So Money with Farnoosh Torabi

Latest Episodes:

2008: Make Extraordinary Wealth with Ordinary Businesses Jul 13, 2026

Show notes

What if the secret to extraordinary wealth isn’t about betting on the next big thing, but buying something tried-and-true—like a plumbing business, a car wash, or a cleaning company? What if the future of entrepreneurship isn’t on Wall Street or in Silicon Valley, but on Main Street—if only we knew how to seize it?

My guest today is Codie Sanchez, founder and CEO of Contrarian Thinking, a digital education platform and media company with over 6 million followers

In her new book, Main Street Millionaire: How to Make Extraordinary Wealth Buying Ordinary Businesses, Codie lays out her bold argument: that buying profitable, established, cash-flowing businesses is the most underrated path to building wealth—and that now is the time to act. Why? Because America is facing a generational handoff. Over 40 million Americans are hitting retirement age, and baby boomers—who currently own nearly two-thirds of small businesses with employees—are poised to sell. Codie calls it a “silver tsunami,” and for those who know how to navigate it, it could mean once-in-a-generation opportunity.

In our conversation, Codie opens up about her own unlikely journey from journalism to Wall Street to Main Street. We talk about how she made the leap, the psychological hurdles to entrepreneurship, and how she thinks about power, relationships, and the future of work in an AI-driven world.

This episode aired originally March 26, 2025

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2007: Ask Farnoosh: Should I Open a Trump Account? Can My Parent Qualify for Medicaid? Jul 10, 2026

Show notes

We're exploring two topics that are at each end of the life spectrum - child savings accounts and Medicaid. First, what is a Trump account? Farnoosh began contributing to her kids' accounts over the weekends. She has pros, cons and even a great hack for making the most of these accounts. Plus, is 20% a good amount for a home downpayment? And how to increase your chances of qualifying for Medicaid?

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

Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

2006: Inside Financial Therapy: How to Heal Your Relationship with Money Jul 08, 2026

Show notes

My guest today is someone I've known and admired for a long time — Bobbi Rebell, CFP®, founder of Financial Wellness Strategies and author of Launching Financial Grownups: Live Your Richest Life by Helping Your (Almost) Adult Kids Become Everyday Money Smart, as well as How to be a Financial Grownup. Bobbi was previously a global business news anchor and personal finance columnist at Thomson Reuters, and held positions at CNBC, CNN and PBS, so she's spent decades translating money into plain English for millions of people.

But today we're talking about a new chapter: Bobbi just became a Certified Financial Therapist — a credential that sits at the intersection of money and mindset, and one she worked hard for, the long way, no shortcuts. We're going to dig into why she pursued it, what financial therapy actually is, and how understanding our money psychology — from childhood money memories to the algorithms shaping our spending — can change how we feel about our financial choices, even the ones we didn't fully choose.

Follow Bobbi on Substack.

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

Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

2005: Own Your Time, Choices and. Happiness (Actually) with Andy Hill, Founder of Marriage, Kids and Money Jul 06, 2026

Show notes

We spend so much of our lives chasing money—believing that once we earn enough, save enough, and invest enough, happiness and freedom will finally follow.

But what if the real goal isn’t more money… it’s more time?

Today’s guest is Andy Hill, AFC®, award-winning family finance coach and founder of the platform Marriage, Kids and Money, which has reached millions of families through his podcast, videos, and writing. His new book, Own Your Time, challenges a deeply held belief in personal finance: that wealth alone will solve our problems. Instead, Andy argues that true financial success is about using money intentionally to design a life filled with freedom, family connection, and choice.

In this conversation, we explore Andy’s own journey—from a six-figure household income and negative net worth to a life where he and his wife now work part-time by design. We talk about the concept of “coast financial independence,” the surprising middle ground between burnout and early retirement, and the practical financial steps families can take—at any stage—to reclaim their calendars and their priorities.

We’ll also get into the emotional side of money and time: how couples navigate unequal incomes, why optionality matters more than status, and how to raise kids who understand wealth not just as dollars, but as freedom and generosity.

This episode aired originally on Feb 9, 2026.

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

Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

2004: How Much Should We Pay For College? (Encore) Jul 04, 2026

Show notes

This episode aired originally on May 1, 2026.

May 1 is College Acceptance Day and as many families grapple with the soaring cost of college, Farnoosh shares thoughts on how to decide whether a college education is worth its price tag. Would you spend $100k a year?

Plus: Establishing credit for the first time and how to allocate your investments in your 30s. And a crazy story about how one woman’s investments disappeared from her bank’s website. What happened?

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

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2003: Investing in Your Tween: Navigating Phones, Friendships and Big Feelings Jul 01, 2026

Show notes

What if the most important investment you make in your child's future isn't paying for travel sports, tutoring, or the latest smartphone—but investing in your relationship?

Farnoosh sits down with Bridget KerMorris, a Stanford-trained attorney, relational therapist, creator of the Steady + Connected Parenting™ framework, and mom of seven, to discuss why the middle school years may be the most critical—and misunderstood—season of parenting.

