So Money with Farnoosh Torabi

Latest Episodes:

2018: When Paying for Our Values Gets Complicated Aug 05, 2026

Show notes

We talk a big game about taxes, until the bill actually shows up in our inbox. This week I'm digging into a question that's been nagging at me ever since Montclair, one of the most progressive towns in New Jersey, split down the middle over a special election to cover a $20 million school budget deficit. It wasn't that people stopped believing in public schools. It was more like, prove to me this actually fixes anything.

That flinch, the gap between what we say we believe and what we're willing to pay for, is exactly what financial planner Georgia Lee Hussey has been sitting with. Georgia is the founder of Modernist Financial, and she's noticed something uncomfortable happening even in deeply progressive circles: a growing resistance to taxes, alongside language that sounds a lot like the anti-government scripts used by anti-democratic movements.

We get into:

The Portland preschool tax story that started Georgia down this rabbit hole
Why there's such a gap between "I support this policy" and "I resent paying for it"
Whether this is really about money, or about trust, especially with trust in government sitting at a historic low
What "paying" can look like beyond a check: time, civic skills, citizen journalism, showing up
The line between healthy skepticism of government spending and something more corrosive
What Georgia saw in Vienna, where a huge share of residents live in subsidized housing, and what (if anything) that model could teach an American system built on individual tradeoffs
Her advice for a median-income family when no amount of smart financial planning can solve housing, elder care, or college costs on its own

How's midlife going? Fill out Farnoosh's survey and help shape the podcast in 2027.

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2017: The One Question That Can Change Your Financial Life Aug 03, 2026

Show notes

Jesse Mecham, founder of YNAB (You Need A Budget), returns to So Money to discuss his new book, Never Worry About Money Again, a thoughtful guide to reducing financial stress by changing the way we think about money. Rather than focusing on budgeting tactics or investment strategies, Jesse argues that lasting financial confidence begins with answering one powerful question: What is your money for?

We also discuss how to raise financially curious kids, why earning more doesn't automatically eliminate money worries, and how learning to embrace trade-offs can transform the way we spend, save, and live.

In this episode, we learn:

Why making more money often doesn't solve financial anxiety.
The one question Jesse believes everyone should ask before creating a budget.
How to build a spending plan that reflects your values—not just your bills.
The surprising expense most people happily cut once they become more intentional.
Why it's okay—and healthy—to change your financial priorities over time.
How to talk to children about money without passing down fear or shame.
What Jesse learned from writing (and completely rewriting) this book.
Why even the founder of YNAB occasionally worries about money—and the exercise he uses to regain perspective.
Jesse's thoughts on AI, financial advice, and where money management is headed next.

How's midlife going? Fill out Farnoosh's survey and help shape the podcast in 2027.

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2016: Should You Hire a Financial Planner? Plus, the Credit Score Mortgage Myth Jul 31, 2026

Show notes

Farnoosh recaps a webinar on navigating money conversations with loved ones, then dives into the week's financial news: the Fed holding rates steady, what Apple and Microsoft earnings mean for your index funds, and a landlord's "work from home fee." Then, she tackles two big listener questions: how to find and pay for a financial planner (flat fee vs. retainer vs. AUM, and what "fee-only" really means), and why a perfect credit score doesn't guarantee you the lowest mortgage rate.

How's midlife going? Fill out Farnoosh's survey and help shape the podcast in 2027.

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2015: The Real Cost of Tech (and How to Afford It) Jul 29, 2026

Show notes

This episode is brought to us by Back Market, the world's largest pure-play premium refurbished tech marketplace. Back Market's mission is to make refurbished tech the mainstream choice, by extending the life of devices, fighting electronic waste, and challenging today's throwaway culture.

On today's show we sat down with Lauren Benton, General Manager of Back Market in the US, to talk about the real cost of family tech - and how to bring it down. To learn more, visit BackMarket.com

Apple just raised prices on several products (up to $300 more on certain MacBooks and iPads), and analysts expect the iPhone to see a hike this fall too. So the timing couldn't be better to rethink how we're spending on tech.

