HerMoney with Jean Chatzky

Latest Episodes:

Ep 505: From Financially In the Dark to Fully In Control: Jen Hatmaker’s Wake-Up Call Dec 10, 2025

Show notes

When bestselling author and podcast host Jen Hatmaker’s 26-year marriage imploded, she realized something shocking: even though she was the breadwinner, she had no idea how much money she made… or how to access it.

In this deeply honest and empowering conversation, Jen sits down with Jean Chatzky to discuss her financial “wake-up” — how she went from completely disconnected to financially independent after divorce. Together, they unpack how faith, purity culture, and traditional gender roles shaped her relationship with money, and how she ultimately took back control.

What You’ll Hear In This Episode:

Why she went to an attorney, not a therapist, after finding out about her husband’s affair
The cultural and religious beliefs that kept her from managing her money
Jen’s 90-day crash course to financial independence (and the exact checklist she followed)
How friendships and solo travel helped her heal emotionally and financially
Her evolving relationship with spirituality after stepping away from church
Jen’s advice for women who feel they’re “late” to their own financial lives

Resources & Links:

Jen Hatmaker’s memoir: AWAKE
Jen’s podcast: For The Love
Follow Jen on Instagram
More financial tips and support: HerMoney.com

If you enjoyed this episode, please leave us a review on Apple Podcasts and share it with a friend who needs to hear it. Subscribe for more stories of reinvention, resilience, and taking control of your financial future.

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A Week In Her Wallet: A 47-year-old who hasn’t paid credit card interest in 20 years Dec 05, 2025

Show notes

This week on A Week In Her Wallet, we meet Megan, a 47-year-old office manager living on Long Island with her husband. Together they earn around $200,000, but keep most of their spending separate — and it works.

Megan hasn’t paid a cent in credit card interest in over two decades and recently spent just $400 in a week, all while training for her fifth marathon.

Tune in as she shares:

Why she keeps her money separate from her spouse, and how they make it work
The real costs of marathon training
How she budgeted for a trip to Barcelona without touching savings
Her unique take on tipping, impulse buying, and personal finance independence

🎯 Ready to understand your own money style? Take our MoneyType™ quiz

💡 Want to build better habits? Join our InvestingFixx club.

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Patreon PREVIEW: "Can You Rebuild Your Retirement at 68?" Dec 04, 2025

Show notes

Today on the HerMoney Podcast, we're bringing you something special — an exclusive preview of one of our brand-new Patreon-only AMA episodes. In this series, Jean sits down one-on-one with real listeners to talk through their biggest financial questions in real time.

In this episode, you’ll meet Donna, a 68-year-old listener who is rebuilding her financial life from scratch after the end of a 30-year marriage, years out of the workforce, and time spent navigating disability. Now she’s back at work full-time — earning nearly double what she made before — and she’s trying to figure out how to use this new income to build the retirement she wants.

Jean and Donna talk through:

What it feels like to step back into the workforce at 68
How to choose between Roth and traditional contributions
How to invest when you feel “behind” on retirement
What to do when advisors tell you your portfolio is “too small.”
And how to finally create a plan after years of trying

You’ll hear the first half of their conversation here. To listen to the full episode — plus all of our new bonus content — join us on Patreon.

👉 https://www.patreon.com/cw/HerMoneyPodcast

As a Patreon member, you’ll get:

1–2 exclusive bonus episodes every month
AMA call-in mailbags with Jean
A lively private chat with the HerMoney community
Ad-free listening across the entire feed
Early access to submit your money questions
Access to a special live event we’re hosting in the new year

If you love having more HerMoney in your week, we’d love to have you join us.

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Ep 504: Is College a Smart Investment Anymore? Let’s Talk Numbers Dec 03, 2025

Show notes

For decades, college was considered the ultimate launching pad—your ticket to a good job, a stable life, and financial freedom. But today, that path feels a whole lot blurrier.

In this episode, Jean sits down with leading financial expert Ric Edelman, whose new book The Truth About College pulls back the curtain on what higher education really delivers—and where it falls short.

Together, they dive into:

When college still makes financial sense—and when it really doesn’t
How families can make smarter decisions together
Why trade schools, gap years, and community college deserve a second look
The emotional toll of student debt (and what parents often miss)
How adults can tap into lifelong learning without breaking the bank

More from HerMoney:

💸 Want to join our investing club or try our coaching program? [https://hermoney.com/fixx/]
📰 Get our free weekly newsletter: [https://hermoney.com/subscribe/]

✨If this episode helped you see things in a new way, leave us a 5-star review on Apple Podcasts.

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Your Money Map Replay: How Julie Wainwright Rebuilt Her Life, Emptied Her 401(k), and Created The RealReal Nov 28, 2025

Show notes

In this powerful and inspiring episode of Your Money Map, Jean Chatzky sits down with entrepreneur and author Julie Wainwright, founder of The RealReal, to talk about failure, reinvention, and why it’s never too late to bet on yourself.

She shares candid stories from her new book, Time to Get Real: How I Built a Billion Dollar Business that Rocked the Fashion Industry, and the hard-won lessons she learned about leadership, raising capital as a woman over 50, and taking calculated risks — including the moment she emptied her 401(k) to fund her vision.

