So Money with Farnoosh Torabi

Latest Episodes:

1968: Ask Farnoosh: Love, Money and the Cost of Connection Apr 10, 2026

Show notes

This episode is brought to us by Louis Jadot, a thoughtful way to elevate date night without overspending.

On this week’s Ask Farnoosh, we’re getting real about last-minute tax strategy, including why filing an extension might actually be one of the smartest financial moves you can make. (Hint: if you’re self-employed, it could buy you months of extra time to fund a SEP IRA and lower your tax bill.)

We’ll also break down how to think about your tax refund: how to use it wisely, where to prioritize, and why it’s not a bonus… it’s a second chance.

And then, we zoom out to something a lot of us are quietly feeling: it’s getting really expensive just to have a social life.

Dating. Relationships. Even grabbing dinner with friends.

New data from Louis Jadot reveals that 56% of Americans say rising costs are changing how often they go on dates, and more than 1 in 4 have stopped dating altogether to save money.

Welcome to the era of loveflation.

In this episode, we unpack what that means for your wallet and your relationships, how to stay connected without overspending, how to navigate who pays on a date, and how to align your financial values with your personal life.

Plus, at the end: my honest take on who should pay on the first date, and how to handle it without making things awkward.

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.

1967: Mr. Money Mustache Is Back. Ten Years Later. Life After Early Retirement Apr 08, 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.

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.

Bonus: Smart Tax Moves Every Solopreneur Needs to Know Apr 07, 2026

Show notes

This special bonus episode of So Money is brought to you by TurboTax Experts for Business.

And today, we are tackling a topic that so many of you are thinking about right now… taxes.

If you are freelancing, consulting, running a side hustle, or fully self-employed, this episode is for you.

Because here is the truth. No one really prepares you for this part of entrepreneurship. One minute you are feeling proud of the income you are generating on your own, and the next you are wondering, wait… what does this mean for my taxes?

Joining the show is CPA and TurboTax expert Lisa Greene-Lewis, who has more than 20 years of experience helping individuals and small business owners navigate the tax code. She has also been self-employed herself, so she gets it. The overwhelm, the confusion, and yes, the fear of doing something wrong or leaving money on the table.

We unpack:

The biggest mistakes solopreneurs make when filing taxes and how to avoid them
What you actually need to know if you are earning income outside a traditional job
Why quarterly estimated taxes matter and what happens if you skip them
Deductions you might be missing, including home office, startup costs, and even your car
How to stay organized without making this a full-time job
What really triggers an audit and what does not
Whether filing an extension is a smart move

How TurboTax Can Support You

One of the things I appreciate about TurboTax Experts for Business is that you have options.

You can file your taxes working alongside an expert, or you can hand it off to a pro who can do it for you! - either way, you’re matched with an expert that knows your specific industry. That part is key. Whether you are a freelancer, consultant, or small business owner, you can get matched with someone who knows your world.

They also offer year-round support, which means you do not have to wait until next April to ask your questions. And with new tools, including AI features, they can help you stay organized and even uncover deductions you might not realize you qualify for. Visit TurboTax.com/Business to learn more.

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.

1966: How to Get Good With Money in a World That Feels Financially Broken with The Budgetnista Apr 06, 2026

Show notes

Tiffany Aliche—also known as The Budgetnista—has spent over 15 years helping millions of women take control of their money, rebuild after financial setbacks, and create lasting wealth. She’s the founder of the Live Richer Movement, a New York Times bestselling author, and one of the most trusted voices in personal finance—because she doesn’t just teach the theory… she’s lived the comeback.

Her book, Get Good With Money, now out in paperback, is a roadmap to what she calls financial wholeness—mastering the ten essential areas of your financial life, from budgeting and saving to investing and estate planning.

But in this conversation, we go deeper—and more current.

We talk about:

Why this economic moment feels different—even for high earners
What Tiffany learned from losing everything during the last recession—and how it shaped her approach today
The five foundational pillars everyone needs to revisit right now: budgeting, saving, debt, credit, and income
Why “the math isn’t mathing” for so many households—and what to do when cutting back isn’t enough
Creative, real-world ways to boost income (from renting assets to leveraging skills you already have)
And how to manage financial anxiety in a world that feels increasingly uncertain

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.

1965: Ask Farnoosh: Smart Moves After Debt, Student Loans, How to Invest Through the Noise Apr 03, 2026

Show notes

It’s spring break, and while I’m taking a little time offline with family, I didn’t want to leave you hanging. In this episode of Ask Farnoosh, we’re revisiting some listener questions from earlier this year—straight from the January mailbag—but don’t worry, these topics are just as timely and relevant today.

We’re covering:

How to navigate student loans—especially when family is involved
What to do with extra cash once you’ve paid off debt
How to approach investing when the market (and headlines) feel uncertain

Special Announcement:

Registration is now open for Book to Brand, my immersive, in-person event happening October 9 in New York City. Join top publishers, agents, and authors to learn how to build a platform that gets attention—and results.

👉 Early bird tickets are available now at booktobrand.co

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.

1964: How to Ditch Budgeting Overwhelm with The High Five Banking Method Apr 01, 2026

Show notes

Guest Sahirenys Pierce is a financial educator, speaker, and the creator of The High Five Banking Method—a simple but powerful framework that helps people organize their money with purpose, reduce financial stress, and actually follow through on their goals.

