HerMoney with Jean Chatzky

Catherine Fisher, a LinkedIn career expert, joins to discuss the evolving job market shaped by AI. She emphasizes that while AI changes tasks, human skills like leadership remain in high demand. Networking is highlighted as crucial for career success, with tips on keeping connections alive authentically. Catherine suggests using AI for drafting resumes and cover letters, but stresses the importance of personal touch. She also shares essential LinkedIn profile tweaks to stand out and encourages women to showcase their growth mindset and skills effectively.

Kaitlyn shares her journey of managing a bustling household with a toddler and four pets on a $200K income. She discusses the benefits of a monthly cleaning service to prioritize family time over chores. Budgeting strategies like 'funding pots' help allocate funds for travel, gifts, and daycare. Kaitlyn's thrift store adventures lead to an emotional vinyl record player find. She highlights the importance of spending on experiences, like swim classes, over material items, creating intentional family memories.

This week, Jean sits down with Andrew Ross Sorkin, bestselling author of Too Big to Fail and the brand-new 1929: Inside the Greatest Crash in Wall Street History—And How It Shattered a Nation. Andrew shares why the patterns of 1929 are repeating themselves, from the rise of new technology and market euphoria to record consumer debt and risky new financial products entering retirement accounts. Jean and Andrew break down what’s happening in the markets, what’s fueling the AI-driven investing mania, and what you should be doing now to protect your financial future. Plus, don’t miss our Insurance Mailbag! Jean and Kathryn tackle your real-life insurance questions, whether you’re downsizing your home, passing down family valuables, or just making sure your coverage fits your next chapter. You’ll learn: Why history says optimism can be dangerous (but useful) How today’s “buy now, pay later” mindset mirrors 1929’s credit explosion What risks may be hiding in your 401(k) Whether crypto and private equity belong in retirement portfolios And how to build a portfolio that can actually weather a crash Empty nest resources from our partners at Nationwide. 👉 Join the HerMoney Investing Club 📰 Subscribe to the free HerMoney Newsletter: https://hermoney.com/subscribe  💬 Got feedback? We love hearing from you. Leave us a review and tell us what you want more of. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

With healthcare premiums expected to spike and enhanced ACA subsidies set to expire, millions of Americans may be facing a serious coverage crunch. In this timely episode of Your Money Map, Jean Chatzky is joined by retirement experts Marcia Mantell and Jae Oh to break down what’s really happening with the ACA, Medicare, and employer-sponsored insurance, and how you can protect your wallet. We dig into: How the government shutdown could impact Affordable Care Act subsidies The true cost of healthcare in 2026 Why open enrollment this year will be more complex than ever How to budget for Medicare premiums and unexpected expenses Strategies for using guaranteed income (like Social Security or annuities) to cover rising healthcare costs Tips to avoid scams, navigate robocalls, and make smart insurance choices The power of Health Savings Accounts (HSAs) and high-deductible plans 🔗 For more resources and tools from the Alliance for Lifetime Income, visit ProtectedIncome.org 📬 Sign up for their newsletter: protectedincome.org/subscribe 💬 Like what you hear? Leave us a 5-star review and share the episode with a friend! Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Today we’re giving you a first look inside our brand-new Patreon-exclusive Mailbag series — and this one’s powerful. A listener, a single mom of a toddler, just received a cancer diagnosis. She reached out with urgent questions about how to manage her finances during treatment: Are cancer insurance payouts taxable? Should she prioritize paying off IRS debt or building savings? How can she prepare for unpaid leave while focusing on recovery? Jean and Kathryn dig into it all,  from the tax treatment of cancer insurance to how to protect your money when life takes an unexpected turn. This episode is a preview of what’s waiting for you when you subscribe to our new HerMoney Patreon, where you’ll find: ✨ Deep-dive mailbags with Jean and Kathryn 📞 Call-in AMA mailbags with real listeners 🎧 Ad-free listening 🌙 “After Hours with HerMoney” — more daring, personal money conversations 👉 Join us at patreon.com/hermoney to unlock the full episodes and help shape the future of the show. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

What happens to everything you've worked so hard for — your home, your savings, your family memories — after you're gone? If your answer is “I’m not sure,” the time to start planning is now. In this empowering episode, Jean sits down with Heather Winston, Certified Financial PlannerTM professional of Principal Advised Services, LLC and Assistant Vice President at Principal Financial Group®, to talk all things estate planning; what it can really mean, why it matters, and how to get started, no matter your income level or family structure. Together, they unpack: Four key documents every adult should have (and when to update them) Why estate planning is a form of kindness to the people you love How to make tough conversations with aging parents, or your own kids, a little easier The often-overlooked importance of your digital estate How to leave a legacy of values, not just valuables Want help organizing your financial life or finding an estate planning attorney? Subscribe to the HerMoney newsletter at Hermoney.com/subscribe for resources, checklists, and more. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

