually allow her to work, and fully participate in the financial system. Maria would go on to attend Yale, and after graduation found herself earning more at 22 years old than her parents had after decades of incredibly hard work. Which brings to the forefront a complicated question: What do you do when you're the one in the family who suddenly has access to opportunity? ? How much do you…

Big changes are coming to So Money in 2027. Farnoosh opens the episode with an early preview of what’s ahead, including a more video-forward format and a sharper focus on the intersection of midlife and money — the season when careers, kids, aging parents, health, relationships and financial priorities are all shifting at once. She also reflects on the life and legacy of Gloria Steinem, who died this week at 92, and shares a personal story about once finding herself just a few seats away from Steinem on an Amtrak train — and regretting that she never worked up the courage to say hello. Then, Farnoosh looks at the latest jobs report and weighs in on a debate sparked by Armchair Expert: If one adult child becomes wealthy while another struggles financially, should parents leave them different amounts in their will? Farnoosh shares why she leans toward equal inheritances, with thoughtful exceptions for significant needs. In the Ask Farnoosh mailbag: Jay in Denver recently got married and wants to know how he…

My guest today owns land on the moon. And somehow, that is not even the most interesting thing about his approach to money. Joseph Moore is a historian and professor who spent years studying how Americans have tried to get rich over the last 300 years — from land speculation and market bubbles to stocks, crypto and today’s biggest investment trends. And after all that research, he came to a pretty provocative conclusion: a lot of the financial advice we hear over and over again may not actually be the best way to build wealth. So Joseph decided to test history for himself. He created a cryptocurrency. He systematically shorted Jim Cramer’s stock picks. He studied how investors behaved through centuries of booms and busts — and used some of those lessons in his own portfolio. Along the way, he became a millionaire. His new book is How to Get Rich in American History: 300 Years of Financial Advice That Worked (and Didn’t). Today, we’re talking about what 300 years of history can teach us about getting rich,…

If you’ve been following the financial news lately, you may have noticed something unusual: the bond market is getting a lot of attention. After a year of tariff shocks, interest-rate whiplash, tax policy changes and persistent questions about inflation and the national debt, bonds have moved from the financial pages into the broader economic conversation. And whenever markets get nervous about where the economy, inflation or government borrowing may be headed, attention tends to turn pretty quickly to the bond market. Because this isn’t just Wall Street inside baseball. The bond market influences the interest rate on your mortgage. It influences how much the federal government pays to borrow money. It affects companies trying to finance everything from infrastructure to AI data centers. And it can offer some important clues about how investors are feeling about inflation, growth, recession risk and even the creditworthiness of the United States. So perhaps it’s time we understood bonds a little better. And…

On this week's Ask Farnoosh Friday, we're tackling five thoughtful listener questions that touch on everything from career transitions and combining finances as a couple to insurance, retirement accounts, and planning for the future. Before we dive into the mailbag, I also share a few headlines that caught my attention this week—including a fascinating new trend in prenups designed to protect stay-at-home parents, California's latest move to make personal finance a graduation requirement, and a New York Times article about the money frustrations that seem uniquely American (plus a few of my own!). And yes...So Money is officially on YouTube. In this episode: •Why you shouldn't feel guilty quietly job hunting before you have an offer •The best way to leave an employer professionally while protecting your own career •How couples can combine finances without sacrificing independence •Why "fair" doesn't always mean splitting expenses 50/50 •My favorite three-account system for couples •The insurance policies…

Anthony O'Neal, had $6.32 to his name on a Wednesday night. He needed gas. He was hungry. He ended up cutting two McDonald's double cheeseburgers in half — that was his food for the next two days. He diluted his sweet tea with water to stretch it. And in that moment, eating a cold half-burger in his apartment, something shifted in him. He thought: there has to be a better way. Fast forward to his fortieth birthday. Anthony is on a private yacht off the coast of Italy. The chef comes out mid-dinner, not just to ask how the fish is — but to offer to catch that same fish again for him tomorrow. And Anthony thought back to that Wednesday night, that half-burger, that $6.32 — and he realized: he had found the better way. Anthony O'Neal is a bestselling author, speaker, and host of The Table with AO. His new book, Stop Living Paycheck to Paycheck: The Proven Path to Break Free from Debt, Build Real Wealth, and Live Free on Any Income, is out in August. This episode aired originally on July 20. How's midlife going?…

This episode aired originally on October 21, 2024. Seth Godin, bestselling author, entrepreneur, and one of the most influential thinkers in marketing and leadership, joins the show. He discusses his latest book, This Is Strategy: Make Better Plans, and how to create more meaningful and effective strategies in all areas of life, from career growth and personal development to financial success. How's midlife going? Fill out Farnoosh's survey and help shape the podcast in 2027. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Are we headed for another housing crash — or is today’s market fundamentally different from 2008? On this Ask Farnoosh Friday, Farnoosh digs into the state of the housing market with insights from real estate economist Dr. Joshua Harris, Academic Director of the Fordham Real Estate Institute. While some overheated markets are already seeing prices decline, Harris explains why today’s housing landscape looks very different from the run-up to the Great Financial Crisis — particularly when it comes to housing supply, lending standards and homeowner equity. Farnoosh also examines the explosive growth of Buy Now, Pay Later, which is increasingly being used not just for clothes and electronics, but for groceries, rent, utilities, medical bills and even taxes. The question she wants consumers to ask: Are you using BNPL to solve a timing problem — or an affordability problem? Because those are two very different financial challenges. Plus, shopping scams are getting dramatically harder to spot thanks to artificial…

Almost 30 years ago, before financial wellness was a line item in anyone's benefits package, before it was a buzzword that we all throw around in this space, my guest today was watching something unfold that most people missed entirely. She was raising money for a hedge fund during the dot-com boom, sitting across from entrepreneurs and high-net-worth investors, watching them take wild risks with money they'd worked incredibly hard to build, and she had this realization: If these wealthy, sophisticated people were this exposed, what about everyone else? What about the assistant down the hall with paper equity and no safety net? Nobody was in their corner, so she built the thing that didn't exist. That's Liz Davidson, founder and CEO of Financial Finesse, the company that's widely credited with inventing the workplace financial wellness industry as we know it. She's the author of Money Strong and What Your Financial Advisor Isn't Telling You. Today, we're getting into what her company's brand-new 2026…

Bernadette Joy, founder of Crush Your Money Goals, shares her unexpected journey into early retirement at 41, the emotional and financial surprises along the way, and how she's redefining purpose and joy in this new chapter of life. Check out her column for CNBC on the topic. How's midlife going? Fill out Farnoosh's survey and help shape the podcast in 2027. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

This week on Ask Farnoosh, we unpack the latest updates to Trump Accounts, including new workplace contribution options that could make these child investment accounts more appealing for families. We also dive into the rise of "money maxxing"—what this viral trend gets right (and where it goes too far)—plus the surprising economics behind the stay-at-home boyfriend phenomenon. Also on the show: why customer service frustrations are fueling record levels of consumer rage, what Realtor.com's hottest ZIP codes reveal about today's housing market (including why Montclair, NJ, ranks #2), and answers to two listener questions on avoiding common pre-retirement mistakes and deciding where to put your next dollar after you've built an emergency fund and are saving for retirement. How's midlife going? Fill out Farnoosh's survey and help shape the podcast in 2027. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Today we're talking about a kind of power most of us are terrified to claim: the power of our own voice. My guest is Samara Bay, speech and speaking coach to CEOs, politicians, and tech founders, and author of Permission to Speak. She was last on the show talking about that book, and now she's back with something new: a viral TEDx talk about how to actually be human while you're speaking in public, whether that's on a stage, in a work meeting, or in a hard conversation at home. Here's the thing. Most of us think great public speaking means sounding polished, authoritative, in control. Samara says the opposite. The speakers who actually move us are the ones who let us see that they care. Not perform it, reveal it. And when our words, our tone, and our body language are all telling the same story, that's when people lean in. We get into why "public speaking" feels so loaded in the first place, what's actually happening in our bodies when fear takes over (hello, vocal fry and monotone), and the practical…

Getting into college was supposed to be the hard part. So why are so many kids arriving on campus and falling apart? That's the question that's driven Ana Homayoun's work for 25 years. She's an educational consultant, author, and today she's back on So Money to talk about the paperback relaunch of her book, now retitled Getting In Is Not Enough: The New Blueprint for Student Success Beyond Grades and College Admissions. We originally built this book around one idea: that grades and test scores don't teach kids how to actually run their lives. But when Ana sat down to revise it for the paperback, she realized the AI-driven workforce made the argument even more urgent — and that the four pillars she teaches (systems, connections, perspective, and acceptance) aren't just for teenagers. They're for anyone navigating a messy transition, whether that's a 22-year-old moving back home after graduation or a 52-year-old rebuilding a career from scratch. We talk about why friend groups shouldn't live in one place, why…

This week on Ask Farnoosh, we're talking about the financial conversations that can save families years of stress—and why it's never too early to start having them. First, a story from my daughter's lemonade stand that sparked an unexpected lesson about entrepreneurship, generosity, and teaching kids the value of earning (and giving) money. Then, in the mailbag: How do you talk to your parents about retirement and estate planning without making them feel like you're taking away their independence? I share the key questions to ask—from healthcare and long-term care plans to wills, powers of attorney, debt, and retirement income. Should you superfund your children's 529 plans or contribute gradually over time? We break down the pros and cons of front-loading college savings, the power of compound growth, gift tax rules, and why a hybrid approach may be the smartest strategy. Plus, in the headlines: Why more homeowners associations are moving toward foreclosure over unpaid dues. Relief for more than 170,000…

We talk a big game about taxes, until the bill actually shows up in our inbox. This week I'm digging into a question that's been nagging at me ever since Montclair, one of the most progressive towns in New Jersey, split down the middle over a special election to cover a $20 million school budget deficit. It wasn't that people stopped believing in public schools. It was more like, prove to me this actually fixes anything. That flinch, the gap between what we say we believe and what we're willing to pay for, is exactly what financial planner Georgia Lee Hussey has been sitting with. Georgia is the founder of Modernist Financial, and she's noticed something uncomfortable happening even in deeply progressive circles: a growing resistance to taxes, alongside language that sounds a lot like the anti-government scripts used by anti-democratic movements. We get into: The Portland preschool tax story that started Georgia down this rabbit hole Why there's such a gap between "I support this policy" and "I resent paying…

Jesse Mecham, founder of YNAB (You Need A Budget), returns to So Money to discuss his new book, Never Worry About Money Again, a thoughtful guide to reducing financial stress by changing the way we think about money. Rather than focusing on budgeting tactics or investment strategies, Jesse argues that lasting financial confidence begins with answering one powerful question: What is your money for? We also discuss how to raise financially curious kids, why earning more doesn't automatically eliminate money worries, and how learning to embrace trade-offs can transform the way we spend, save, and live. In this episode, we learn: Why making more money often doesn't solve financial anxiety. The one question Jesse believes everyone should ask before creating a budget. How to build a spending plan that reflects your values—not just your bills. The surprising expense most people happily cut once they become more intentional. Why it's okay—and healthy—to change your financial priorities over time. How to talk to…

Farnoosh recaps a webinar on navigating money conversations with loved ones, then dives into the week's financial news: the Fed holding rates steady, what Apple and Microsoft earnings mean for your index funds, and a landlord's "work from home fee." Then, she tackles two big listener questions: how to find and pay for a financial planner (flat fee vs. retainer vs. AUM, and what "fee-only" really means), and why a perfect credit score doesn't guarantee you the lowest mortgage rate. How's midlife going? Fill out Farnoosh's survey and help shape the podcast in 2027. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

This episode is brought to us by Back Market, the world's largest pure-play premium refurbished tech marketplace. Back Market's mission is to make refurbished tech the mainstream choice, by extending the life of devices, fighting electronic waste, and challenging today's throwaway culture. On today's show we sat down with Lauren Benton, General Manager of Back Market in the US, to talk about the real cost of family tech - and how to bring it down. To learn more, visit BackMarket.com Apple just raised prices on several products (up to $300 more on certain MacBooks and iPads), and analysts expect the iPhone to see a hike this fall too. So the timing couldn't be better to rethink how we're spending on tech. Here's what we learn: Why "refurbished" doesn't mean what most people think it means, and how devices are quality-checked before they're ever resold. Where the real savings are: specific numbers on phones, laptops, tablets, and watches. The hidden costs in your tech budget that have nothing to do with the…