Together they explore:

Why ages 10–13 are a pivotal window for building lifelong trust
How to respond to bullying, friendship drama, and emotional outbursts
The words every middle schooler needs to hear from their parents
How to repair after conflict instead of striving for perfection
Navigating phones, social media, and the pressure to fit in
Teaching kids about money, expensive wants, allowances, and delayed gratification
Why emotional presence may be the greatest investment parents can make

Whether you're raising a tween now or your child is heading toward middle school, this conversation offers practical tools, reassuring perspective, and a powerful reminder that your relationship—not your perfection—is what matters most.

More about Bridget: Bridget KerMorris is a nationally recognized middle school parenting expert, relational therapist, and creator of Steady + Connected Parenting™. She is also the host of the new podcast, Middle Years with Bridget KerMorris.

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

Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

2002: Rich People Behaving Badly: What the Art World Teaches Us About Wealth and Women Jun 29, 2026

Show notes

The art market is one of the least regulated, most opaque wealth transfer systems on the planet. We're talking billions of dollars moving between billionaires, oligarchs, and heads of state — with almost no oversight. It's where old money hides, new money launders, and powerful families build dynasties that last for generations. And at the center of all of it? Almost always, a man.

But behind that man? Almost always, a woman who did the work — and got written out.

That's the world at the heart of The Parisian Heist, the new novel from my guest today — and it is juicy. We're talking rich people behaving very badly, the hidden female genius behind one of the most famous artists who ever lived, and what all of it has to do with your money, your financial agency, and why handing over control — even to someone you love and trust — can cost you everything.

Jo Piazza is a bestselling author, journalist, and podcast host with fourteen books and 25 million downloads to her name

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

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2001: Ask Farnoosh: Reflections on 2000 Money Conversations, My Advice for 2026 High School Grads Jun 26, 2026

Show notes

Watch the full commencement speech on Youtube

Learn about and reserve your seat for Book to Brand.

Farnoosh reflects on the biggest money lessons from producing 2,000 shows across 11 years. And listen to her speech to the high school graduates in her town.

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

Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

2000: FORO, The Fear of Running Out of Money in Retirement Jun 24, 2026

Show notes

Today we're talking about FORO, the fear of running out. According to a new sweeping study from Corebridge Financial, Americans are nine times more likely to say they'd regret running out of money while they're alive than dying with a fortune left unspent.

Now, you have probably spent years, maybe decades, doing everything right, putting money away. You're contributing to your 401k, maybe even maxing it, and you're watching the balance grow, and somewhere in the back of your mind you're telling yourself, "When I finally get there, I'm gonna enjoy this."

But here's what a new study just uncovered, and it's one of the most surprising findings in retirement research in years: getting there may be considered the hard part, but spending the money once you do is actually harder for millions of Americans.

These are people who've worked hard, they saved diligently, they made it to retirement, and now they're not spending. They're hoarding. They're restricting. They're eating out less. They're skipping the trip. They're holding back, not because they can't afford it, but because they're afraid. Afraid if they actually use what they saved, it might run out.

To unpack what's driving this and what to do about it, we are joined by Bryan Pinsky, President of Individual Retirement and Life Insurance at Corebridge Financial, one of the nation's largest providers of retirement solutions. And Jean Chatzky, a New York Times bestselling author, personal finance expert, one of the most trusted voices in America when it comes to helping real people make smart decisions with their money. She has partnered with Corebridge to turn these findings into an actionable playbook for retirement.

We're gonna walk through what the data shows, why it matters, and what you can do right now, even if retirement is still years away, to make sure you don't fall into this trap.

Resources and Links

Press Release: https://investors.corebridgefinancial.com/news/news-details/2026/Only-28-of-Pre-retirees-and-Retirees-are-Comfortable-Drawing-Down-Savings-in-Retirement-But-Having-a-Plan-for-Decumulation-Boosts-Confidence/default.aspx
Full Survey Findings: https://apps.tm.celerasystems.com/corebridge/services/viewDocument?itemNbr=M6525DCK
Jean's Interview Series: https://www.corebridgefinancial.com/insights-education/real-stories-with-jean-chatzky

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

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1999: Debt: An American True Crime Story Jun 22, 2026

Show notes

What if debt isn't a personal failure—but a symptom of a much bigger problem?

For years, we've been told that financial struggles come down to individual choices: spend less, budget better, work harder. But what if the real story is more complicated?

My guests today are Jamie Feldman and Rachel Webster, creators and hosts of the award-winning podcast Debt Heads, a groundbreaking series they describe as a "true crime investigation into the murder of our bank accounts." The podcast is now entering season 2.

Season one began with Jamie's own experience navigating credit card debt and the shame that came with it. But what started as one woman's debt payoff journey quickly evolved into a deeper investigation into the systems, cultural pressures, and economic realities that leave so many people feeling financially stuck.

Jamie is a writer, editor, and storyteller. Rachel is a filmmaker and producer. Together, they've built a fiercely honest, deeply funny, and surprisingly hopeful podcast community around a topic most of us avoid talking about: money.

Now, as Debt Heads returns for its second season, they're widening the lens beyond spending and debt to explore work, job security, income instability, and what it means to pursue financial wellbeing in a world that often feels increasingly precarious.

In our conversation, we talk about the hidden connections between mental health and money, why so many women tie their self-worth to spending, how shame keeps us isolated, and why financial security is about far more than your net worth.

You'll also hear their thoughts on the creator economy, the pressure to monetize every passion project, and why making meaningful work—not just profitable work—can lead to unexpected opportunities.

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

Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

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