So Money with Farnoosh Torabi

Happy New Year! In this brand new episode, financial guru and NYT bestselling author David Bach returns to So Money to mark the 20th anniversary of The Automatic Millionaire, which has been expanded and updated, and to explain why its core message still holds up—even in today’s high-cost, AI-driven economy. Bach argues that we now live in an “automatic economy” that can quietly make us richer or poorer depending on how our money flows, and that paying yourself first through automation remains the most dependable path to financial security. Drawing on personal stories, market data, and lessons from living abroad in Italy, he reframes wealth as freedom, not just net worth, and makes a compelling case for starting small, investing consistently, and using money to build a life—not just a balance sheet. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

This episode aired originally on Sept 19, 2025.In this episode, Farnoosh opens with a personal story about a $5,000 fraud attempt on her business checking account—and what she learned about staying vigilant. She then breaks down today’s biggest money headlines: the Fed’s recent interest rate cut, why U.S. credit scores just saw their sharpest drop since 2008, shifts in the housing market, and why groceries and rent are still stubbornly high despite easing inflation elsewhere. Farnoosh also answers a wide range of listener questions from investing to estate planning. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

In this Best of So Money 2025 episode, we revisit standout conversations on new ways to build wealth and protect retirement. From crypto and private equity creeping into 401(k)s, to smarter “rules of thumb” for spending and career decisions, to how to speculate without blowing up your plan, these clips help you stay curious, diversified, and clear-eyed as money trends evolve.Featured Guest ExcerptsTess Waresmith (Episode 1876) – Crypto and alternative assets entering 401(k)s, what the legislation actually means, the risks and fees to watch for, and how much exposure is too muchNick Maggiulli (Episode 1856) – The Wealth Ladder, the 0.01% rule for smarter spending decisions, and how to evaluate career and income opportunities as your net worth growsBarry Ritholtz (Episode 1840) – Investing humility, avoiding unforced errors, how to speculate without blowing up your portfolio, and adjusting risk as you approach retirementDr. Annie Cole (Episode 1829) – The rise of “micro-retirement,” how to take intentional breaks without sabotaging your finances, and planning time off in a tough job market Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

In this Best of So Money 2025 episode, we revisit some of the most powerful conversations about managing money through midlife — a stage where financial decisions collide with health changes, caregiving responsibilities, relationship transitions, and neurodiversity. From menopause and medical advocacy, to rebuilding after divorce, to rethinking money with ADHD, to caring for aging parents, these excerpts offer practical guidance and reassurance for navigating one of the most complex (and consequential) phases of our financial lives.Featured Guest ExcerptsTamsen Fadal (Episode 1799) – Menopause, medical blind spots, ageism in healthcare, and how women can better advocate for their health and financial well-being during midlifeElizabeth Cronise McLaughlin (Episode 1835) – Rebuilding financially after divorce, confronting money trauma, paying down debt, and modeling financial confidence for childrenNicole Stanley (Episode 1841) – ADHD and money, late diagnosis in midlife, why traditional budgeting often fails neurodivergent brains, and building systems rooted in compassion and dopamineBeth Pinsker (Episode 1874) – Financial caregiving for aging parents, the critical importance of power of attorney, and how to avoid costly legal and banking roadblocks Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Ask Farnoosh tackles three timeless money crossroads: getting out from under high-interest credit card debt, taking a career break without losing financial footing, and deciding whether an early retirement package is a smart (and safe) next move. Questions Include: How to manage credit card debt at 30% interest? Consolidation options, reputable nonprofit credit counseling, negotiating APR, and a realistic payoff plan Burnt out breadwinner considering a 6-month break? Exploring a “middle path” (sabbatical/reduced hours), runway math, and navigating the fear of financial dependence Take an early retirement package? Evaluating the offer, retirement readiness checks, when to consult a planner, and why buyouts can signal future layoffs Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

