So Money with Farnoosh Torabi

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?...

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 Reut...

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,...

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...

What if the most important investment you make in your child's future isn't paying for travel sports, tutoring, or the latest smartphone—but investing in your relationship? Farnoosh sits down with Bridget KerMorris, a Stanford-trained attorney, relational therapist, creator of the Steady + Connected Parenting™ framework, and mom of seven, to discuss why the middle school years may be the most crit...

The art market is one of the least regulated, most opaque wealth transfer systems on the planet. We're talking billions of dollars moving between billionaires, oligarchs, and heads of state — with almost no oversight. It's where old money hides, new money launders, and powerful families build dynasties that last for generations. And at the center of all of it? Almost always, a man. But behind that...

Watch the full commencement speech on Youtube Learn about and reserve your seat for Book to Brand. Farnoosh reflects on the biggest money lessons from producing 2,000 shows across 11 years. And listen to her speech to the high school graduates in her town. Learn more about Farnoosh's upcoming literary workshop Book to Brand. Early bird registration is now open! Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/priva...

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 max...

What if debt isn't a personal failure—but a symptom of a much bigger problem? For years, we've been told that financial struggles come down to individual choices: spend less, budget better, work harder. But what if the real story is more complicated? My guests today are Jamie Feldman and Rachel Webster, creators and hosts of the award-winning podcast Debt Heads , a groundbreaking series they descr...

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...

What does it really take to land a traditional book deal in 2026? In this episode, Farnoosh sits down with book proposal strategist Richelle Fredson, founder of Book Proposal Blueprint, to unpack what publishers, agents, and editors are really looking for today. Together, they explore the role of platform-building, the biggest mistakes aspiring authors make, and the truth about landing a spot on t...

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...

This week, Farnoosh answers listener questions about rolling over an old 401(k), managing $100,000 in savings for a 68-year-old on Social Security, and how couples should discuss and merge finances. She highlights a New York Times story on how weak job markets can scar young graduates long-term and a piece in the Wall Street Journal about “Trump accounts,” including unclear eligibility rules and p...

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...

When Beth Kobliner published Get a Financial Life nearly 30 years ago, the average first-time homebuyer in America was 28 years old. Today? It's 40. That one number captures just how dramatically the financial landscape has changed for young adults. The rules many of us grew up with—go to college, get a good job, buy a home, build wealth—don't seem to work quite the same way anymore. And yet, Beth...

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...

What does it mean to build wealth when the world hasn’t always made space for your identity? That’s the question at the heart of today’s conversation, and the driving force behind a powerful new book reshaping how LGBTQ+ people think about money, belonging, and the future. On this episode of So Money , I’m joined by Nick Wolny , a longtime personal finance journalist, columnist for OUT Magazine, a...

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...

This week on Ask Farnoosh, we're tackling one of the biggest money questions of all: When can I retire? Inspired by a viral Instagram reel about repeatedly refreshing a retirement calculator in hopes of finding financial freedom, Farnoosh breaks down how to determine your retirement readiness—and why retirement may not be the right goal at all. Instead, what if the goal is optionality ? In this ep...

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...

It’s rare in personal finance that someone comes along and doesn’t just offer advice—but completely rewires how we think about money, work, and what it means to live a good life. My guest today did exactly that. Pete Adeney—better known as Mr. Money Mustache —helped ignite the FIRE movement long before it was trending on TikTok or debated on cable news. His message? Radical, at the time: Spend les...

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...

Today’s episode is about neurodivergence, the workplace, and a question that more families and employers are beginning to confront: Why are so many talented people still struggling to get hired and succeed at work simply because the systems around them weren’t designed with them in mind? My guest is Dr. Helen Genova, Associate Director of the Center for Autism Research at Kessler Foundation , wher...

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 coincidenc...

This week: A possible Covid-related tax refund, the demographic with the biggest student loan defaults, can AI help with your money….and All-things 529 plans and college savings with Patricia Roberts. 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.