So Money With Farnoosh Torabi

What does it mean to be well-mannered with your money?Today, we’re getting a masterclass in modern etiquette from Daniel Post Senning, the great-great-grandson of Emily Post and co-president of the Emily Post Institute. Daniel joins us to talk about the sticky situations we all face—splitting the bill, tipping in the era of digital checkout screens, handling salary conversations with friends, and navigating the financial asks that come with weddings, parties, and work culture.With AI reshaping our communication, remote work blurring social lines, and generational traditions clashing with modern norms, it’s never been harder—or more important—to be mindful of how we show up for each other. For more information, check out The Emily Post Institute, the podcast Awesome Etiquette, and the book Emily Post’s Business Etiquette.

In this week’s Ask Farnoosh, we’re diving into your money questions and breaking down the big headlines.First up: What the Trump-backed budget bill could mean for your wallet. Farnoosh unpacks the Congressional Budget Office’s $2.4 trillion deficit projection and explains how the proposed tax cuts and spending reductions may impact interest rates, government programs, and your future taxes.Then, in the mailbag:Is the FIRE (Financial Independence, Retire Early) movement right for you? Farnoosh shares her personal take and how she’s pursued financial freedom—without traditional retirement.How to create a gift-giving strategy that feels generous and sustainable, plus tips for teaching kids to be kind and money-wise.And: Adding bonds to your investment portfolio—why they matter, how to buy them, and how to hold them in your retirement account.For further reading on the Republican Budget Bill, check out NPR's coverage.

Today we're exploring how financial literacy changed a person's life. Our guest is Elizabeth Cronise McLaughlin — former Wall Street lawyer, leadership consultant, single mom, and founder of The Gaia Leadership Project. From the outside, her life looked picture-perfect: elite career, national media appearances, a thriving business. But behind the scenes, Elizabeth was battling deep financial insecurity, credit card debt, and the emotional weight of divorce and single motherhood — all while running a nearly 7-figure company.In this deeply personal and powerful conversation, Elizabeth opens up about hitting financial rock bottom during the pandemic and the mindset shift that pulled her out. She shares how investing in financial education helped her pay off $50,000 in debt in six months, build emergency savings, and teach her children what she was never taught: how to talk about — and take control of — their money.To learn more about BudgetDog, click here and say you were referred by Elizabeth!

Hannah Cole is back on So Money — and just in time. You may know her as the founder of Sunlight Tax, or from her game-changing workshops that help creatives and freelancers make sense of their money. But today, she's here to share insights from her forthcoming book, Taxes for Humans, which might just be the most approachable — and dare I say, funny — tax book you'll ever read.In this conversation, Hannah and I dive into the emotional baggage so many of us carry around taxes: shame, intimidation, even fear. She opens up about being dismissed by a traditional accountant early in her career, and how that lit the fire for her to become a voice for those often left out of financial conversations — women, artists, freelancers, anyone who’s ever felt like a “weirdo” in the world of money.We talk about how to avoid the dreaded tax bill shock, what the IRS really cares about, why freelancers need to understand quarterly taxes, and what you should know if you’re married and your spouse is handling the taxes (spoiler: p

This week's questions focus on smart budgeting frameworks, earning more outside a 9 to 5, dealing with high annual credit card fees and a pro tip for handling medical debt.

My guest today is one of the most vibrant and necessary voices in personal finance today. Katie Gatti Tassin is the founder of the wildly popular Money with Katie platform and host of the podcast by the same name. She's back on the show with a brand-new book that is as bold as it is brilliant: Rich Girl Nation.This isn't your average money guide. Katie weaves sharp analysis, real-world context, and her signature wit into a manifesto for financial independence — especially for women navigating the beauty tax, the motherhood penalty, workplace politics, and a world where financial systems weren’t exactly built with us in mind. We discuss why the first chapter is called “The Hot Girl Hamster Wheel,” how investing in yourself early can pay off big, and why financial independence isn’t just about retiring early—it’s about having options.