Here's what we learn:

Why "refurbished" doesn't mean what most people think it means, and how devices are quality-checked before they're ever resold.
Where the real savings are: specific numbers on phones, laptops, tablets, and watches.
The hidden costs in your tech budget that have nothing to do with the device itself.
How to know when it's worth trading in an old device instead of letting it collect dust in a drawer.
What to prioritize (and skip) when Back-to-School shopping collides with these new Apple prices.

How's midlife going? Fill out Farnoosh's survey and help shape the podcast in 2027.

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2014: How to Set Up a Million Dollar Retirement by Age 21 Jul 27, 2026

Show notes

If you've ever felt like the math just doesn't work anymore, that you're doing everything right and still coming up short on rent, groceries, and student loans, this episode is for you.

Freddie Smith spent nearly twenty years acting, including nine years on Days of Our Lives, before a business manager who was supposed to be handling his money instead stole it and stopped filing his taxes. He found out when the IRS came looking for three years of back payments, with interest and penalties on top. Then came the pandemic. He lost the show, moved to Florida, and had to rebuild his finances from zero in a brand new career.

That personal collapse turned into a mission. Freddie started sharing what he was learning about taxes, investing, inflation and the Fed on TikTok and Instagram, not as an expert, but as someone figuring it out in real time alongside his audience. That honesty struck a nerve. He's built a community of two million people in three years, and it's now the subject of his new book, Generation F*cked.

In this conversation, Freddie and I get into why he thinks the real crisis for millennials and Gen Z isn't financial illiteracy, it's wages that haven't kept pace with the actual cost of living. We talk about his "big four" (housing, student loans, childcare, and healthcare), why he thinks college needs a hard math test before anyone signs on the dotted line, his wild but genuinely compelling case for how an 18-year-old could retire with millions just by investing early, and why he's cautiously optimistic that his generation is about to be the one that finally changes the system.

How's midlife going? Fill out Farnoosh's survey and help shape the podcast in 2027.

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2013: Ask Farnoosh: Raising Wealthy Kids, Rethinking Retirement & A $700K Inheritance Jul 24, 2026

Show notes

This week on Ask Farnoosh, I'm reflecting on a memorable visit to the Today Show with my daughter, Colette, and how exposing kids to new experiences can shape their futures. That conversation leads into one of the smartest long-term wealth-building strategies available to parents: putting your child on payroll—legitimately—and using earned income to fund a Roth IRA.

I also unpack fascinating new research linking chronic financial hardship to long-term brain health, discuss Senator Andy Kim's proposed Healthy Kids Act, explore why modern baby registries are shifting from "stuff" to services, and share lessons from a Washington Post column on what people consistently misunderstand about retirement.

Then, in this week's listener question, I help a family navigate an emotionally complicated financial crossroads: a potential $500,000–$800,000 inheritance, a home renovation, IVF, a recent layoff, and the challenge of deciding which priorities deserve the biggest investment. Together, we explore why the most valuable outcome isn't simply growing wealth—it's creating more choices.

Referenced: Senator Andy Kim on So Money.

How's midlife going? Fill out Farnoosh's survey and help shape the podcast in 2027.

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2012: S-Corp or LLC? Which Is Best for Your Business? Jul 22, 2026

Show notes

Today's show covers the ins and outs of LLCs and S-Corps and how to determine which one (or both) is best for structuring your business. The guest is Hannah Cole, creator of Sunlight Tax. You can visit Sunlight Tax for resources mentioned in today's episode.

This episode was originally published May 13, 2024.

How's midlife going? Fill out Farnoosh's survey and help shape the podcast in 2027.

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2011: Anthony O'Neal on Breaking Free from Debt and Building Real Wealth Jul 20, 2026

Show notes

Anthony O'Neal, had $6.32 to his name on a Wednesday night. He needed gas. He was hungry. He ended up cutting two McDonald's double cheeseburgers in half — that was his food for the next two days. He diluted his sweet tea with water to stretch it. And in that moment, eating a cold half-burger in his apartment, something shifted in him. He thought: there has to be a better way.

Fast forward to his fortieth birthday. Anthony is on a private yacht off the coast of Italy. The chef comes out mid-dinner, not just to ask how the fish is — but to offer to catch that same fish again for him tomorrow. And Anthony thought back to that Wednesday night, that half-burger, that $6.32 — and he realized: he had found the better way.

Anthony O'Neal is a bestselling author, speaker, and host of The Table with AO. His new book, Stop Living Paycheck to Paycheck: The Proven Path to Break Free from Debt, Build Real Wealth, and Live Free on Any Income, is out in August.

How's midlife going? Fill out Farnoosh's survey and help shape the podcast in 2027.

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2010: Ask Farnoosh: What Annoys Me Most About Money? (Plus: Disability Insurance and Long-Term Care 101) Jul 17, 2026

Show notes

On this week's Ask Farnoosh Friday, we're tackling five thoughtful listener questions that touch on everything from career transitions and combining finances as a couple to insurance, retirement accounts, and planning for the future.

Before we dive into the mailbag, I also share a few headlines that caught my attention this week—including a fascinating new trend in prenups designed to protect stay-at-home parents, California's latest move to make personal finance a graduation requirement, and a New York Times article about the money frustrations that seem uniquely American (plus a few of my own!). And yes...So Money is officially on YouTube.

In this episode:

Why you shouldn't feel guilty quietly job hunting before you have an offer
The best way to leave an employer professionally while protecting your own career
How couples can combine finances without sacrificing independence
Why "fair" doesn't always mean splitting expenses 50/50
My favorite three-account system for couples
The insurance policies every young professional should prioritize—and which ones can probably wait
Why your ability to earn an income may be your greatest financial asset
When to start thinking seriously about long-term care insurance
How to prepare for future caregiving conversations with your parents
What to do with an old, empty 401(k) account after your employer changes retirement providers
Why cybersecurity deserves a place in every annual financial checkup

Also in the news:

A new prenup trend: More couples are adding "leave the workforce" clauses to protect spouses who pause their careers to raise children or provide care, recognizing the real financial cost of unpaid caregiving.
Money annoyances in America: Inspired by a New York Times article from Ron Lieber and Tara Siegel Bernard, I share my own biggest financial pet peeves—from managing kids' allowance to credit card surcharges and New Jersey property taxes.
Financial literacy gains momentum: California becomes the 26th state to require a standalone personal finance course for high school graduation, signaling a major shift in how we prepare young people for adulthood.

Resources & Mentions

So Money is now on YouTube
Columbia Journalism Review's feature on The Montclair Pod
Wall Street Journal reporting on caregiving clauses in prenups
New York Times article: "6 Things That Drive Us Crazy About Money in America" by Ron Lieber and Tara Siegel Bernard

Have a question for the show?

Send your question for a future Ask Farnoosh Friday! If it's on your mind, chances are thousands of other listeners are wondering the same thing. You can email me, leave a voicemail, or connect with me on Instagram.

If you enjoyed this episode, please subscribe, leave a review, and share it with a friend. It helps more people discover the show—and build richer, more confident financial lives.

How's midlife going? Fill out Farnoosh's survey and help shape the podcast in 2027.

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2009: The Midlife Money Reset with Lindsay Goldwert Jul 15, 2026

Show notes

Today's episode is for anyone who has ever stood in the vitamin aisle reading about the exact right creatine dosage for a woman "in this stage of life" and thought... okay but where's the aisle for my retirement savings?

I'm right in the thick of this myself. Midlife money is basically all I want to talk about lately, because I think we are the forgotten demo. There's an entire industry telling us how to optimize our sleep, our supplements, our skin. But when it comes to actually managing our money at this stage, when the stakes are higher and the runway to retirement is shorter, the advice mostly dries up.

So I'm thrilled to have Lindsay Goldwert here. She's the co-author, with Gabrielle Moss, of The Midlife Plot Twist, and she's spent a lot of time talking to women about the money moment we're in right now: the shame, the catching-up, the marriages where one partner has quietly been steering the ship, the total reinvention some of us are doing in our forties and fifties. Lindsay, welcome to So Money.

How's midlife going? Fill out Farnoosh's survey and help shape the podcast in 2027.

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