So Money with Farnoosh Torabi

In the spirit of Valentine’s Day, we’re talking about how to build a stronger financial partnership - from financial date nights and shared accounts to the subtle social norms that still influence modern couples. Today’s guest is Dr. Emily Garbinsky, professor at Cornell’s Johnson School of Business, whose work explores how couples make financial decisions, how pooling money affects relationship satisfaction, and what really happen...

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, ...

RSVP for Farnoosh's podcasting workshop next Friday Feb 13 here.

In this Super Bowl weekend edition of Ask Farnoosh, she reflects on recent financial headlines and answers listener questions about saving, investing, family planning, and homebuying. She discusses the sharp drop in Bitcoin, rising layoffs, and a weakening stock market as reminders of the importance of maintaining a strong emergency fund and staying financially cau...

Sometimes making work more fair doesn’t require a sweeping policy change or a million-dollar program. Guest Siri Chilazi is a researcher at Harvard who studies gender equity, workplace behavior, and decision-making. She is also the co-author of the bestselling book Make Work Fair, written with behavioral economist Iris Bohnet.

Siri’s work challenges one of the most common assumptions we make about inequality at work — that the p...

Imagine a world where you were no longer expected to compete. That’s the world today’s guest, Ruchika T. Malhotra, invites us to imagine—and to start building.

You may remember Ruchika from her last appearance on So Money, when she turned our understanding of imposter syndrome upside down, revealing it not as a personal flaw, but as a systemic one. Her new book, UNCOMPETE: Rejecting Competition to Unlock Success, does something ...

**This episode is a replay. It first aired on November 7, 2025.**

We’re doing something a little different this week. My guest is my friend and financial planner, Georgia Lee Hussey, founder and CEO of Modernist Financial, and together we’re unpacking the Big Beautiful Bill and what it means for your taxes in 2025 and beyond.

We explore how this new legislation could impact everyday taxpayers, what it reveals about our nation...

January always asks big questions of our money—and this one felt especially heavy. In this solo episode, Farnoosh takes a step back to reflect on what the first month of the year has revealed about our finances, our fears, and our priorities. From midlife money check-ins to the idea of “financial coasting,” this conversation is about being honest about where you are—not where you think you should be—and redefining progress as stabi...

College today can easily cost six figures — even at public universities — and yet so many families still feel completely in the dark about how to prepare for it without sacrificing their own financial future.

My guest today knows this stress intimately.

Patricia Roberts grew up in a low-income household and nearly didn’t attend college at all. A guidance counselor once suggested she stick with her waitressing job instead. But...

We are talking today about parenting boundaries, money, and what it really means to raise independent kids in a world that feels more expensive, more anxious, and more overwhelming than ever.

My guest is Randi Crawford, a life coach known for her refreshingly no-nonsense approach to parenting teens and young adults, and for helping parents stop over-functioning so their kids can actually grow up. Randy works with families naviga...

If you’ve been scrolling listings at midnight, doing mental math on mortgage calculators, and wondering, “Wait…how is anyone actually buying a house right now?” you are not alone.

My guest today is Alex Gailey, personal finance reporter at Bankrate, and she’s been digging into the numbers behind America’s housing affordability crisis. Her reporting found something jaw-dropping: the typical U.S. household can’t afford three-quart...

This week on Ask Farnoosh, we’re zooming out—on money, career, and life—and talking about the moments when endings, uncertainty, and discomfort can actually become powerful financial turning points.

I start the episode reflecting on a popular “10-years-ago” trend and what my own life looked like in 2016—from a canceled CNBC show to pregnancy news that reframed everything. It’s a reminder that what feels like loss in the moment c...

Today we’re talking about the future. Not just retirement as a number on a spreadsheet, but retirement as a real phase of life—one that we’re all heading toward, whether we’re just opening our first 401(k) or already counting down the years.

My guest is someone I’ve turned to for guidance for decades. Christine Benz is the Director of Personal Finance and Retirement Planning at Morningstar, and if you’ve ever read a smart, clear...

Today’s guest is a true blast from the past — and one of the most enduring voices in personal finance.

Jesse Mecham is the founder of You Need a Budget, better known as YNAB. Jesse was last on So Money more than a decade ago — and since then, his little budgeting spreadsheet has grown into a global movement that’s now more than 20 years old.

In an industry where budgeting apps come and go — Mint, anyone? — YNAB has quietly en...

January doesn’t have to start with a financial overhaul. In this special Ask Farnoosh episode, Farnoosh shares why easing into the new year, rather than rushing to reset everything, can lead to better money decisions.

She reflects on how she’s approaching 2026, what typically happens in the markets at the beginning of the year, and why January is a powerful time to slow down, learn, and reconnect with what matters most. From the...

This episode may surprise you.

Because on a podcast about money, you might expect us to talk about budgeting, investing, negotiating, or saving more. And don’t worry; we’ll get to all of that.

But today, we’re talking about a skill that quietly underpins every one of those things. A skill that compounds just like investing. A skill that strengthens your career, your confidence, your earning power, and even how you advocate for yo...

This episode aired originally on Sept 19, 2025.

In this episode, Farnoosh opens with a personal story about a $5,000 fraud attempt on her business checking account—and what she learned about staying vigilant. She then breaks down today’s biggest money headlines: the Fed’s recent interest rate cut, why U.S. credit scores just saw their sharpest drop since 2008, shifts in the housing market, and why groceries and rent are still st...

In this Best of So Money 2025 episode, we revisit standout conversations on new ways to build wealth and protect retirement. From crypto and private equity creeping into 401(k)s, to smarter “rules of thumb” for spending and career decisions, to how to speculate without blowing up your plan, these clips help you stay curious, diversified, and clear-eyed as money trends evolve.

Featured Guest Excerpts

• Tess Waresmith (Episod...