Have you ever felt uncomfortable splitting a dinner bill with friends or hesitated to join a group vacation because of the cost? Maybe you’ve wondered if your friends view money the way you do. Friendships are one of the most rewarding parts of life, yet they come with their own set of challenges—especially when money enters the picture.Today, we’re diving into this problem with someone who has tackled this topic head-on. Kristin Wong, an award-winning journalist and author, has explored the subtle, often unspoken ways wealth gaps can impact friendships.Her recent article in The New York Times uncovers the nuances of these situations and how friends navigate the social and emotional dynamics of financial imbalance. Follow Kristin’s Substack, “Untranslatable.”Join the So Money Members Club.Download Farnoosh’s free investing blueprint.Hang out with Farnoosh on Instagram.

Today’s show offers financial advice for couples. Plus: How to manage savings versus investments?Download Farnoosh’s free guide to Paris in 4 Days.

We’re joined by Dr. Annie Cole, Ed.D., a money coach and financial educator who specializes in helping women master their finances—from budgeting and debt payoff to investing, building wealth, and retiring early.Dr. Annie's story is a powerful one. In her 20s, she was a burnt-out social worker earning just $26,000 a year. Fast-forward a decade, and she had climbed the ranks to a Vice President role, invested over $380,000, built a $1 million real estate portfolio, and shaved 20 years off her retirement timeline.Now the founder of Money Essentials for Women, Annie is on a mission to help women step into financial confidence—and today, she’s sharing the steps that made it possible.We talk about her four-phase wealth-building plan, how our brains are wired to resist financial change, and why the increasingly popular idea of micro retirement—taking a meaningful, temporary break from work—isn’t just possible, it might be essential.Grab Dr. Annie's Free Guide: How to Take a Micro-Retirement

Ever wonder why we take on debt knowing it will cost us — or why flashing a credit card can feel like flashing status? It’s not just poor math or bad habits. It’s biology, psychology, and marketing, all tangled together.In today’s episode, we unpack the psychology of spending with Wright State University professor and author John Dinsmore, whose new book The Marketing of Debt: How They Get You breaks down the subtle — and not-so-subtle — ways marketers capitalize on our optimism, impulsivity, and desire for status.We talk about:Why your brain underestimates the pain of future debtHow credit card companies brand products to play on our egosWhy handling money can make us less generousThe hidden costs of “quiet luxury” and keeping up appearancesAnd how Dinsmore’s own research found that just touching $20 bills increased testosterone and reduced charitable giving

Today’s show: The benefits of credit cards, recommended stock portfolio allocations and resources for helping kids learn about money. Plus: How to execute a rollover or backdoor Roth IRA? (This episode originally aired in 2024)

Menopause used to be a whispered word, something women were expected to endure quietly. But that’s changing—and fast. Women are reclaiming this stage of life, demanding better care, and rewriting the narrative. And leading the charge is my guest today, Emmy-winning journalist and menopause advocate, Tamsen Fadal.With a career spanning over three decades in television news, Tamsen has transitioned her focus towards empowering women navigating midlife changes.Her latest endeavor, the book How to Menopause: Take Charge of Your Health, Reclaim Your Life, and Feel Even Better Than Before, serves as a comprehensive guide to help women manage the multifaceted aspects of menopause.Receive Farnoosh’s free Investing BlueprintFollow on InstagramJoin the So Money Members ClubLeave a review on Apple PodcastsOrder Farnoosh’s new book, A Healthy State of PanicThis episode originally aired on March 12, 2025.

Farnoosh speaks with Dr. Ellen Vora, psychiatrist and author of the book The Anatomy of Anxiety: Understanding and Overcoming the Body’s Fear Response about the root of our anxieties, how they impact our financial wellness and her holistic approach to healing. Her book is now in paperback!More about Dr. Vora: She received her B.A. from Yale University and attended Columbia University medical school. She’s a board-certified psychiatrist, medical acupuncturist, and yoga teacher. Dr. Vora takes a functional medicine approach to mental health–considering the whole person and addressing imbalance at the root, rather than reflexively prescribing medication. In addition to her private practice and speaking engagements, Dr. Vora consults for healthcare startups.This episode originally aired Feb 21, 2022.

