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So Money with Farnoosh Torabi
Introducing The Montclair Pod: Farnoosh's Newest Show
Introducing Farnoosh's latest offering in the podcast universe: The Montclair Pod, a hyper local podcast centered on the news, culture and issues within Montclair, New Jersey.
In this episode, Farnoosh and co-hosts explore the local implications of President Donald Trump’s second term. With Montclair overwhelmingly voting for Kamala Harris, we examine the town’s political identity and how it contrasts with broader trends, including New Jersey’s rightward shift in the 2024 election.
The episode begins with voices from the community with a visit to Tierney’s Tavern on Inauguration Day. The hosts discuss the dynamics of political affiliation in a predominantly liberal town, including insights from Michael D. Byrne, Chairman of the Montclair Republican County Committee. Byrne sheds light on the challenges faced by local Republicans and the aspects of Trump’s leadership that resonate with his supporters.
The show also explores the ripple effects of Trump's policy proposals from immigration enforcement to the possible dismantling of the Department of Education. Guests, include Dr. Jackie Vimo, an Assistant Professor of Political Science and Law and Montclair State University and Montclair Board of Education member Jada Roman.
Finally, the episode spotlights Gabriela Tutalo, owner of the boutique Solano. She shares her concerns about tariffs on imported goods, offering a glimpse into the resilience and creativity of small business owners adapting to economic challenges.
**Subscribe, leave a review, and please share your thoughts by leaving a voicemail at MontclairPod.com. Follow on Instagram. Email us at Hello@MontclairPod.com**
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1789: How One Listener Quit Her Job, Built Wealth, and Helped Her Mom Invest
37:03|Guest Brittany Wilson started listening to So Money in 2020 when she realized she needed to take charge of her finances. She grew up with little financial literacy and took on high-interest student loans without knowing what she was signing up for. But once she made the decision to educate herself, everything changed.Since then, Brittany has increased her salary by $42,000, fully funded her emergency savings, diversified her investments, started a side business, and—perhaps most importantly—helped her mom open her very first Roth IRA. Last year, she took one of the biggest leaps of her life: quitting her job to run her career coaching business, Career Candor, full-time.In today’s conversation, we discuss Brittany’s financial transformation, how she navigated job loss and used it as a catalyst for entrepreneurship, and her top career coaching advice—including how AI is changing the hiring process. We also talk about the emotional side of money, the power of financial friendships, and why helping others—especially the women in our lives—can be one of the most rewarding financial moves we make.Register for Farnoosh's next Book to Brand workshop.Check out Farnoosh's new hyperlocal podcast The Montclair PodJoin the So Money Members Club.Download Farnoosh’s free investing blueprint.Hang out with Farnoosh on Instagram.1788: It's (Almost) My Birthday! Reflections on Turning 45
23:45|Farnoosh reflects on turning 45—what’s changing in her mindset around money, career, and personal growth, and the biggest financial lessons she's carrying into this next phase of life. From the mailbag, Farnoosh tackles two important listener questions—one from a 60-year-old attorney wondering how to catch up on retirement savings after prioritizing family caregiving, and another from a listener strategizing their Backdoor Roth IRA while juggling old 401(k accounts.Register for Farnoosh's next Book to Brand workshop.Check out Farnoosh's new hyperlocal podcast The Montclair PodJoin the So Money Members Club.Download Farnoosh’s free investing blueprint.Hang out with Farnoosh on Instagram.1787: The Best Ways to Overcome Emotional Money Blocks with Jessica Moorhouse
27:11|Today, we’re diving deep into the real barriers that prevent many of us from achieving financial freedom—and spoiler alert, it’s not just about the dollars and cents. My guest is Jessica Moorhouse, financial counselor, speaker, and now author of the highly-anticipated new book, Everything But Money: The Hidden Barriers Between You and Financial Freedom. In her work, Jessica uncovers how trauma, shame, and our earliest experiences with money shape the way we earn, save, and spend today.Whether it's that nagging sense of guilt when you earn more than your parents or the fear of spending because of a scarcity mindset, these hidden barriers can quietly hold us back for years. Jessica helps us understand where these money blocks come from, how they manifest in our adult lives, and—most importantly—how to start healing from them.1786: The Secret to Launching Big Ideas Faster and Better
33:52|What does it really take to launch a big idea—one that can change your career, business, or even the world? Is being a visionary enough, or is there a hidden formula for success? Guest Jen Kem says it's all about building the right "unicorn team." But here’s the twist: even if you’re a solopreneur or running a small business—like me—this book is still for you. Jen’s framework isn’t about having a massive team; it’s about understanding the roles and energies you bring to your work and how to fill in the gaps to achieve success faster and with less burnout.Jen is a brand strategist, entrepreneur, and author of Unicorn Team: The Nine Leadership Types You Need to Launch Your Big Ideas with Speed and Success. With a career working on iconic initiatives for companies like Microsoft, Coca-Cola, and Oracle, she’s now revealing how big ideas succeed—not just through visionaries, but through the right mix of leaders who execute and get results.We'll learn how to identify your own leadership type, how even a solo effort can become a "team" by leveraging the right resources, and hear the inspiring story of how a small team at Moderna outpaced industry giants to lead the charge on a life-saving vaccine.Register for Farnoosh's next Book to Brand workshop.Check out Farnoosh's new hyperlocal podcast The Montclair PodJoin the So Money Members Club.Download Farnoosh’s free investing blueprint.Hang out with Farnoosh on Instagram.1785: Ask Farnoosh: $100K in Student Loans. Help!