If you've ever felt like the math just doesn't work anymore, that you're doing everything right and still coming up short on rent, groceries, and student loans, this episode is for you. Freddie Smith spent nearly twenty years acting, including nine years on Days of Our Lives, before a business manager who was supposed to be handling his money instead stole it and stopped filing his taxes. He found out when the IRS came looking for three years of back payments, with interest and penalties on top. Then came the pandemic. He lost the show, moved to Florida, and had to rebuild his finances from zero in a brand new career. That personal collapse turned into a mission. Freddie started sharing what he was learning about taxes, investing, inflation and the Fed on TikTok and Instagram, not as an expert, but as someone figuring it out in real time alongside his audience. That honesty struck a nerve. He's built a community of two million people in three years, and it's now the subject of his new book, Generation…

This week on Ask Farnoosh, I'm reflecting on a memorable visit to the Today Show with my daughter, Colette, and how exposing kids to new experiences can shape their futures. That conversation leads into one of the smartest long-term wealth-building strategies available to parents: putting your child on payroll—legitimately—and using earned income to fund a Roth IRA. I also unpack fascinating new research linking chronic financial hardship to long-term brain health, discuss Senator Andy Kim's proposed Healthy Kids Act, explore why modern baby registries are shifting from "stuff" to services, and share lessons from a Washington Post column on what people consistently misunderstand about retirement. Then, in this week's listener question, I help a family navigate an emotionally complicated financial crossroads: a potential $500,000–$800,000 inheritance, a home renovation, IVF, a recent layoff, and the challenge of deciding which priorities deserve the biggest investment. Together, we explore why the most…

Today's show covers the ins and outs of LLCs and S-Corps and how to determine which one (or both) is best for structuring your business. The guest is Hannah Cole, creator of Sunlight Tax. You can visit Sunlight Tax for resources mentioned in today's episode. This episode was originally published May 13, 2024. How's midlife going? Fill out Farnoosh's survey and help shape the podcast in 2027. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Anthony O'Neal, had $6.32 to his name on a Wednesday night. He needed gas. He was hungry. He ended up cutting two McDonald's double cheeseburgers in half — that was his food for the next two days. He diluted his sweet tea with water to stretch it. And in that moment, eating a cold half-burger in his apartment, something shifted in him. He thought: there has to be a better way. Fast forward to his fortieth birthday. Anthony is on a private yacht off the coast of Italy. The chef comes out mid-dinner, not just to ask how the fish is — but to offer to catch that same fish again for him tomorrow. And Anthony thought back to that Wednesday night, that half-burger, that $6.32 — and he realized: he had found the better way. Anthony O'Neal is a bestselling author, speaker, and host of The Table with AO. His new book, Stop Living Paycheck to Paycheck: The Proven Path to Break Free from Debt, Build Real Wealth, and Live Free on Any Income, is out in August. How's midlife going? Fill out Farnoosh's survey and help shape…

On this week's Ask Farnoosh Friday, we're tackling five thoughtful listener questions that touch on everything from career transitions and combining finances as a couple to insurance, retirement accounts, and planning for the future. Before we dive into the mailbag, I also share a few headlines that caught my attention this week—including a fascinating new trend in prenups designed to protect stay-at-home parents, California's latest move to make personal finance a graduation requirement, and a New York Times article about the money frustrations that seem uniquely American (plus a few of my own!). And yes...So Money is officially on YouTube. In this episode: Why you shouldn't feel guilty quietly job hunting before you have an offer The best way to leave an employer professionally while protecting your own career How couples can combine finances without sacrificing independence Why "fair" doesn't always mean splitting expenses 50/50 My favorite three-account system for couples The insurance policies every…

