So Money with Farnoosh Torabi

Today we're talking about FORO, the fear of running out. According to a new sweeping study from Corebridge Financial, Americans are nine times more likely to say they'd regret running out of money while they're alive than dying with a fortune left unspent.Now, you have probably spent years, maybe decades, doing everything right, putting money away. You're contributing to your 401k, maybe even maxing it, and you're watching the balance grow, and somewhere in the back of your mind you're telling yourself, "When I finally get there, I'm gonna enjoy this."But here's what a new study just uncovered, and it's one of the most surprising findings in retirement research in years: getting there may be considered the hard part, but spending the money once you do is actually harder for millions of Americans.These are people who've worked hard, they saved diligently, they made it to retirement, and now they're not spending. They're hoarding. They're restricting. They're eating out less. They're skipping the trip. They're holding back, not because they can't afford it, but because they're afraid. Afraid if they actually use what they saved, it might run out.To unpack what's driving this and what to do about it, we are joined by Bryan Pinsky, President of Individual Retirement and Life Insurance at Corebridge Financial, one of the nation's largest providers of retirement solutions. He's also the executive behind this landmark research. And Jean Chatzky, a New York Times bestselling author, personal finance expert, one of the most trusted voices in America when it comes to helping real people make smart decisions with their money. She has partnered with Corebridge to turn these findings into an actionable playbook for retirement.We're gonna walk through what the data shows, why it matters, and what you can do right now, even if retirement is still years away, to make sure you don't fall into this trap.Resources and LinksPress Release: https://investors.corebridgefinancial.com/news/news-details/2026/Only-28-of-Pre-retirees-and-Retirees-are-Comfortable-Drawing-Down-Savings-in-Retirement-But-Having-a-Plan-for-Decumulation-Boosts-Confidence/default.aspxFull Survey Findings: https://apps.tm.celerasystems.com/corebridge/services/viewDocument?itemNbr=M6525DCKJean's Interview Series: https://www.corebridgefinancial.com/insights-education/real-stories-with-jean-chatzkyLearn more about Farnoosh's upcoming literary workshop Book to Brand. Early bird registration is now open! Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Join us for Book to Brand on Friday, October 9, in New York City. Early bird tickets are available now at BookToBrand.co.Farnoosh shares a parenting mishap from her book A Healthy State of Panic—accidentally sending her kids to the wrong birthday party—and explains why low-stakes failures can help us build resilience instead of fear.Then, she tackles listener questions about whether to stay in an unhappy marriage for financial reasons, how to navigate a toxic workplace, and what home repairs are worth making before a sale. Plus: advice for Penn State finance freshmen looking to stand out, tips for choosing the right investment platform, and what to know before setting up an S-corporation for your business.This episode aired originally on June 24, 2023.Learn more about Farnoosh's upcoming literary workshop Book to Brand. Early bird registration is now open! Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Today we're talking about one of the most stressful financial moments in a young person's life — that gap between graduation and a real paycheck.My guest is Jahleane Dolné, founder of the Postgrad Playbook, a media platform and community helping Gen Z navigate the years right after college — the job search, the identity shift, the moving back home. All of it.Because here's the thing: we tend to assume young people will figure it out. No mortgage, no kids — they'll be fine. But this transition is one of the most underserved in our culture, and the job market right now is making it even harder. New grads are spending six months, a year, sometimes two years searching. Many end up in jobs that don't require the degree they just paid six figures for.Jahleane has been there. She's a UC Santa Barbara grad, daughter of Haitian immigrants, and she found her way through a sales career, a TikTok community, a $20 LinkedIn course — and eventually, a mission. Today she's sharing the playbook: how to position yourself for work, network without cringing, think about grad school strategically, and why a year in sales might be the best investment a twenty-something can make. More about Jahleane: She is the founder of The PostGrad Playbook, a media company building the definitive guide for life after college and helping young professionals navigate careers, identity shifts, and the moments between milestones that nobody prepares them for.She was named a Future Voice at the Cannes Lions International Festival of Creativity, and her work has led to partnerships with brands including LinkedIn, Microsoft, and Fide. Her insights have been featured in Ad Age, Business Insider, The New York Times, Essence, AfroTech, and LinkedIn News. Across social media and The PostGrad Playbook newsletter, she has built a community of ambitious professionals seeking practical strategies for creating opportunities in a rapidly changing world.Jahleane's socials  Instagram | TikTok | LinkedInThe PostGrad Playbook: Website | Instagram Learn more about Farnoosh's upcoming literary workshop Book to Brand. Early bird registration is now open! Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Hey SO MONEY family — something special in your feed today.My friend Lindsey Stanberry is taking over with an episode of Family Money, her new podcast series with Babylist through The Purse. Lindsey has been covering women, work, and money for over a decade, and what she's building here is exactly the kind of honest, practical conversation that parents need and almost nobody is having well.And yes — I'm in this one.The episode is called "What Does Childcare Actually Cost?" and it does exactly what it says. Lindsey talks with economist Corinne Low — Associate Professor at the Wharton School and author of the USA Today bestseller Having It All — who reframes childcare not as a money pit but as an investment in your time, your career, and your family's future. Then I join to walk through the real numbers: daycare centers, nanny shares, au pairs, in-home care, the grandparent option nobody talks about enough — what each one actually costs and how to figure out what's right for your family.We also get into something that drives me crazy: this idea that childcare costs come out of the mother's salary. They don't. They come out of your family's future. And once you see it that way, everything changes.If you're expecting, deep in the daycare years, or just trying to get ahead of it — this episode is for you. Give Family Money a follow wherever you listen. Lindsey is doing incredible work.Learn more about Farnoosh's upcoming literary workshop Book to Brand. Early bird registration is now open! Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

This week on Ask Farnoosh, we're tackling some of life's biggest financial decisions—from navigating a major income gap in a relationship to deciding whether a promising restaurant venture is worth the investment. Plus, what should you prioritize when you're trying to save for a home while also preparing for retirement?Farnoosh answers listener questions about maintaining financial independence before marriage, evaluating a potential angel investment opportunity, choosing between a brokerage account and a traditional IRA, finding trustworthy financial advice, and building a down payment fund in a high-cost housing market. She also shares resources for managing healthcare costs and weighs in on whether married couples should file taxes jointly or separatelyBefore the mailbag, Farnoosh breaks down the latest jobs report, explains why a strong labor market may keep the Federal Reserve on hold when it comes to interest rates, celebrates National Donut Day, and sounds off on a teen financial literacy competition that may be testing the wrong skills altogether.Listener questions include:How do we manage money fairly when one partner earns significantly more?Should we invest in a chef friend's new restaurant?Is it better to file taxes jointly or separately?How can I save for a house down payment faster?Should I open a traditional IRA or a brokerage account if I earn too much for a Roth IRA?How do I find a financial advisor I can trust?What resources can help consumers navigate healthcare costs?Learn more about Farnoosh's upcoming literary workshop Book to Brand. Early bird registration is now open! Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Gold has captivated humanity for thousands of years—but why?In this episode, Farnoosh sits down with author and financial historian Dominic Frisby to explore the fascinating story behind one of the world's most coveted assets. Drawing from his new book, The Secret History of Gold, Dominic explains how gold shaped empires, fueled exploration, influenced wars, and continues to play a powerful role in global finance today.The conversation covers why gold remains a popular safe-haven investment during uncertain times, the emotional and psychological hold it has on people and cultures, and why countries like China continue to accumulate vast reserves. Farnoosh also shares her own family's connection to gold as an Iranian-American and explores the generational tradition of passing gold down as a store of wealth.Plus: Dominic weighs in on whether Bitcoin is truly "digital gold," what central banks know that everyday investors may not, and the smartest ways to add gold to your portfolio.Check out Dominic's Substack The Flying FrisbyLearn more about Farnoosh's upcoming literary workshop Book to Brand. Early bird registration is now open! Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

What if the most important inheritance you leave your family has nothing to do with money?Not stocks. Not real estate. Not a trust fund.But instead, a written record of your values, your hard-earned lessons, your family stories, your regrets, your hopes — the wisdom you want future generations to carry forward.Today’s guest, Eric Becker, calls this an “ethical will.” He originally wrote one for his children years ago, never imagining that after the devastating loss of his daughter Kara, he would one day rediscover the document and find that it would help guide him through grief and back to himself.Eric is the Founder and Co-Chairman of Cresset Family Office & Private Wealth Management, a multi-family office overseeing more than $237 billion in assets under management and advisement. Before that, he co-founded Sterling Partners, the private equity firm that raised more than $5 billion across eight funds, and throughout his career has advised founders, entrepreneurs, and ultra-high-net-worth families on how to build businesses — and lives — that endure.His bestselling book and new podcast, The Long Game, explore exactly that: what separates companies, families, and leaders who survive for generations from those that disappear.In this conversation, we talk about the hidden traits of enduring companies, why culture matters more than most founders realize, how to recognize “moments of truth” in business and life, and why one of the most powerful questions you can ask yourself is: “What am I tolerating that I shouldn’t be?”We also get into stoic philosophy, parenting, family meetings, AI, investing for the long term, and the surprising parallels between building a resilient company and building a meaningful life.Learn more about Farnoosh's upcoming literary workshop Book to Brand. Early bird registration is now open! Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