On today's Ask Farnoosh, Farnoosh answers audience questions about whether a couple is financially on track, should you put your home in a trust, and the difference between money market accounts and money market funds. Referenced on the show: Episode on All-Things Estate Planning and the So Money Members Club.

We’re diving into the world of real estate investing—not just as a strategy for wealth, but as a movement for women to claim financial independence, build generational wealth, and find community in a traditionally male-dominated space.My guest is Liz Faircloth, co-founder of InvestHer, a global platform and network that helps women invest confidently in real estate, connect with opportunities, and build wealth on their terms. You may know Liz and her partner Andresa from the InvestHer podcast—550 episodes strong—and the growing ecosystem they've built to support women at every stage of their investing journey.And speaking of support, don’t miss InvestHER Con, happening June 1–3 in Orlando. It’s a one-of-a-kind, hands-on real estate conference where the networking is intentional, the knowledge is strategic, and the energy is unmatched. If you’re serious about real estate and want to learn from women who are actively building wealth in this market, this is the room to be in. In this conversation, Liz and I tal

Comedian Zarna Garg joins Farnoosh live at Loopwell in Montclair to celebrate the release of her memoir, This American Woman. In this candid and hilarious conversation, Zarna shares how she transformed personal crisis into a comedy career—building a thriving business from scratch after her husband lost his job. She opens up about betting on herself in midlife, using clean comedy as a strategic edge, and how she’s navigated financial stress, immigrant identity, and motherhood with grit and humor.

Download Farnoosh's Free Investing Blueprint to learn how to begin investing for your future. Learn more about her So Money Members Club.In this week’s Ask Farnoosh, Farnoosh kicks off with a look at key economic headlines—from McDonald’s reporting a drop in customer traffic to new signs the U.S. economy may be cooling, including a GDP contraction and a spike in jobless claims. She also reflects on a powerful story shared by comedian Zarna Garg about how her family handled job loss during the pandemic, and why honesty with kids during financial stress can build resilience.Then, Farnoosh answers three listener questions:Elizabeth is considering a new role at a worker cooperative with a significantly lower salary. Farnoosh walks through what questions to ask about co-op structures, how to weigh values vs. pay, and whether the trade-off is worth it.A listener worried about market volatility asks how to protect their 529 college savings plan over the next 10 years. Farnoosh shares practical strategies for adjusti

Today’s episode is a special one, pulled straight from inside the So Money Members Club. This month, we hosted a live workshop all about estate planning — a topic that many of our members requested — and we brought in an expert to guide us: Heather Zack, an attorney and financial planner who leads high-net-worth strategy at Commonwealth Financial Network.Whether you're married or not, have kids or don't, own property or are just starting to build wealth, this conversation with Heather will help demystify the essentials. We cover wills, trusts (both revocable and irrevocable), how to choose the right people to manage your estate, and how to avoid common mistakes that can cost your loved ones time, money, and stress.And if you’ve ever wondered whether those “create your estate plan in 30 minutes online” sites are legit? We get into that too.

Today's guest is Rachel Rodgers—a powerhouse entrepreneur, bestselling author, and tireless advocate for wealth building, especially for those historically excluded from financial success. You might remember Rachel from her groundbreaking book, We Should All Be Millionaires.She's back with another insightful and empowering book titled Future Millionaire: A Young Person's Step-by-Step Guide to Making Wealth Inevitable. It's a powerful message for young people, particularly those aged 13 to 25, designed to equip them not just with dreams, but with a strategic blueprint for achieving genuine wealth.Rachel's mission is clear: it's time we start teaching our children that wealth is within their reach, no matter their starting point. Today, she joins me to discuss how we can foster a millionaire mindset in our kids, why being rich and famous isn't the goal, and what practical steps parents and young adults can take right now to secure their financial futures.

This Friday: Top financial headlines from changes to student loans to the dismantling of the Consumer Finance Protection Bureau. Plus: The best ways to grow and maintain strong credit. To join Farnoosh with Zarna Garg at Loopwell, reserve your spot here.