Today's episode is for anyone who has ever stood in the vitamin aisle reading about the exact right creatine dosage for a woman "in this stage of life" and thought... okay but where's the aisle for my retirement savings? I'm right in the thick of this myself. Midlife money is basically all I want to talk about lately, because I think we are the forgotten demo. There's an entire industry telling us how to optimize our sleep, our supplements, our skin. But when it comes to actually managing our money at this stage, when the stakes are higher and the runway to retirement is shorter, the advice mostly dries up. So I'm thrilled to have Lindsay Goldwert here. She's the co-author, with Gabrielle Moss, of The Midlife Plot Twist, and she's spent a lot of time talking to women about the money moment we're in right now: the shame, the catching-up, the marriages where one partner has quietly been steering the ship, the total reinvention some of us are doing in our forties and fifties. Lindsay, welcome to So Money. How's…

What if the secret to extraordinary wealth isn’t about betting on the next big thing, but buying something tried-and-true—like a plumbing business, a car wash, or a cleaning company? What if the future of entrepreneurship isn’t on Wall Street or in Silicon Valley, but on Main Street—if only we knew how to seize it? My guest today is Codie Sanchez, founder and CEO of Contrarian Thinking, a digital education platform and media company with over 6 million followers In her new book, Main Street Millionaire: How to Make Extraordinary Wealth Buying Ordinary Businesses, Codie lays out her bold argument: that buying profitable, established, cash-flowing businesses is the most underrated path to building wealth—and that now is the time to act. Why? Because America is facing a generational handoff. Over 40 million Americans are hitting retirement age, and baby boomers—who currently own nearly two-thirds of small businesses with employees—are poised to sell. Codie calls it a “silver tsunami,” and for those who know how…

We're exploring two topics that are at each end of the life spectrum - child savings accounts and Medicaid. First, what is a Trump account? Farnoosh began contributing to her kids' accounts over the weekends. She has pros, cons and even a great hack for making the most of these accounts. Plus, is 20% a good amount for a home downpayment? And how to increase your chances of qualifying for Medicaid? How's midlife going? Fill out Farnoosh's survey and help shape the podcast in 2027. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

My guest today is someone I've known and admired for a long time — Bobbi Rebell, CFP®, founder of Financial Wellness Strategies and author of Launching Financial Grownups: Live Your Richest Life by Helping Your (Almost) Adult Kids Become Everyday Money Smart, as well as How to be a Financial Grownup. Bobbi was previously a global business news anchor and personal finance columnist at Thomson Reuters, and held positions at CNBC, CNN and PBS, so she's spent decades translating money into plain English for millions of people. But today we're talking about a new chapter: Bobbi just became a Certified Financial Therapist — a credential that sits at the intersection of money and mindset, and one she worked hard for, the long way, no shortcuts. We're going to dig into why she pursued it, what financial therapy actually is, and how understanding our money psychology — from childhood money memories to the algorithms shaping our spending — can change how we feel about our financial choices, even the ones we didn't…

We spend so much of our lives chasing money—believing that once we earn enough, save enough, and invest enough, happiness and freedom will finally follow. But what if the real goal isn’t more money… it’s more time? Today’s guest is Andy Hill, AFC®, award-winning family finance coach and founder of the platform Marriage, Kids and Money, which has reached millions of families through his podcast, videos, and writing. His new book, Own Your Time, challenges a deeply held belief in personal finance: that wealth alone will solve our problems. Instead, Andy argues that true financial success is about using money intentionally to design a life filled with freedom, family connection, and choice. In this conversation, we explore Andy’s own journey—from a six-figure household income and negative net worth to a life where he and his wife now work part-time by design. We talk about the concept of “coast financial independence,” the surprising middle ground between burnout and early retirement, and the practical…

This episode aired originally on May 1, 2026. May 1 is College Acceptance Day and as many families grapple with the soaring cost of college, Farnoosh shares thoughts on how to decide whether a college education is worth its price tag. Would you spend $100k a year? Plus: Establishing credit for the first time and how to allocate your investments in your 30s. And a crazy story about how one woman’s investments disappeared from her bank’s website. What happened? How's midlife going? Fill out Farnoosh's survey and help shape the podcast in 2027. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.