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So Money with Farnoosh Torabi
2010: Ask Farnoosh: What Annoys Me Most About Money? (Plus: Disability Insurance and Long-Term Care 101)
On this week's Ask Farnoosh Friday, we're tackling five thoughtful listener questions that touch on everything from career transitions and combining finances as a couple to insurance, retirement accounts, and planning for the future.
Before we dive into the mailbag, I also share a few headlines that caught my attention this week—including a fascinating new trend in prenups designed to protect stay-at-home parents, California's latest move to make personal finance a graduation requirement, and a New York Times article about the money frustrations that seem uniquely American (plus a few of my own!). And yes...So Money is officially on YouTube.
- Why you shouldn't feel guilty quietly job hunting before you have an offer
- The best way to leave an employer professionally while protecting your own career
- How couples can combine finances without sacrificing independence
- Why "fair" doesn't always mean splitting expenses 50/50
- My favorite three-account system for couples
- The insurance policies every young professional should prioritize—and which ones can probably wait
- Why your ability to earn an income may be your greatest financial asset
- When to start thinking seriously about long-term care insurance
- How to prepare for future caregiving conversations with your parents
- What to do with an old, empty 401(k) account after your employer changes retirement providers
- Why cybersecurity deserves a place in every annual financial checkup
- A new prenup trend: More couples are adding "leave the workforce" clauses to protect spouses who pause their careers to raise children or provide care, recognizing the real financial cost of unpaid caregiving.
- Money annoyances in America: Inspired by a New York Times article from Ron Lieber and Tara Siegel Bernard, I share my own biggest financial pet peeves—from managing kids' allowance to credit card surcharges and New Jersey property taxes.
- Financial literacy gains momentum: California becomes the 26th state to require a standalone personal finance course for high school graduation, signaling a major shift in how we prepare young people for adulthood.
- So Money is now on YouTube
- Columbia Journalism Review's feature on The Montclair Pod
- Wall Street Journal reporting on caregiving clauses in prenups
- New York Times article: "6 Things That Drive Us Crazy About Money in America" by Ron Lieber and Tara Siegel Bernard
Send your question for a future Ask Farnoosh Friday! If it's on your mind, chances are thousands of other listeners are wondering the same thing. You can email me, leave a voicemail, or connect with me on Instagram.
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Learn more about Farnoosh's upcoming literary workshop Book to Brand. Early bird registration is now open!
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2011: Anthony O'Neal on Breaking Free from Debt and Building Real Wealth
34:42|Anthony O'Neal, had $6.32 to his name on a Wednesday night. He needed gas. He was hungry. He ended up cutting two McDonald's double cheeseburgers in half — that was his food for the next two days. He diluted his sweet tea with water to stretch it. And in that moment, eating a cold half-burger in his apartment, something shifted in him. He thought: there has to be a better way.Fast forward to his fortieth birthday. Anthony is on a private yacht off the coast of Italy. The chef comes out mid-dinner, not just to ask how the fish is — but to offer to catch that same fish again for him tomorrow. And Anthony thought back to that Wednesday night, that half-burger, that $6.32 — and he realized: he had found the better way.Anthony O'Neal is a bestselling author, speaker, and host of The Table with AO. His new book, Stop Living Paycheck to Paycheck: The Proven Path to Break Free from Debt, Build Real Wealth, and Live Free on Any Income, is out in August.
2009: The Midlife Money Reset with Lindsay Goldwert
39:27|Today's episode is for anyone who has ever stood in the vitamin aisle reading about the exact right creatine dosage for a woman "in this stage of life" and thought... okay but where's the aisle for my retirement savings?I'm right in the thick of this myself. Midlife money is basically all I want to talk about lately, because I think we are the forgotten demo. There's an entire industry telling us how to optimize our sleep, our supplements, our skin. But when it comes to actually managing our money at this stage, when the stakes are higher and the runway to retirement is shorter, the advice mostly dries up.So I'm thrilled to have Lindsay Goldwert here. She's the co-author, with Gabrielle Moss, of The Midlife Plot Twist, and she's spent a lot of time talking to women about the money moment we're in right now: the shame, the catching-up, the marriages where one partner has quietly been steering the ship, the total reinvention some of us are doing in our forties and fifties. Lindsay, welcome to So Money.