This week on Ask Farnoosh, Farnoosh tackles some of the biggest personal finance questions listeners are wrestling with right now, from AI-powered banking tools to buying a home in today’s expensive market and whether it’s smart to pay off debt early.Farnoosh begins with a look at OpenAI’s new personal finance tools that allow select ChatGPT users to connect their financial accounts directly to AI. She breaks down what the feature can do, why some consumers are intrigued, and why others are understandably nervous about privacy and security. She also shares fresh housing market data showing more buyers are moving forward despite mortgage rates remaining above 6%, and why waiting for ultra-low rates may no longer be realistic.The episode also explores a viral MarketWatch story about a couple who became millionaires in their early 30s despite modest incomes. Farnoosh unpacks the real lessons behind the headline: avoiding excessive student debt, consistently investing at least 15% of income, buying reliable used cars, keeping housing costs manageable, and staying financially flexible enough to seize opportunities when they arise.Listener Mailbag Questions This Week:Can you buy a new home if you already own one with a mortgage? Farnoosh answers a newlywed listener’s question about purchasing a larger home while keeping her husband’s current house as a future rental property. She explains how lenders evaluate debt-to-income ratios, when future rental income may count toward mortgage approval, and why it’s important to run the numbers carefully before deciding whether becoming a landlord is truly worth it.Should you pay off a car loan early, even if it might impact your credit score? Another listener asks whether paying off the final $1,000 on a car loan could hurt their credit. Farnoosh explains the difference between revolving credit and installment loans, how credit mix factors into your score, and why the emotional relief of becoming debt-free can sometimes outweigh purely mathematical investing advice.Learn more about Farnoosh's upcoming literary workshop Book to Brand. Early bird registration is now open! Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Women today are more educated than ever. More ambitious than ever. More likely to be breadwinners, business owners, and leaders in their households and communities. And yet — despite decades of progress — the pay gap persists, women continue to hit barriers at work, and many still feel punished for wanting both financial success and personal fulfillment.My guest today says that’s not a coincidence. It’s a system.Stefanie O’Connell Rodriguez is back on So Money with her powerful new book, The Ambition Penalty, which examines how corporate culture encourages women to strive, achieve, and “lean in” — only to penalize them once they begin claiming real power, money, and authority.In this conversation, we unpack the myths we’ve been sold about ambition and meritocracy, why women are still more likely to face backlash for negotiating and asking for raises, and how inequality at work is deeply connected to inequality at home. Stefanie also shares why the rise of both “girlboss” culture and the tradwife movement miss the bigger picture — and what actually needs to change if we want more equitable outcomes for women.Learn more about Farnoosh's upcoming literary workshop Book to Brand. Early bird registration is now open! Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Today I’m joined by Carrie Joy Grimes. founder of WorkMoney and the author of the new book The Joy of Money. 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.Learn more about Farnoosh's upcoming literary workshop Book to Brand. Early bird registration is now open! Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Farnoosh shares Mother’s Day plans, and reacts to news including the April jobs report and an Apple class-action settlement that could pay eligible iPhone 15 Pro/Pro Max and iPhone 16 buyers up to $95 per device. She also cautions against Fannie Mae’s move toward crypto-backed mortgages, arguing that borrowing against volatile crypto to fund a down payment adds risk and doesn’t address the real housing crisis. Mailbag topics include: how to prepare for or respond to a layoff (unemployment, COBRA, cutting expenses, bridge income, networking, and rolling over retirement accounts), how to save on rising summer utility bills, and whether 0% balance transfer credit cards are a good tool for managing high-interest credit card debt. Check out the full list of recommended balance transfer cards on Nerdwallet.com.Learn more about Farnoosh's upcoming literary workshop Book to Brand. Early bird registration is now open! Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.