So Money with Farnoosh Torabi

Latest Episodes:

1988: How Great Companies — and Families — Stand the Test of Time May 27, 2026

Show notes

What if the most important inheritance you leave your family has nothing to do with money?

Not stocks. Not real estate. Not a trust fund.

But instead, a written record of your values, your hard-earned lessons, your family stories, your regrets, your hopes — the wisdom you want future generations to carry forward.

Today’s guest, Eric Becker, calls this an “ethical will.” He originally wrote one for his children years ago, never imagining that after the devastating loss of his daughter Kara, he would one day rediscover the document and find that it would help guide him through grief and back to himself.

Eric is the Founder and Co-Chairman of Cresset Family Office & Private Wealth Management, a multi-family office overseeing more than $237 billion in assets under management and advisement. Before that, he co-founded Sterling Partners, the private equity firm that raised more than $5 billion across eight funds, and throughout his career has advised founders, entrepreneurs, and ultra-high-net-worth families on how to build businesses — and lives — that endure.

His bestselling book and new podcast, The Long Game, explore exactly that: what separates companies, families, and leaders who survive for generations from those that disappear.

In this conversation, we talk about the hidden traits of enduring companies, why culture matters more than most founders realize, how to recognize “moments of truth” in business and life, and why one of the most powerful questions you can ask yourself is: “What am I tolerating that I shouldn’t be?”

We also get into stoic philosophy, parenting, family meetings, AI, investing for the long term, and the surprising parallels between building a resilient company and building a meaningful life.

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.

1987: What Happens After FIRE? Mr. Money Mustache on Life, Money & Reinvention (Replay) May 25, 2026

Show notes

It’s rare in personal finance that someone comes along and doesn’t just offer advice—but completely rewires how we think about money, work, and what it means to live a good life.

My guest today did exactly that.

Pete Adeney—better known as Mr. Money Mustache—helped ignite the FIRE movement long before it was trending on TikTok or debated on cable news. His message? Radical, at the time: Spend less, live intentionally, invest wisely—and you might just buy yourself the freedom to walk away from traditional work decades early.

And here’s the thing—Pete didn’t just write about it. He lived it. Retiring in his early 30s, raising a family on his own terms, and building a cult-like following of readers who wanted to do the same.

I’ve actually had a front-row seat to his journey. We first met more than a decade ago, filming in his backyard in Colorado, when his blog was just beginning to take off. Back then, his ideas felt… almost rebellious.

This episode originally ran on April 8, 2026

Today? They’re part of the mainstream conversation.

But Pete hasn’t stood still—and neither has life.

In this episode, we catch up on everything: what early retirement really looks like after a decade, how his thinking on money, family, and even divorce has evolved… and why, despite having “enough,” he’s still rethinking what a rich life actually means.

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.

1986: Ask Farnoosh: AI Financial Advisors, Buying a Home With Existing Debt & Paying Off Loans Early May 22, 2026

Show notes

This week on Ask Farnoosh, Farnoosh tackles some of the biggest personal finance questions listeners are wrestling with right now, from AI-powered banking tools to buying a home in today’s expensive market and whether it’s smart to pay off debt early.

Farnoosh begins with a look at OpenAI’s new personal finance tools that allow select ChatGPT users to connect their financial accounts directly to AI. She breaks down what the feature can do, why some consumers are intrigued, and why others are understandably nervous about privacy and security. She also shares fresh housing market data showing more buyers are moving forward despite mortgage rates remaining above 6%, and why waiting for ultra-low rates may no longer be realistic.

The episode also explores a viral MarketWatch story about a couple who became millionaires in their early 30s despite modest incomes. Farnoosh unpacks the real lessons behind the headline: avoiding excessive student debt, consistently investing at least 15% of income, buying reliable used cars, keeping housing costs manageable, and staying financially flexible enough to seize opportunities when they arise.

Listener Mailbag Questions This Week:

Can you buy a new home if you already own one with a mortgage? Farnoosh answers a newlywed listener’s question about purchasing a larger home while keeping her husband’s current house as a future rental property. She explains how lenders evaluate debt-to-income ratios, when future rental income may count toward mortgage approval, and why it’s important to run the numbers carefully before deciding whether becoming a landlord is truly worth it.
Should you pay off a car loan early, even if it might impact your credit score? Another listener asks whether paying off the final $1,000 on a car loan could hurt their credit. Farnoosh explains the difference between revolving credit and installment loans, how credit mix factors into your score, and why the emotional relief of becoming debt-free can sometimes outweigh purely mathematical investing advice.

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.

1985: Autism, Employment & the Workplace Gap No One Talks About May 20, 2026

Show notes

Today’s episode is about neurodivergence, the workplace, and a question that more families and employers are beginning to confront: Why are so many talented people still struggling to get hired and succeed at work simply because the systems around them weren’t designed with them in mind?

My guest is Dr. Helen Genova, Associate Director of the Center for Autism Research at Kessler Foundation, where she also directs the Social Cognition and Neuroscience Laboratory. She’s also an Assistant Research Professor at Rutgers New Jersey Medical School.

Today, we’re focusing on one area where her work is having an especially profound impact: helping autistic young adults navigate the hiring process and workplace culture, while also helping employers rethink what inclusion and talent recognition can actually look like.