In this episode, we talk about:

How financial trauma shapes our decisions (often without us realizing it)
Why traditional budgeting fails so many people
The five-account system that can simplify your entire financial life
And how to create stability—even when the economy feels anything but stable

We also get into her personal story—from losing her childhood home… to becoming the financial voice she wished her family had back then.

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.

1963: How to Future Proof Your Career in an AI-Driven Economy Mar 30, 2026

Show notes

What if the biggest threat to your career… isn’t losing your job—but becoming irrelevant before you even get one?

Right now, we’re watching something seismic unfold in the workforce. College grads are struggling to land entry-level roles. Companies are hiring more cautiously—or not at all. And quietly, in the background, AI is beginning to reshape not just which jobs exist… but whether entire career paths survive.

In fact, a recent survey of 5,000 unemployed Americans found that only 15% would choose a four-year college again knowing what they know now.

That’s not just a statistic. That’s a warning.

Today, we’re bringing on someone who is not just observing this shift—but actively building solutions inside it. Chieh Huang, serial entrepreneur and co-founder of Pelgo, is working at the front lines of what he calls the “intersection” of AI and the job market—helping workers reskill, reposition, and stay in the game.

In this conversation, we unpack:

Why entry-level jobs are quietly disappearing
The surprising roles AI is actually creating
What employers are really thinking right now about hiring
Why your ability to learn quickly may matter more than your degree
And how to use AI—not avoid it—to stay competitive

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.

1962: Ask Farnoosh: The Money Anxiety Playbook (Taxes, AI and How to Stay Financial Steady) Mar 27, 2026

Show notes

In this Ask Farnoosh Friday, we’re tackling one of the biggest questions right now: how do you stay financially steady when everything feels uncertain?

Joining me is returning guest and trusted voice in personal finance, Georgia Lee Hussey, CFP and founder of Modernist Financial. [Grab her free financial toolkit] Together, we unpack the emotional and practical realities of this moment—from market volatility and recession fears to tax season surprises and the rapidly evolving role of AI in our careers.

We start with the money anxiety so many of you are feeling right now. What’s really driving the fear around the markets? And how do you respond without sabotaging your long-term plan? Georgia shares how she coaches clients through uncertainty—and why downturns may actually be opportunities, especially if you’re still in your earning years.

Then, we dig into tax refunds. If yours is bigger this year, Georgia explains why it may not be the “win” it seems—and how to think more intentionally about what to do with that money.

We also explore the future of work in an AI-driven world—including why skills rooted in the humanities, creativity, and critical thinking may become even more valuable, not less.

And finally, we zoom out to what matters most: how to stay grounded, make thoughtful decisions, and build financial resilience in a world that can feel anything but stable.

In this episode, we discuss:

How to manage market anxiety and avoid emotional investing
Why downturns can benefit long-term investors
What your tax refund is really telling you
The hidden costs behind recent tax policy changes
How AI is reshaping jobs—and where new opportunities lie
Why creativity, writing, and empathy are becoming power skills
Smart ways to prepare financially for uncertainty

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.

1961: The Psychology of Never Enough. Why High-Achievers Still Feel Empty and How to Fix It Mar 25, 2026

Show notes

Brooke Taylor is a former Google executive turned researcher and coach who has spent years studying a phenomenon called the success wound —interviewing more than 5,000 women to understand why so many accomplished, capable people still feel like it’s never enough.

Her new book, Healing the Success Wound: Align Your Ambition, Find Lasting Career Fulfillment, and End the Cycle of Never Enough, puts language—and solutions—to something I think so many of us have felt but couldn’t quite articulate.

In our conversation, we unpack

What the “success wound” really is…
Why achievement can become a stand-in for self-worth…
The five archetypes of high achievers who struggle with fulfillment…
And how all of this shows up not just in our careers, but in our finances, our relationships, and even how we parent.

We also talk about Brooke’s own turning point—what she calls her “spiritual awakening breakdown”—and how it led her to rethink everything she thought she knew about work, ambition, and identity.

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.

1960: The Hidden Cost of Aging in America with Senator Andy Kim Mar 23, 2026

Show notes

What would you do if caring for a parent meant putting your own financial future—and your kids’—on hold?

That’s not a hypothetical. It’s the reality facing millions of Americans right now, including Senator Andy Kim—a father of two, a son navigating his own father’s Alzheimer’s diagnosis, and now, one of the leading voices in Washington pushing for change.

Today’s episode is a deeply personal and urgent conversation about the true cost of caregiving in America—financially, emotionally, and systemically.

This interview is also a special crossover with The Montclair Pod, my local news podcast, where I co-host alongside Michael Schreiber—who you’ll hear in this conversation as well. Together, we sat down with Senator Kim to talk not just about policy, but about what happens when aging, illness, and money collide inside your own family.

Before serving in the Senate, Andy Kim worked in national security and diplomacy, and today he represents nearly 10 million New Jersey residents. But in this conversation, what stands out most isn’t his title—it’s his story.

He opens up about his father’s battle with Alzheimer’s, the impossible trade-offs of being in the sandwich generation, and how quickly a family’s financial plan can unravel in the face of long-term care costs.

We talk about why so many families are blindsided, what Medicare does—and doesn’t—cover, why long-term care insurance is falling short, and what changes may be coming.

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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