So Money with Farnoosh Torabi

Tiffany Aliche—also known as The Budgetnista—has spent over 15 years helping millions of women take control of their money, rebuild after financial setbacks, and create lasting wealth. She’s the founder of the Live Richer Movement, a New York Times bestselling author, and one of the most trusted voices in personal finance—because she doesn’t just teach the theory… she’s lived the comeback.Her book, Get Good With Money, now out in paperback, is a roadmap to what she calls financial wholeness—mastering the ten essential areas of your financial life, from budgeting and saving to investing and estate planning.But in this conversation, we go deeper—and more current.We talk about:Why this economic moment feels different—even for high earnersWhat Tiffany learned from losing everything during the last recession—and how it shaped her approach today The five foundational pillars everyone needs to revisit right now: budgeting, saving, debt, credit, and income Why “the math isn’t mathing” for so many households—and what to do when cutting back isn’t enough Creative, real-world ways to boost income (from renting assets to leveraging skills you already have) And how to manage financial anxiety in a world that feels increasingly uncertain

It’s spring break, and while I’m taking a little time offline with family, I didn’t want to leave you hanging. In this episode of Ask Farnoosh, we’re revisiting some listener questions from earlier this year—straight from the January mailbag—but don’t worry, these topics are just as timely and relevant today.We’re covering:How to navigate student loans—especially when family is involvedWhat to do with extra cash once you’ve paid off debtHow to approach investing when the market (and headlines) feel uncertainSpecial Announcement:Registration is now open for Book to Brand, my immersive, in-person event happening October 9 in New York City. Join top publishers, agents, and authors to learn how to build a platform that gets attention—and results. 👉 Early bird tickets are available now at booktobrand.co

Guest Sahirenys Pierce is a financial educator, speaker, and the creator of The High Five Banking Method—a simple but powerful framework that helps people organize their money with purpose, reduce financial stress, and actually follow through on their goals.In this episode, we talk about:How financial trauma shapes our decisions (often without us realizing it)Why traditional budgeting fails so many peopleThe five-account system that can simplify your entire financial lifeAnd how to create stability—even when the economy feels anything but stableWe also get into her personal story—from losing her childhood home… to becoming the financial voice she wished her family had back then.

What if the biggest threat to your career… isn’t losing your job—but becoming irrelevant before you even get one?Right now, we’re watching something seismic unfold in the workforce. College grads are struggling to land entry-level roles. Companies are hiring more cautiously—or not at all. And quietly, in the background, AI is beginning to reshape not just which jobs exist… but whether entire career paths survive.In fact, a recent survey of 5,000 unemployed Americans found that only 15% would choose a four-year college again knowing what they know now. That’s not just a statistic. That’s a warning.Today, we’re bringing on someone who is not just observing this shift—but actively building solutions inside it. Chieh Huang, serial entrepreneur and co-founder of Pelgo, is working at the front lines of what he calls the “intersection” of AI and the job market—helping workers reskill, reposition, and stay in the game.In this conversation, we unpack:Why entry-level jobs are quietly disappearingThe surprising roles AI is actually creatingWhat employers are really thinking right now about hiringWhy your ability to learn quickly may matter more than your degreeAnd how to use AI—not avoid it—to stay competitive

In this Ask Farnoosh Friday, we’re tackling one of the biggest questions right now: how do you stay financially steady when everything feels uncertain?Joining me is returning guest and trusted voice in personal finance, Georgia Lee Hussey, CFP and founder of Modernist Financial. [Grab her free financial toolkit] Together, we unpack the emotional and practical realities of this moment—from market volatility and recession fears to tax season surprises and the rapidly evolving role of AI in our careers.We start with the money anxiety so many of you are feeling right now. What’s really driving the fear around the markets? And how do you respond without sabotaging your long-term plan? Georgia shares how she coaches clients through uncertainty—and why downturns may actually be opportunities, especially if you’re still in your earning years.Then, we dig into tax refunds. If yours is bigger this year, Georgia explains why it may not be the “win” it seems—and how to think more intentionally about what to do with that money.We also explore the future of work in an AI-driven world—including why skills rooted in the humanities, creativity, and critical thinking may become even more valuable, not less.And finally, we zoom out to what matters most: how to stay grounded, make thoughtful decisions, and build financial resilience in a world that can feel anything but stable.In this episode, we discuss:How to manage market anxiety and avoid emotional investingWhy downturns can benefit long-term investorsWhat your tax refund is really telling youThe hidden costs behind recent tax policy changesHow AI is reshaping jobs—and where new opportunities lieWhy creativity, writing, and empathy are becoming power skillsSmart ways to prepare financially for uncertainty