2008: Make Extraordinary Wealth with Ordinary Businesses
31:13|What if the secret to extraordinary wealth isn’t about betting on the next big thing, but buying something tried-and-true—like a plumbing business, a car wash, or a cleaning company? What if the future of entrepreneurship isn’t on Wall Street or in Silicon Valley, but on Main Street—if only we knew how to seize it?My guest today is Codie Sanchez, founder and CEO of Contrarian Thinking, a digital education platform and media company with over 6 million followersIn her new book, Main Street Millionaire: How to Make Extraordinary Wealth Buying Ordinary Businesses, Codie lays out her bold argument: that buying profitable, established, cash-flowing businesses is the most underrated path to building wealth—and that now is the time to act. Why? Because America is facing a generational handoff. Over 40 million Americans are hitting retirement age, and baby boomers—who currently own nearly two-thirds of small businesses with employees—are poised to sell. Codie calls it a “silver tsunami,” and for those who know how to navigate it, it could mean once-in-a-generation opportunity.In our conversation, Codie opens up about her own unlikely journey from journalism to Wall Street to Main Street. We talk about how she made the leap, the psychological hurdles to entrepreneurship, and how she thinks about power, relationships, and the future of work in an AI-driven world.This episode aired originally March 26, 2025
2007: Ask Farnoosh: Should I Open a Trump Account? Can My Parent Qualify for Medicaid?
35:47|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?
2006: Inside Financial Therapy: How to Heal Your Relationship with Money
42:21|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 Reuters, and held positions at CNBC, CNN and PBS, so she's spent decades translating money into plain English for millions of people. But today we're talking about a new chapter: Bobbi just became a Certified Financial Therapist — a credential that sits at the intersection of money and mindset, and one she worked hard for, the long way, no shortcuts. We're going to dig into why she pursued it, what financial therapy actually is, and how understanding our money psychology — from childhood money memories to the algorithms shaping our spending — can change how we feel about our financial choices, even the ones we didn't fully choose.Follow Bobbi on Substack.
2005: Own Your Time, Choices and. Happiness (Actually) with Andy Hill, Founder of Marriage, Kids and Money
40:44|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, videos, and writing. His new book, Own Your Time, challenges a deeply held belief in personal finance: that wealth alone will solve our problems. Instead, Andy argues that true financial success is about using money intentionally to design a life filled with freedom, family connection, and choice.In this conversation, we explore Andy’s own journey—from a six-figure household income and negative net worth to a life where he and his wife now work part-time by design. We talk about the concept of “coast financial independence,” the surprising middle ground between burnout and early retirement, and the practical financial steps families can take—at any stage—to reclaim their calendars and their priorities.We’ll also get into the emotional side of money and time: how couples navigate unequal incomes, why optionality matters more than status, and how to raise kids who understand wealth not just as dollars, but as freedom and generosity.This episode aired originally on Feb 9, 2026.
2004: How Much Should We Pay For College? (Encore)
36:05|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 investments disappeared from her bank’s website. What happened?
2003: Investing in Your Tween: Navigating Phones, Friendships and Big Feelings
45:51|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 critical—and misunderstood—season of parenting.Together they explore:Why ages 10–13 are a pivotal window for building lifelong trustHow to respond to bullying, friendship drama, and emotional outburstsThe words every middle schooler needs to hear from their parentsHow to repair after conflict instead of striving for perfectionNavigating phones, social media, and the pressure to fit inTeaching kids about money, expensive wants, allowances, and delayed gratificationWhy emotional presence may be the greatest investment parents can makeWhether you're raising a tween now or your child is heading toward middle school, this conversation offers practical tools, reassuring perspective, and a powerful reminder that your relationship—not your perfection—is what matters most.More about Bridget: Bridget KerMorris is a nationally recognized middle school parenting expert, relational therapist, and creator of Steady + Connected Parenting™. She is also the host of the new podcast, Middle Years with Bridget KerMorris.