So Money with Farnoosh Torabi

Lynnette Khalfani-Cox, New York Times bestselling author and money coach who helped millions navigate debt and credit. She discusses the Bounce Back framework and the “D” challenges like debt and divorce. She explores how policy and banks create barriers, why wellbeing matters before tactics, and practical paths to save while paying down debt.

In this Friday the 13th edition of So Money, Farnoosh reflects on turning 46 and shares the financial truths that have shaped her life—from why money really buys options, to the systemic realities behind debt and financial setbacks. She also unpacks the latest housing and stock-market headlines and answers listener questions on negotiating credit cards, navigating finances with a partner, and transitioning to separate accounts in marriage. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Dr. Emily Garbinski, a Cornell Johnson School business professor who studies how couples make financial decisions. She talks about how to start money conversations with financial date nights and scheduling. The discussion covers pooling versus separate accounts, how income differences and gender norms shape cost splitting, and when shared money can feel controlling.

Andy Hill, family finance coach and author of Own Your Time, helps families use money to buy freedom, choice, and more time with loved ones. He shares his shift from high income and negative net worth to a deliberate, part-time life. Topics include coast FIRE, a three-day workweek, financial steps to reclaim your calendar, negotiating less work, and teaching kids money as freedom.

They break down recent market turmoil, including Bitcoin's crash and job market cooling. They stress why an emergency fund matters right now. They discuss saving for mid-term goals and how entrepreneurs should diversify beyond their businesses. They cover prepping financially and creating time flexibility before starting a family. They share practical, non-permanent first-home buying advice and tips for knowing your why and numbers before you search.

Siri Chalazi, a Harvard researcher focused on gender equity and workplace decision-making. She explains how unfairness is built into systems rather than just people. Short, evidence-based tweaks to hiring, meetings, pay transparency, and evaluations can shift outcomes. Practical ideas for running pilots, counting results, and designing fairer processes are highlighted.

Ruchika Malhotra, author and inclusion expert behind Uncompete, asks us to rethink competition and its systemic roots. She explores how scarcity thinking shapes careers, especially for women, and how leaders can foster collaboration and psychological safety. Short, provocative conversations about redefining success, managing comparison, and choosing when to compete.

Georgia Lee Hussey, founder and CEO of Modernist Financial who helps high-net-worth clients align wealth with progressive values. They unpack the Big Beautiful Bill and who stands to gain. They discuss tradeoffs like cuts to social programs, practical tax-planning questions to ask now, and donation strategies to align money with values.

January always asks big questions of our money—and this one felt especially heavy. In this solo episode, Farnoosh takes a step back to reflect on what the first month of the year has revealed about our finances, our fears, and our priorities. From midlife money check-ins to the idea of “financial coasting,” this conversation is about being honest about where you are—not where you think you should be—and redefining progress as stability, maintenance, and intention.Farnoosh revisits standout moments from January’s most impactful conversations, including a full-circle interview with David Bach, whose Automatic Millionaire helped shape her own financial life, and a candid discussion with Jesse Mecham of You Need a Budget on why being “good at money” has far less to do with income and far more to do with clarity and calm. She also breaks down her recent conversation with college-planning expert Patricia Roberts on the true cost of college, the ROI question families are wrestling with, and how student debt can quietly shape a lifetime.The episode closes with a reflection on the emotional weight of the month and a call for accountability, drawing on recent remarks from Andrew Ross Sorkin about systems, responsibility, and leadership. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

College today can easily cost six figures — even at public universities — and yet so many families still feel completely in the dark about how to prepare for it without sacrificing their own financial future.My guest today knows this stress intimately.Patricia Roberts grew up in a low-income household and nearly didn’t attend college at all. A guidance counselor once suggested she stick with her waitressing job instead. But she pushed forward, working multiple jobs, sending money home, earning not just one degree, but eventually a law degree. That education changed her family’s life… but it also came with over $100,000 in student loan debt that took two decades to repay.That lived experience is what fuels Patricia’s passion today. She’s spent more than 25 years working with 529 college savings plans — from helping launch some of the earliest plans at Citigroup to advising families and employers on how to use them smarter, earlier, and with far less fear.In this episode, we break down what 529 plans really are — and what they’re not. We tackle the biggest myths, from “What if my kid doesn’t go to college?” to “Will this hurt financial aid?” to “Is college even worth it anymore?” We also dig into major new changes that make 529s far more flexible than most people realize — including using them for trade schools, certifications, student loan repayment, K-12 expenses, and even rolling unused funds into a Roth IRA.More about Patricia: She is Chief Operating Officer of Gift of College, Inc., where she helps employers improve employees’ financial well-being by offering student loan repayment assistance and matching contributions to 529 college savings and ABLE (disability savings) accounts.Patricia is also the author of Route 529: A Parent’s Guide to Saving for College and Career Training with 529 Plans, a book she wrote with some extra time on her hands during the pandemic to help educate and inspire even more parents. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.