HerMoney with Jean Chatzky

Kortne, a Texas-based director of technology, marathoner and mom, tracked a week of spending to see how her values show up in cash. She talks meal prepping every meal, prioritizing fitness and preventive care, buying meaningful experiences like concerts and races, and juggling travel hacks with retirement and savings planning. Short, candid snapshots of choices and priorities.

Mike Michalowicz, entrepreneur and bestselling author known for practical business and money systems, shares candid stories about losing it all and rebuilding. He explains a simple Money Habit System and financial seasons to stop guessing with money. Short, actionable ideas on debt, spending confidently in retirement, and managing money together.

Liz Miller, CFP® and CFA, founder of Summit Place Financial and former CFP Board chair, simplifies complex investments. She explains private equity, private credit, and crypto in plain terms. Short talks cover fees and the “2 and 20” model, tax tradeoffs of holding crypto in retirement accounts, illiquidity risks, and how much crypto might fit in a diversified plan.

David Blanchett, retirement researcher at Prudential and lifetime income expert. Jason Fichtner, LIMRA Retirement Income Institute leader and former Social Security deputy. They discuss market anxiety near retirement. They explain protected income, when to delay Social Security, sequence-of-returns risk, bridge annuities, spending patterns in retirement, and how to stress-test a plan.

Renée Sylvestre-Williams, finance journalist and author of The Singles Tax, guides solo earners through money moves that matter. She breaks down where the singles tax hits hardest. She covers renting vs buying, insurance and emergency funds, tax-smart retirement moves, and how to build a financial team.

What does financial freedom really mean? Not just a healthy retirement account or a growing investment portfolio, but the ability to walk away from a situation that isn’t right. To say no. To have choices. In this episode, Jean sits down with writer and speaker Paulette Perhach, whose essay about building a “F*ck Off Fund” has resonated with women for nearly a decade. Together, they explore how financial independence evolves over a lifetime, from the early years of building an emergency cushion to the later years of protecting your retirement, your relationships, and your sense of agency. In this episode, we discuss: What a “F*ck Off Fund” really is,  and why it doesn’t have to be a huge number to change your life Why financial independence is about more than money The power of small boundaries and everyday decisions How to talk to daughters, nieces, and younger women about money  Why many women still feel financially fragile, even when they’re doing everything “right” How financial independence evolves as you approach retirement Resources Mentioned in This Episode Join InvestingFixx (HerMoney’s twice-monthly women’s investing club) Switch: How to Change Things When Change Is Hard  The Paradox of Choice Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Vivian Tu, money expert and author who helps people squeeze value from credit cards, walks through premium card fees, picking cards tied to your travel hub, and practical ways to spend points. She covers downgrading vs closing to protect credit and scripts for asking for lower rates. Short, actionable conversations about when a card stops earning its keep.

She’s back, and she brought her boldest advice yet. Vivian Tu, New York Times bestselling author and founder of Your Rich BFF, joins us to talk about her new book Well Endowed and why now is the time to rethink how you spend, save, and build the future you want. Vivian and Jean get real about what it means to be truly wealthy—not just financially, but emotionally and generationally. From burnout to budgeting to luxury trap purchases, this episode is your permission slip to stop spending for the wrong reasons and start aligning your money with what actually matters. What we’re diving into: The “values detox” every spender needs How to know if that splurge is really worth your time Why premium doesn’t always mean better (hello, MVP rule) What Vivian’s learned from the vibrant, retired women in her Miami building How to design a retirement that’s anything but tired Why estate planning is non-negotiable—even in your 30s Resources & Links: 💰 Order Well Endowed by Vivian Tu 🧠 Join the HerMoney InvestingFixx Club 📝 Subscribe to Vivian's Substack: enRICHed with Your Rich BFF 🎧 Listen to Vivian’s podcast: Networth and Chill Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

In this week’s episode of A Week In Her Wallet, we head to New Jersey to follow Prisca, a 35-year-old nurse and part-time money coach who tracks every dollar with intention. From $8 therapy copays to $25 dance classes that light up her world, Prisca shows us how structure and joy can coexist in personal finance. Prisca’s week is packed with practical tips, emotional insights, and small moments that reveal big truths. Whether it’s her mantra of "aiming for calm" or her strategy to save before she spends, this is a blueprint for budgeting with purpose. Resources: Join our investing club! Your first month is completely free. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

What do two financial pros with over 60 years of combined experience really wish they knew about money 30 years ago? In this very special crossover episode of HerMoney and The David Bach Show, Jean Chatzky sits down with longtime friend and bestselling author David Bach to share candid stories, big career lessons, and one bold new idea that could change retirement in America. Together, Jean and David trade their top financial insights, biggest regrets, and heartfelt advice for anyone navigating money, health, aging, and family in 2026. Resources: David’s Flat Tax Proposal The Automatic Millionaire (20th Anniversary Edition) HerMoney’s InvestingFixx Club Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices