So Money with Farnoosh Torabi

What would you do if your life completely spun off course…before you even had a chance to understand who you were? My guest today, Nikki Mammano, says she didn’t set out to become a drug dealer in Hawaii—she was a teenager running from trauma, searching for a fresh start, and instead found herself pulled into a dangerous underground economy that nearly cost her everything. In her new memoir Breaki...

or as long as I’ve known him — which is now more than fifteen years — he’s had the same signature look: a sharp mohawk and an even sharper perspective on money. Today on So Money, we welcome back one of the original voices of the personal finance internet: J. Money , the longtime blogger behind Budgets Are Sexy and the founder of Budgets Are Sexy , a platform that helped shape the early personal f...

This week on Ask Farnoosh , Farnoosh kicks things off with a behind-the-scenes look at a whirlwind week in journalism and media. She shares highlights from her recent interview with Senator Cory Booker about his bold new “Keep Your Pay Act” proposal, which would eliminate federal income tax on the first $75,000 of income , and discusses what that could mean for working Americans. She also reflects...

U.S. Senator Cory Booker of New Jersey joins us for a wide-ranging conversation recorded in one sitting for both podcasts - The Montclair Pod and So Money. Senator Booker first rose to national prominence as the mayor of Newark, where he built a reputation for hands-on leadership and bold policy ideas. He has now served more than a decade in the U.S. Senate, becoming one of the most prominent voic...

If you’ve ever looked at the FIRE movement — Financial Independence, Retire Early — and thought, that sounds great… but what about kids? — today’s episode is for you. For years, the assumption has been that FIRE works best for people without children: dual-income professionals willing to live extremely frugally in pursuit of early retirement. But what happens when you want both financial independe...

On this week’s Ask Farnoosh , Farnoosh answers listener questions about navigating complicated financial decisions — from inheriting retirement accounts to protecting yourself from tax fraud. First, Farnoosh shares personal reflections on the unfolding war in Iran and how global conflict can ripple into markets, oil prices, and the broader economy. Then she dives into listener questions, including...

Many parents believe college now costs $100,000 a year. But the truth is far more complicated. Today on So Money , I’m joined by Ron Lieber , longtime New York Times “Your Money” columnist and author of the bestselling book The Price You Pay for College . Ron has spent years investigating how college pricing really works—and why the “sticker price” is often not the price families actually pay. In...

For many women, the word “millionaire” can still feel uncomfortable. Not just financially, but culturally. Many of us weren’t raised to imagine ourselves as wealthy, powerful, or building seven-figure net worths. My guest today wants to change that. Bola Sokunbi is the founder and CEO of Clever Girl Finance , one of the largest financial education platforms for women in the U.S. She’s a Certified...

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.

As promised, I’m re-airing one of the most requested interviews from the archives: my conversation with Nate Berkus, originally recorded in 2015—ten years ago. A lot has changed for Nate since then, but when I listened back, I was struck by how timeless this episode is—especially right now. My mother-in-law and I are huge fans, and for my birthday she gave me Nate’s latest book, Foundations: Timel...

Today’s guest is someone who has been shaping the personal finance conversation for nearly two decades — long before money podcasts were mainstream, long before “side hustle” was a buzzword, and long before financial literacy for women was framed around building wealth instead of just clipping coupons. Laura Adams is the host of the wildly successful Money Girl podcast , a show that has been downl...

Farnoosh reflects on her appearance on the TODAY Show, where she shared practical strategies to maximize your finances during tax season — from last-minute IRA contributions and new tax deductions to choosing the smartest way to file and setting yourself up for next year. She also discusses the latest money headlines, including the Supreme Court’s decision on sweeping tariffs and what it could mea...

Today’s episode is for the woman who’s doing well on paper…earning more, climbing higher, checking the boxes of financial success— and yet still wondering if she’s making the smartest moves with her money. Because here’s the truth: more income doesn’t automatically mean more clarity, more confidence, or even more security. In fact, high-earning women often face a unique set of financial blind spot...

Our guest today is truly one of the original voices in personal finance and someone whose work has shaped how millions of Americans think about debt, credit, and financial freedom. Lynnette Khalfani-Cox joins to share insights from her powerful new book, Bounce Back: The Ultimate Guide to Financial Resilience. We talk about why despite decades of financial education, so many Americans are sti...

In this Friday the 13th edition of So Money , Farnoosh reflects on turning 46 and shares the financial truths that have shaped her life—from why money really buys options , to the systemic realities behind debt and financial setbacks. She also unpacks the latest housing and stock-market headlines and answers listener questions on negotiating credit cards, navigating finances with a partner, and tr...

In the spirit of Valentine’s Day, we’re talking about how to build a stronger financial partnership - from financial date nights and shared accounts to the subtle social norms that still influence modern couples. Today’s guest is Dr. Emily Garbinsky, professor at Cornell’s Johnson School of Business, whose work explores how couples make financial decisions, how pooling money affects relationship s...

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,...

RSVP for Farnoosh's podcasting workshop next Friday Feb 13 here . In this Super Bowl weekend edition of Ask Farnoosh , she reflects on recent financial headlines and answers listener questions about saving, investing, family planning, and homebuying. She discusses the sharp drop in Bitcoin, rising layoffs, and a weakening stock market as reminders of the importance of maintaining a strong emergenc...

Sometimes making work more fair doesn’t require a sweeping policy change or a million-dollar program. Guest Siri Chilazi is a researcher at Harvard who studies gender equity, workplace behavior, and decision-making. She is also the co-author of the bestselling book Make Work Fair , written with behavioral economist Iris Bohnet. Siri’s work challenges one of the most common assumptions we make abou...

Imagine a world where you were no longer expected to compete. That’s the world today’s guest, Ruchika T. Malhotra, invites us to imagine—and to start building. You may remember Ruchika from her last appearance on So Money , when she turned our understanding of imposter syndrome upside down, revealing it not as a personal flaw, but as a systemic one. Her new book, UNCOMPETE: Rejecting Competition t...

**This episode is a replay. It first aired on November 7, 2025.** We’re doing something a little different this week. My guest is my friend and financial planner, Georgia Lee Hussey, founder and CEO of Modernist Financial, and together we’re unpacking the Big Beautiful Bill and what it means for your taxes in 2025 and beyond. We explore how this new legislation could impact everyday taxpayers, wha...

January always asks big questions of our money—and this one felt especially heavy. In this solo episode, Farnoosh takes a step back to reflect on what the first month of the year has revealed about our finances, our fears, and our priorities. From midlife money check-ins to the idea of “financial coasting,” this conversation is about being honest about where you are—not where you think you should...

College today can easily cost six figures — even at public universities — and yet so many families still feel completely in the dark about how to prepare for it without sacrificing their own financial future. My guest today knows this stress intimately. Patricia Roberts grew up in a low-income household and nearly didn’t attend college at all. A guidance counselor once suggested she stick with her...

On this episode of Ask Farnoosh , we kick things off with a very real reminder that homeownership is never just the mortgage. A burst hose, unexpected water damage, and rising insurance premiums spark a broader conversation about the hidden and often underestimated costs of owning a home—and why even “fixed” housing expenses rarely stay fixed. From the mailbag: questions about navigating Parent PL...

We are talking today about parenting boundaries, money, and what it really means to raise independent kids in a world that feels more expensive, more anxious, and more overwhelming than ever. My guest is Randi Crawford, a life coach known for her refreshingly no-nonsense approach to parenting teens and young adults, and for helping parents stop over-functioning so their kids can actually grow up....