Share

cover art for 891: Bola Sokunbi, Founder of Clever Girl Finance

So Money with Farnoosh Torabi

891: Bola Sokunbi, Founder of Clever Girl Finance

"We downsized everything and we went from living in a five bedroom house into a tiny little apartment, we went from having multiple cars, to just one car.”

For many women, especially those who are women of color, access to financial education isn’t as readily available. But our guest today is trying to change that once and for all. Today we’re welcoming the founder of Clever Girl Finance, Bola Sokunbi. Bola received an early lesson in money when her father became ill and had to stop working unexpectedly. The problem with this was that he had used up all of his money to send her three brothers to college and didn’t have any money left over for Bola to further her education.

Luckily, it was her mother, who began as a home maker, who told her that she would pay for Bola’s schooling from the money that she'd set aside from her side hustles and entrepreneurial pursuits over the years. Because of her mother’s hard work, Bola was able to leave Nigeria, get an education and go on to found her own business, empowering women to be financially savvy.

Her company, Clever Girl Finance has helped thousands of women, over the years, receive coaching and financial education they need to advance their lives. Bola is also the author of the fourth coming book, Clever Girl Finance: Ditch Debt, Save Money and Build Real Wealth. It will be available on June 25th.

Learn more about Bola at www.CleverGirlFinance.com and follow her on Instagram @clevergirlfinance.. 

More episodes

View all episodes

  • 1671: Ask Farnoosh: Harrison Butker's Deranged Graduation Speech and More!

    26:36
    Today's show: Managing a $100k inheritance; debt pay-down strategies; should I pay for a certification to switch careers if I'm in debt? Also: Farnoosh weighs in on Footballer Harrison Butker's ridiculous graduation speech directed at the women graduates.Sign up for the So Money Members Club.Get on the waitlist for the next Book to Brand here.
  • 1670: Money, Murder and Modern Feminism with Jo Piazza, Author of The Sicilian Inheritance

    38:14
    Author of the national bestselling novel THE SICILIAN INHERITANCE and host of the UNDER THE INFLUENCE podcast, Jo Piazza, joins the show to discuss the rich themes in her newest book.
  • 1669: LLC versus S-Corp: Which One Is Right For You?

    35:13
    Stay tuned for tonight's Webby's BTS, where So Money receives an award -- on Farnoosh's Instagram.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.
  • 1668: Ask Farnoosh: I'm the Sole Breadwinner Right Now. Can I Afford to Change Jobs?

    37:04
    Join the So Money Members Club to gain access to Farnoosh on the go and a front-row seat to her monthly workshops.Today's episode addresses questions from the audience about career transitions. One listener is concerned that making a job switch could impact the finances in her relationship, as she is the sole breadwinner at the moment. Another listener struggles to pivot in her 40s, worried about the risks of "starting over" in a new career. Finally, one friend in the audience wants to know how to become more ready for retirement. Where should she park $400,000 in cash?
  • 1667: Managing Your Mental Health as an “Only” or “Other”

    34:05
    May is Mental Health Awareness Month, a time to reflect on how our financial well-being impacts our mental health and how generational trauma may be at the root of stress and anxiety about money. Guest Sahaj Kohli is the founder of Brown Girl Therapy and the author of the new book But What Will People Say: Navigating Mental Health, Identity, Love, and Family Between Cultures.
  • 1666: Keys to Getting Your Money's Worth with a Financial Advisor

    35:47
    We’re dedicating this entire episode to probably the biggest question I get from listeners: Should I work with a financial planner? We’re addressing your top concerns and questions about working with a financial advisor with guest Pam Krueger, a seasoned financial journalist and the creator and co-host of MoneyTrack, which ran on PBS stations nationwide.Pam is also the founder of Wealthramp, a platform that has matched over 20,000 individuals with fiduciary advisors and financial planners since 2019 and boasts client retention rates exceeding 98%. Wealthramp's vetted advisor network spans the country and offers diversity in geography, specialization, gender, and fee structure. No matter your income or asset level, Wealthramp is flexible, and can accommodate your needs with various project scopes and fee options.I'm excited to announce my collaboration with Pam and Wealthramp to connect So Money audience members with top-notch, fee-only financial advisors. Visit wealthramp.com/farnoosh to start the easy process of finding an advisor or planner aligned with your needs, goals, and budget. The initial meeting with any advisor is free. One thing I especially like about Wealthramp is the advisors they recommend can’t contact you unless you ask them to - your information is protected, and you’re in control. Again, the website is wealthramp.com/Farnoosh.
  • 1665: Ask Farnoosh: Withdraw Early From My 401k to Pay Off Debt?

    28:06
    Join Farnoosh's private community to up-level your finances at SoMoneyMembers.Last day to join Book to Brand in NYC.This week's questions: Does it ever make sense to withdraw early from a 401k to pay down debt? What investing fees should we watch out for? Is my target date fund OK, or should I expand my investments?
  • 1664: Retirement Planning for Small and Micro Business Owners

    31:45
    The average worker believes they need over $1 million to retire comfortably. How can small business owners secure this lofty financial goal for themselves and their employees with less stress? Guest Jean Smart is the founder and CEO of Penelope, a fintech company that is disrupting retirement solutions for small and micro businesses. Penelope (named after her daughter) was inspired by her personal experiences, as Jean is the daughter of Korean immigrant business owners who were not prepared for their own retirement.
  • 1663: First-Gen Finances and Overcoming Survivor’s Guilt with Jannese Torres

    34:39
    Jannese Torres is an award-winning Latina money expert. She became an accidental entrepreneur after a job loss inspired her to turn her food blog into a six-figure business. Throughout the years, her passion for entrepreneurship led her to notice a gap in the conversation around money. Her debut book, Financially Lit, offers culturally relevant and relatable personal finance advice to make you feel seen, heard and understood. Whether it’s the guilt you feel from being the first person to “make it” while members of your family are still struggling or the way financial trauma manifests itself in negative and limiting beliefs around money, Torres is here to guide you through it all. Check out Jannese's first interview on So Money.