If you’ve ever felt intimidated walking into a meeting with a financial advisor or unsure if you’re even asking the right questions, this episode is for you. Jean sits down with Pam Krueger, investor advocate and founder of Wealthramp, to walk through actual word-for-word scripts that you can use when meeting with an advisor for the first time, reassessing a current relationship, or navigating retirement planning. Together, Jean and Pam role-play a variety of real-life money conversations: from figuring out if an advisor is a good fit, to asking about fees, to deciding whether you’re better off managing your own money. You’ll learn how to confidently evaluate the value your advisor brings, how to compare professionals during the interview process, and how to stress-test your financial plan for retirement. You’ll Learn: What to say (and ask!) in your very first advisor meeting How to know if it’s time to break up with your advisor The real value a good advisor should bring to your life The crucial questions to ask if retirement is on the horizon How to compare multiple advisors — without the overwhelm 👉 Visit HerMoney.com/FindAnAdvisor to connect with a vetted, fee-only fiduciary advisor through Wealthramp. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

We’re more financially informed than ever, thanks to FinTok, money podcasts, and yes, even chatbots. But when it comes to having real conversations about money with the people closest to us? We still freeze. This week, Jean sits down with Carl Richards — New York Times “Sketch Guy” columnist, CFP®, and author of the new book Your Money: Reimagining Wealth Through 101 Simple Sketches — to talk about why personal finance is more emotional than we think, and how to start the conversations we’ve been avoiding. In this episode, we cover: Why budgeting tools don’t fix emotional money problems How to align your spending with your values (without guilt) Why we underestimate our future financial needs Carl’s take on market volatility, retirement, and behavior-based investing Why your calendar and checkbook reveal your true priorities And how to talk about money with your partner, kids, or even yourself Resources: ✏️ Follow Carl on Instagram: @behaviorgap 🎨 Explore Carl’s sketches: behaviorgap.com 🧠 Join the HerMoney Patreon for exclusive bonus content: HerMoney Patreon Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Jennifer, 47, lives in Maryland, with her partner of 12 years. She’s the Vice President of Communications for a consulting firm. Her partner is a teacher and voice actor, and together they make about $300,000 a year. In this week’s A Week In Her Wallet, Jennifer tracks seven days of spending that include thoughtful gift-giving, a haircut she happily budgets for, a hefty mortgage payment on her beach home, and a few well-earned indulgences. 💬 In this episode: How Jennifer manages separate finances in a long-term relationship Why she’s accelerating payments on her second home The emotional payoff of responsible splurging What she’s learned about aligning money with happiness If more financial confidence sounds good to you, then you might want to try… ⁠4-Week Coaching Program⁠: Identify and understand your spending, build a strategic plan, and take control of your money. ⁠6-Week Pre-Retirement Program⁠: We’ll help you prepare financially and emotionally for this exciting milestone. 📈⁠InvestingFixx⁠: Learn, connect, and start investing—your first month is completely free. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Have you been laid off, or are you worried you might be? This week, Jean is joined by Laura Brown (former Editor-in-Chief of InStyle) and Kristina O’Neill (former Editor-in-Chief of WSJ. Magazine), authors of the bold and unfiltered new book, All the Cool Girls Get Fired: How to Let Go of Being Let Go and Come Back on Top. Both women hit the top of their industries… and then got let go. Now, they’re helping other women, especially Gen Xers and those over 40, navigate layoffs, ageism, financial uncertainty, and the terrifying-but-liberating process of starting over. In this episode, we talk about: Why getting fired has nothing to do with your worth, and everything to do with changing industries How to handle that first day post-layoff (what not to sign, how to negotiate your severance) Smart money moves to make immediately, whether or not you have an emergency fund Tips for negotiating with credit card companies, cutting spending fast, and finding bridge income Choosing your next path: freelancing vs. going back to corporate Why women in midlife should challenge the shame and secrecy around job loss And the launch of their new community: The Cool Girl Network Resources: 💼 All the Cool Girls Get Fired — Buy the book 📲 Follow @allthecoolgirlsgetfired on Instagram and TikTok 🧠 Join our private HerMoney Facebook group: HerMoney Private Community Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices