So Money with Farnoosh Torabi

Imagine you arrive at retirement with no savings. Imagine living entirely off of your social security paycheck, which currently averages $1,900 a month. Guest Anne Tergesen is a reporter for The Wall Street Journal and offers insights from the article she co-wrote recently, “Here’s What It’s Like to Retire on Almost Nothing But Social Security.”

This episode is a replay from Feb 7, 2024.

Today’s show is about managing and making the most of an inheritance and other windfalls. The Great Wealth Transfer is unfolding, with a record number of assets passed down from generation to generation. Members of our audience have specific questions about this, and to help answer our questions, we have Pam Krueger, who is the founder of Wealthramp, a platform that matches you with qualified, pre-vetted, fee-only fi...

We’re talking about the art of traveling smarter, not pricier, and why right now might be one of the best times to find travel deals.

Joining is Dan Rodriguez, a travel expert who has turned his decades of globe-trotting into a career helping people earn and maximize points and miles.

Dan is a certified travel advisor with Fora Travel, where he helps clients unlock VIP perks and luxury experiences. He also writes the Substac...

Ever wonder why we take on debt knowing it will cost us — or why flashing a credit card can feel like flashing status? It’s not just poor math or bad habits. It’s biology, psychology, and marketing, all tangled together.

In today’s episode, we unpack the psychology of spending with Wright State University professor and author John Dinsmore, whose new book The Marketing of Debt: How They Get You breaks down the subtle — and not-s...

In this Ask Farnoosh episode, Farnoosh kicks things off with a personal story tied to her recent TODAY Show appearance, where she talked about “finance-proofing” your relationship. Reflecting on her own early money talks with husband Tim (over margaritas at their favorite tequila bar), she lays out the keys to financial transparency in couples — from shared goals to individual autonomy.

Next, Farnoosh unpacks several top money h...

We are diving deep into wealth, class, and privilege with Sanibel, author of the novel To Have and Have More and an expert on the subtle—and not-so-subtle—ways the ultra-wealthy wield their status. If you’ve ever been curious about the behaviors and dynamics that go beyond “quiet luxury” or the “nepo baby” conversation, you’ll enjoy this conversation.

Sanibel breaks down concepts like stealth privilege, coattail ...

This week's questions: What are the rules and costs for moving money from a brokerage account into a Roth IRA? Any risks to having a single bank that houses all your accounts? And how to find a good accountant?

Additional Episode Take-aways:

• Why millennials are financially ahead on paper but still feel behind emotionally
• How to harness AI for smarter, more intentional spending
• The hidden costs of return policy abuse—and how it ...

Today we’re talking about “girl math”, but not in the way TikTok wants you to.

My guest is Meg Wheeler, CPA, financial educator, founder of the Equitable Money Project, and all-around champion for financial equity. We unpack the viral "girl math" trend and why it may seem harmless but actually reinforces some pretty dangerous stereotypes about women and money. Meg and I both agree: women are not bad at math—and this kind of mes...

From understanding if your 401(k) contributions help you qualify for a Roth IRA (spoiler: yes!), to figuring out why your home insurance just skyrocketed, to finding sneaky ways to save on that end-of-summer family vacation — we’ve got it covered on this week's Ask Farnoosh.

Plus, a personal story about how a casual chat with a friend helped Farnoosh raise her speaking fees and start earning more.

We’ll also unpack a few of t...

What would happen to your bank account, your home, your small business—if you were suddenly detained or deported? Today we're talking about a growing and urgent financial concern: how to protect your assets amid immigration raids and deportation worries.

My guest is personal finance legend and CNBC Senior Personal Finance Correspondent Sharon Epperson, who recently reported on the financial steps immigrants—documented or undocum...

Visit stashwealth.com/somoney for a secret stash of financial goodies.

On today's episode: Where do you stand on budgeting? Hate it? Feel defeated by it? You’re not alone—and you’re going to love today’s episode.

We’re joined by Priya Malani, the dynamic founder of Stash Wealth and host of the new podcast The F. Word, who’s making personal finance simpler, smarter, and honestly, more livable—especially for high earners in their 3...

Where do you think you are on the wealth ladder? Just starting out and struggling to save? Sitting on six figures and wondering what’s next? Or maybe you’ve hit a financial milestone—but it doesn’t feel as life-changing as you expected.

Today’s episode is all about understanding what changes—and what should change—as you move up the financial ladder.

My guest is Nick Maggiulli, author of The Wealth Ladder, a new book that int...

Ww’re pulling back the curtain on one of the most powerful — and least understood — forces shaping our economy: private equity.

My guest is Megan Greenwell, a veteran journalist and former editor-in-chief of Deadspin, whose new book, Bad Company: Private Equity and the Death of the American Dream, is both a searing exposé and a deeply human investigation. Through vivid storytelling and meticulous reporting, Megan shows how priva...

Today’s episode is a powerful conversation about legacy, love, and how technology is reshaping the way we protect our wealth and our families.

My guest is Martha Underwood, a 25-year tech veteran and the founder and CEO of Prismm, a digital vault platform that helps families and financial institutions securely manage documents, streamline inheritance transfers, and reduce the chaos that often comes with crisis. Prism was born ou...

Today’s guest is no stranger to reinvention—or to messiness.

Maryam Banikarim is a powerhouse C-suite executive turned podcast host whose résumé reads like a tour through media, hospitality, tech, and purpose-driven leadership. She’s served as Global CMO at companies like Hyatt, Gannett, and Nextdoor. But in her latest chapter, Maryam is pulling back the curtain on the glossy LinkedIn life and telling the truth, the messy, nonli...