Brooke Taylor is a former Google executive turned researcher and coach who has spent years studying a phenomenon called the success wound —interviewing more than 5,000 women to understand why so many accomplished, capable people still feel like it’s never enough.Her new book, Healing the Success Wound: Align Your Ambition, Find Lasting Career Fulfillment, and End the Cycle of Never Enough, puts language—and solutions—to something I think so many of us have felt but couldn’t quite articulate.In our conversation, we unpackWhat the “success wound” really is…Why achievement can become a stand-in for self-worth…The five archetypes of high achievers who struggle with fulfillment…And how all of this shows up not just in our careers, but in our finances, our relationships, and even how we parent.We also talk about Brooke’s own turning point—what she calls her “spiritual awakening breakdown”—and how it led her to rethink everything she thought she knew about work, ambition, and identity.

What would you do if caring for a parent meant putting your own financial future—and your kids’—on hold?That’s not a hypothetical. It’s the reality facing millions of Americans right now, including Senator Andy Kim—a father of two, a son navigating his own father’s Alzheimer’s diagnosis, and now, one of the leading voices in Washington pushing for change.Today’s episode is a deeply personal and urgent conversation about the true cost of caregiving in America—financially, emotionally, and systemically.This interview is also a special crossover with The Montclair Pod, my local news podcast, where I co-host alongside Michael Schreiber—who you’ll hear in this conversation as well. Together, we sat down with Senator Kim to talk not just about policy, but about what happens when aging, illness, and money collide inside your own family.Before serving in the Senate, Andy Kim worked in national security and diplomacy, and today he represents nearly 10 million New Jersey residents. But in this conversation, what stands out most isn’t his title—it’s his story.He opens up about his father’s battle with Alzheimer’s, the impossible trade-offs of being in the sandwich generation, and how quickly a family’s financial plan can unravel in the face of long-term care costs.We talk about why so many families are blindsided, what Medicare does—and doesn’t—cover, why long-term care insurance is falling short, and what changes may be coming.

Register for Farnoosh's free webinar on How to Get a Book Deal.In this episode, Farnoosh opens with a candid reflection on media narratives around Iranian identity and addresses a recent editing glitch from a prior interview.From there, the conversation turns to a growing concern on many economists’ minds: Are we heading toward a recession in 2026?With oil prices climbing past $100 per barrel and historical data linking energy shocks to economic downturns, Farnoosh breaks down what this could mean for your money—and how to prepare with what she calls a mindset of “healthy panic.”The episode also dives deep into the rising costs of long-term care, why traditional insurance options are becoming less accessible, and what newer hybrid solutions could offer families trying to plan ahead.Plus, a powerful excerpt from Senator Andy Kim, who shares his personal connection to elder care through his father’s Alzheimer’s diagnosis.Finally, Farnoosh answers listener questions about:Supporting aging parents while still saving for your own futureNavigating financial misalignment in relationships when one partner is giving more to family

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 Breaking Good, Nikki shares the raw, unfiltered story of addiction, survival, incarceration—and ultimately, rebuilding her life from nothing. We talk about how she rose through the ranks of a drug operation, why she chose loyalty over leniency when she was caught, and the moment that changed everything: discovering she was pregnant and deciding to start over.This is a conversation about second chances, financial survival, and what it really takes to rebuild—not just your bank account, but your sense of self.