In this Best of So Money 2025 episode, we revisit the conversations that best captured how AI is reshaping our careers, how we learn, and how we protect our money. Workplace expert Dan Schawbel breaks down what employers really think about degrees in the age of automation, Pat Flynn shares a smarter way to build skills without overwhelm, cybersecurity founder Martha Underwood explains how AI is supercharging scams—and how to defend yourself right now. And last, Amanda Holden offers investing guidance amidst fears of an AI bubble bursting in 2026.Featured Guest ExcerptsDan Schawbel (Episode 1781) – The shifting ROI of college, the automation threat to entry-level work, and the skills employers say matter most nowPat Flynn (Episode 1838) – “Lean Learning,” the one-one-one strategy, and how to build confidence and clarity by serving one real person firstMartha Underwood (Episode 1883) – AI-powered fraud, voice cloning and spoofing, and practical steps to protect your identity (including family “safe words”)Amanda Holden (Episode 1915) – Investing in the age of AI hype, bubble anatomy, and what diversification really means when mega-cap tech dominates indexes Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

In this special Best of So Money 2025 episode, we revisit four of the year’s most powerful conversations at the intersection of money, feminism, and choice. From caregiving and career pauses to beauty standards, ambition, and the myth of “having it all,” these excerpts explore how women navigate systems that shape our financial lives—and how we reclaim power, agency, and options along the way.Featured Guest ExcerptsNeha Ruch (Episode 1774) – Reframing career pauses as The Power Pause and why caregiving chapters can be strategic, dignified, and financially intentionalKatie Gatti Tassin (Episode 1832) – The “Hot Girl Hamster Wheel,” the beauty tax, and how cultural pressure quietly drains women’s wealthAmina AlTai (Episode 1880) – The ambition penalty, broken systems at work, and how to shift from painful ambition to purposeful ambitionDr. Corinne Low (Episode 1919) – Rethinking “having it all,” using data to understand tradeoffs, timing, and women’s life satisfaction Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Join the So Money Members Club today and get your first two months FREE. Offer expires December 31.In this Ask Farnoosh episode, Farnoosh answers listener questions on the tax implications of receiving Bitcoin as a gift, including how cost basis and capital gains work when you sell, plus smart ways to negotiate benefits beyond salary at a small business, from retirement matches to bonuses and potential equity alternatives. She also offers guidance for PhDs entering a competitive job market, shares practical ways to invest in your health for long-term financial wellbeing, and explains when withdrawals from a whole life insurance policy may be taxable. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Dr. Corinne Low, a Wharton professor and author of 'Having it All', dives into the complexities of modern womanhood and the unequal distribution of household labor. She reveals why today’s women are more exhausted than ever, despite advancements in their careers. The discussion highlights how societal biases undervalue women’s time, advocating for outsourcing domestic tasks. Corinne also shares strategies for redefining partnerships and negotiating responsibilities to create more sustainable and equitable home dynamics.

What if doing everything “right” still left you broke, burned out, and quietly panicking about money?Today’s guest followed the script perfectly. Elite degree. Wall Street job. Big bonus. The kind of career that looks wildly successful from the outside. But behind the scenes, she was carrying nearly $100,000 in student loan debt, living paycheck to paycheck, and realizing that the life she worked so hard for wasn’t giving her freedom at all.That moment of reckoning became her financial awakening.My guest today is Rose Han, YouTuber, money educator, and author of the new book Add a Zero. Rose went from six figures of debt to building a seven-figure net worth, not by chasing flashy investments or overnight wins, but by radically rethinking her relationship with money, work, and freedom.In this conversation, Rose shares the mindset shifts that helped her escape debt, why income alone doesn’t equal wealth, how she built assets from scratch with almost no capital, and why even after “making it,” she chose to recalibrate her definition of enough.We also talk about rewriting the financial rules millennials inherited, betting on yourself in an uncertain economy, and how to build a life that feels rich — not just one that looks rich. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.