We’ll talk about why job interviews can be such a major barrier, the hidden communication mismatch happening in workplaces every day, the importance of self-advocacy and employer education, and what all of us—whether we’re managers, coworkers, parents, or job seekers—can do to build more supportive and successful work environments.

Learn more about the KF STRIDE program.

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.

1984: The Ambition Penalty: The Data Behind Women’s Workplace Frustration May 19, 2026

Show notes

Women today are more educated than ever. More ambitious than ever. More likely to be breadwinners, business owners, and leaders in their households and communities. And yet — despite decades of progress — the pay gap persists, women continue to hit barriers at work, and many still feel punished for wanting both financial success and personal fulfillment.

My guest today says that’s not a coincidence. It’s a system.

Stefanie O’Connell Rodriguez is back on So Money with her powerful new book, The Ambition Penalty, which examines how corporate culture encourages women to strive, achieve, and “lean in” — only to penalize them once they begin claiming real power, money, and authority.

In this conversation, we unpack the myths we’ve been sold about ambition and meritocracy, why women are still more likely to face backlash for negotiating and asking for raises, and how inequality at work is deeply connected to inequality at home. Stefanie also shares why the rise of both “girlboss” culture and the tradwife movement miss the bigger picture — and what actually needs to change if we want more equitable outcomes for women.

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.

1983: Ask Farnoosh: 529 Advice, College Saving Strategies and Can AI Provide Financial Advice? May 15, 2026

Show notes

This week: A possible Covid-related tax refund, the demographic with the biggest student loan defaults, can AI help with your money….and All-things 529 plans and college savings with Patricia Roberts.

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.

1982: The Joy of Money in an Anxious Economy May 13, 2026

Show notes

Today I’m joined by Carrie Joy Grimes. founder of WorkMoney and the author of the new book The Joy of Money. She’s a former union organizer who spent years helping workers fight for better wages and benefits while also trying to untangle her own complicated relationship with money — debt, shame, financial anxiety, all of it.

In this episode, we talk about why so many women still avoid taking ownership of their finances, how to rebuild confidence after money mistakes, whether homeownership still makes sense, and how to separate what society tells us should make us happy from what actually does.

We also talk about the inspiration behind her new book, The Joy of Money, and why she believes financial security is not just about numbers — it’s about feeling safer, freer, and more in control of your life.

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.

1981: Why Uncertainty Might Be Your Superpower May 11, 2026

Show notes

Guest Simone Stolzoff, journalist and author of the new book, How to Not Know: The Value of Uncertainty in a World that Demands Answers, says we are living through what the World Health Organization calls a “polycrisis” — overlapping economic, political, technological, and personal disruptions that are leaving many of us feeling anxious, untethered, and desperate for answers.

But what if the goal isn’t to eliminate uncertainty?

What if the real skill is learning how to live with it?

Simone argues that our obsession with certainty — whether in our careers, relationships, finances, or identities — may actually be making us more anxious, less adaptable, and less fulfilled.

In this conversation, we talk about:

Why uncertainty tolerance is declining
The surprising psychology behind layoffs and career anxiety
Why savings can create emotional flexibility, not just financial security
How to stop tying your self-worth to your job title
The dangers of chasing a “dream job”
Why curiosity may be one of the most important skills in the AI era
And how becoming a parent forced Simone to practice what he preaches

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.

1980: Ask Farnoosh: Crypto-Backed Mortgages, Best 0% Credit Cards and Cashing in on the iPhone Lawsuit May 08, 2026

Show notes

Farnoosh shares Mother’s Day plans, and reacts to news including the April jobs report and an Apple class-action settlement that could pay eligible iPhone 15 Pro/Pro Max and iPhone 16 buyers up to $95 per device. She also cautions against Fannie Mae’s move toward crypto-backed mortgages, arguing that borrowing against volatile crypto to fund a down payment adds risk and doesn’t address the real housing crisis.

Mailbag topics include: how to prepare for or respond to a layoff (unemployment, COBRA, cutting expenses, bridge income, networking, and rolling over retirement accounts), how to save on rising summer utility bills, and whether 0% balance transfer credit cards are a good tool for managing high-interest credit card debt. Check out the full list of recommended balance transfer cards on Nerdwallet.com.

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.

1979: Mrs. Dow Jones on Why the Old Money Rules Don't Work Anymore May 06, 2026

Show notes

What does it actually mean to be “rich” today?

Because if you’re waiting for the old playbook to work—go to school, get a stable job, buy a house, retire comfortably—you may be waiting a long time.

The truth is, that version of wealth? It’s outdated. And for a lot of younger earners especially, it feels completely out of reach.

So what are the new rules?

Today’s guest has built a massive following by calling out the broken advice we’ve inherited—and replacing it with something far more realistic, and frankly, more empowering. Haley Sacks, also known as Mrs. Dow Jones, is back on So Money with her new book, Future Rich Person.

And this is not your typical money book.

Haley is speaking directly to what she calls the “zillennial” generation—but really, anyone who feels like they’re doing all the right things and still not getting ahead. In our conversation, we talk about why the traditional path to wealth is due for a rewrite, how to actually start building what she calls “action money,” and why your income, your skills, and even your relationship to work need to evolve in an AI-driven economy.

We also get into some of the cultural forces shaping how we think about money right now—from the rise of “trad wife” content to the very real temptation to opt out of the financial game altogether.

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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