35:42|This week on Ask Farnoosh, a listener is grappling with over $100,000 in student loan debt. What is the best way to pay this off fast?We also hear from a longtime listener and how she managed to triple her income, pay down debt and save over $400,000 for retirement while listening to So Money.Check out Farnoosh's new hyperlocal podcast The Montclair PodJoin the So Money Members Club.Download Farnoosh’s free investing blueprint.Hang out with Farnoosh on Instagram.1784: How to Travel the World on $75 a Day
23:55|If you're dreaming of your next adventure but worried about the price tag, you've come to the right place! All this week on the podcast, we're diving deep into travel tips, tricks, and money-saving strategies. Earlier, we heard from Brian Kelly, founder of The Points Guy, on how to maximize travel rewards and cut costs on flights and hotels.Today, we're keeping the momentum going with another expert traveler, Matthew Kepnes, aka Nomadic Matt. His New York Times bestselling book, How to Travel the World on $75 a Day, is now in its fourth edition. We talk about everything from affordable travel destinations and hidden local gems to travel logistics, like minimizing ATM and credit card fees abroad.Check out Farnoosh's new hyperlocal podcast The Montclair PodJoin the So Money Members Club.Download Farnoosh’s free investing blueprint.Hang out with Farnoosh on Instagram.1783: How to Travel Better, Smarter, and Cheaper with The Platinum Age of Travel
28:39|Today, we're diving into the world of travel and points with none other than Brian Kelly, a long-time friend of the show and the founder of The Points Guy. Brian is here to talk about his new book, How to Win at Travel, a guide that helps you unlock all the secrets to mastering the points game, maximizing travel perks, and scoring luxury experiences without luxury price tags. We'll cover:Why Brian calls this era the "platinum age of travel" and how to take full advantage of it.The biggest mistakes travelers make with airline and hotel bookings—and how to avoid them.How to leverage rewards credit cards strategically to score free business-class trips to Europe.The top tech tools to help you find the best award flights and travel deals with minimal effort.Insider tips on travel insurance, packing, and even why you should throw an Apple AirTag into your luggage!Check out Farnoosh's new hyperlocal podcast The Montclair PodJoin the So Money Members Club.Download Farnoosh’s free investing blueprint.Hang out with Farnoosh on Instagram.1782: Ask Farnoosh: Midlife Investing Goals, Inheritance Strategies, and More
27:38|In this Ask Farnoosh episode, Farnoosh tackles your most pressing money questions, including strategies for managing investments in midlife. Also: How to decide what to do with an inherited investment—evaluate options, minimize taxes, and make the most of the windfall. Plus, we explore other listener questions on building financial security for the long haul.In the show:Best 0% APR credit cardsFarnoosh's Bloomberg News segmentReal estate crowdfundingCheck out Farnoosh's new hyperlocal podcast The Montclair PodJoin the So Money Members Club.Download Farnoosh’s free investing blueprint.Hang out with Farnoosh on Instagram.1781: How to AI-Proof Your Job Before It’s Too Late
38:28|A new survey sponsored by Hult International Business School finds that a growing number of employers say they’d prefer to automate entry-level jobs rather than hire a recent college graduate. AI is changing the job market faster than any of us imagined—reshaping not just who gets hired, but whether certain jobs even exist in the future.My guest today is Dan Schawbel, a New York Times bestselling author, workplace expert, and managing partner at Workplace Intelligence. Dan has been tracking workplace trends for over a decade, advising companies on the future of work, and in his latest research, the results are terrifying. Not only are companies rethinking the value of a college degree, but some are outright saying they'd rather hire ChatGPT.So what does this mean for workers? Which jobs are actually safe from automation? And if you’re in college right now—or raising kids who might be one day—how do you ensure your education actually pays off?Check out Farnoosh's new hyperlocal podcast The Montclair PodJoin the So Money Members Club.Download Farnoosh’s free investing blueprint.Hang out with Farnoosh on Instagram.