Topics We Cover:

How Julie rebuilt her career after Pets.com
The surprising advantages of launching a business later in life
Facing ageism and gender bias in venture capital
Why she bet her retirement savings on herself
The messy truths behind entrepreneurship
Advice for women starting over at any age

👉 Resources & Links:

🔗 Learn more about retirement income at ProtectedIncome.org

🔗 Sign up for free retirement advice & news delivered straight to your inbox: protectedincome.org/subscribe

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Ep 503: What Every Freelancer Gets Wrong About Money (And How to Fix It) Nov 26, 2025

Show notes

Thinking about ditching the 9-to-5? Already navigating the ups and downs of freelance work? This episode is your financial playbook for thriving as your own boss. Jean Chatzky sits down with money coach and longtime freelancer Emily Guy Birken to unpack everything from budgeting on irregular income to choosing the right retirement accounts.

Emily shares her personal percentage-based money system, explains why separate bank accounts are non-negotiable, and reveals the must-have clauses for every freelance contract. Whether you're freelancing full-time or hustling on the side, these tips will help you get paid, save smart, and sleep better.

In This Episode:

How to build a baseline budget as a freelancer
A smart, percentage-based system for managing income
The pros and cons of solo 401(k)s vs. SEP IRAs
How to structure your business
Why contracts are your best friend in freelance work
How to stay emotionally grounded in unpredictable times

Resources & Links:

📚 Emily’s book: Stacked: Your Super Serious Guide to Modern Money Management

🔗 More financial tips for freelancers at HerMoney.com

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“Who pays the medical bills after someone dies?” and other financial caregiving questions Nov 21, 2025

Show notes

In this Mailbag, Jean is joined by financial planner and author of My Mother's Money, Beth Pinsker, to answer your real-life questions about caregiving, estate planning, and financial decision-making for aging parents. Whether you’re currently managing someone else’s money or prepping your own, this episode is packed with compassionate, practical advice to help you protect your finances and your peace of mind.

Mailbag Questions:

1:05: “Should we loan money to a parent for home repairs?”

7:15 “Who pays the medical bills after someone dies?”

13:05: “How do I put my RMDs to work in the market?”

Have a question for us? Write to us (or send us a voice note!) at mailbag@hermoney.com. While you’re at it, join the HerMoney community! For the latest episode drops and financial news-you-can-use, subscribe to our newsletter atHermoney.com/subscribe!

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Ep 502: Financial Caregiving 101: What You Need To Know Before You or Your Parent Gets Sick Nov 19, 2025

Show notes

When you're suddenly put in charge of an aging parent’s finances, the emotional toll is heavy, and the financial fallout can be even heavier. In this episode, Jean Chatzky is joined by certified financial planner and MarketWatch columnist Beth Pinsker, author of My Mother’s Money: A Guide to Financial Caregiving.

Together, they unpack Beth’s personal journey of managing her mother’s finances through illness, surgery, and estate settlement. Even with decades of experience writing about money, Beth found herself caught off-guard by just how complicated — and expensive — caregiving can be without the right documents and conversations in place.

What You’ll Learn:

The most overlooked (and affordable) legal documents everyone needs
The difference between joint accounts, POA, and transfer-on-death
How to prep for financial caregiving before a medical emergency
The unexpected costs of not planning ahead — and how to avoid them
How to be “the person who gets called” in a crisis — and what to ask in advance

💡 P.S. Need help getting your own financial life in order before you take on someone else’s? Check out our FinanceFixx program, our signature coaching experience that helps you get organized, take control of your spending, and build a plan that actually works.

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A Week In Her Wallet: What It Really Costs To Travel Full-Time For Work On A $150K Salary Nov 14, 2025

Show notes

This week on A Week In Her Wallet, we head to Atlanta to follow Kristen, a 40-something clinical researcher who earns about $150K a year and travels nearly full-time for work.

She walks us through a week of thoughtful spending, including a $1,300 mortgage payment, $500 toward her HELOC, a $150 yard sale win (promptly spent on music festival tickets), and the small joys that keep her grounded when she’s on the road so much.

💬 In this episode:

Why she bought a home on her own at 30
How she’s navigating a HELOC payoff
The hidden costs of business travel (and the perks)
Her favorite splurges and values-based spending
What she’s learned from tracking her money for one week

Want to better understand your financial mindset? Take our MoneyType quiz to learn how your personality influences your spending.

And if you’re ready to get serious about your budget, check out our FinanceFixx program — real coaching, real results.

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Ep 501: Why AI Won’t Get You Hired — But Your Network Will with LinkedIn’s Catherine Fisher Nov 12, 2025

Show notes

The world of work is changing fast. AI is reshaping how we do our jobs, learn new skills, and even how we write our resumes and cover letters. But the most trusted source of career advice isn’t AI. It’s people.

In this week’s episode, Jean sits down with LinkedIn Career Expert Catherine Fisher to talk about why networking is still the ultimate career superpower. Catherine shares why it’s less about jobs disappearing and more about tasks evolving, what skills are becoming even more valuable now, and how women can use their networks to stay confident, connected, and ahead of the curve.

We’ll cover:

How to approach AI with curiosity and use it to your advantage
Simple ways to keep your professional relationships alive (even when you’re busy)
How to make networking feel authentic instead of awkward or transactional
The top three profile changes to help you stand out on LinkedIn today

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