HerMoney with Jean Chatzky

How long has it been since you applied to college? These days it seems every school wants something different, but the process doesn’t have to be anxiety-inducing, say this week’s guests, Eric J. Furda and Jacques Steinberg, authors of “The College Conversation.” The pair offer up a step-by-step guide to having some tough conversations, assessing the schools best suited to your child’s interests, getting financial aid, and making the final decision on a school. In Mailbag, we tackle alternatives to college savings accounts, the best financial books for women, and securing a financial planner. In Thrive, how to capitalize on the gold rush.  Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

What are some of the ugly truths that keep women of color from having a seat at the table in corporate America? Minda Harts, author of “The Memo: What Women Of Color Need To Know To Secure A Seat At The Table,” joins us to discuss. Minda weighs in on microaggressions, what corporate America is doing wrong (and right) when it comes to advancing women of color, and what all women can do to secure a seat at the table in a remote work world. In Mailbag, we discuss long term care policies, how to recover $2,000 from a former financial advisor, and where to invest and give back at the same time. In Thrive, the four financial gaps that impact women when it comes to Social Security. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Financial success doesn’t come overnight, but it can come if we learn to retrain our brains to achieve our most important money goals. We chat with Barbara Huson, author of “Rewire For Wealth,” about how we can step into the driver’s seat of our money and our careers. Barbara discusses the differences between men and women in how we approach our financial lives, and how we can move past our fears. In Mailbag, we talk about saving for retirement, putting kids through college, and claiming your ex-husband’s Social Security benefits. In Thrive, Jean weighs in on the most essential skills you’re building while working from home. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

When’s the last time you got a bargain? This week, we’re talking about negotiating BIG purchases, like houses and cars, with Tonya Rapley, founder and CEO of MyFabFinance.com. Tonya worked as a car salesperson, and just purchased her first home along with her first company. We talk negotiation skills, dealer discounts, no-haggle lots, and the best times of the month (and day!) to pull the trigger on a new ride. In Mailbag, we talk about target date funds, buying a home after living small, and whether it’s possible to hit a $1M savings goal. In Thrive, what to do if your company is reopening, but you’re just not comfortable going back into the office. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

So many of us are struggling right now, and we're tackling listener questions on job loss. We hear from a listener who is unsure which source of income to tap if her job search takes longer than she'd like. We also hear from a woman who is debating a balance transfer and a 401(k) loan in order to manage her credit card debt situation. We also guide a couple debating taking money from their 401(k)s in order to pay off their house, and we advise a woman who is worried about being able to retire as planned. If you've suffered a job loss, the whole HerMoney team is rooting for you. Got a question for us? Email us at mailbag@hermoney.com.  Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Ree Drummond, best known as “The Pioneer Woman,” is one of the most loved chefs in America, and this week she sits down with us to talk about her favorite recipes, cooking for any budget, kitchen mishaps, her most-used gadgets, and how she stays organized. In Mailbag, saving for retirement in an IRA, market volatility, and the best places to save money. In Thrive, our biggest money regrets and how to avoid them.  Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

We’ve entered into a new era of workplace communication, one in which we must offer empathy and transparency, and convey urgency and excitement, all without handshakes, lunches, or happy hours. Behavioral scientist Lindsay Kohler breaks down how to keep your productivity up, improve your communication skills, set boundaries, and challenge your own biases while working remotely. In Mailbag, we tackle refinancing a child’s student loan, a backdoor Roth conversion, IRA contributions, and whether $10,000 is best put towards paying off loans or investing in the stock market. Lastly, in Thrive, how Neflix can improve your credit score. (No, really!) Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

When invested the right way, your money can impact change while also earning big returns. We break down what it means to put your money where your mouth is, with Fidelity Investments’ Eliza Badeau and Nicole Connolly. Bigger ESG funds are up 10% year over year, far outperforming the DOW and the S&P 500. Eliza and Nicole dive into how we can get involved today. Eliza breaks down how Fidelity is addressing the inequalities that different underrepresented communities face, and how the social changes that we’re going through as a nation are impacting the investing landscape, particularly for Millennial investors. In Mailbag, we tackle questions on investing vs. paying down a mortgage, transferring a 529 plan to a different state, doing a ROTH IRA conversion, and getting a prenup. In Thrive, how to do a mid-year financial check-up.  Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

What role does luck play in life? How does luck relate to fate, and how does all of this tie back into what we can and can’t control? We’re discussing it all this week with Maria Konnikova, author of “The Biggest Bluff.” She talks about what good investors have in common, and the truth behind the “illusion of control.”  We discuss emotions, and why they’re so critical to our decision-making process, and we get a crash course on how to bluff — and how to know when we’re being bluffed. In Mailbag, we talk aging parents, target date funds, and caring for a significant other financially. In Thrive, should you take a gap year if your college is closed this fall?  Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

In this episode, we dive into all your questions on investing in an IRA vs. a money market fund, what to do with your stocks during times of market volatility, and whether you can open a 529 for a child who hasn’t yet been born. We also tackle a question on planning for the financial needs of an autistic older brother, and a question on balancing retirement contributions amidst mortgage refinancing and HELOCs. Got a question for us? Email us at mailbag@hermoney.com.  Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices