So Money with Farnoosh Torabi

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 endured. Not by promising shortcuts or get-rich-quick hacks, but by doing something far more radical: teaching people how to actually be good with money.And not “good” as in million-dollar net worths or retiring at 35 — but good as in sleeping better at night. Not worrying about every expense. Feeling in control. Feeling aligned.That’s why I wanted to kick off 2026 with Jesse.In this conversation, we revisit the philosophy behind YNAB, including the four rules that have helped millions of people escape paycheck-to-paycheck living. We talk about why getting to zero — not riches — is often the most important milestone in someone’s financial life. We explore what Jesse has learned after two decades of watching how people really behave with money. And we dig into what’s changed — and what absolutely hasn’t — about budgeting in a world of higher costs, financial anxiety, automation, and now AI. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

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 there, Farnoosh breaks down the week’s biggest money stories, including shifting grocery prices, growing anxiety in the housing market, canceled home purchase deals, the return of student loan wage garnishment, and new data suggesting homeownership may feel out of reach for more Americans.The episode also highlights two recent conversations on So Money — with David Bach on building wealth through simple, consistent habits, and with Terri Trespicio on the importance of writing as a practical career skill.Listeners then get answers to thoughtful questions about opening a new credit card after securing a HELOC, what it really means when entrepreneurs say they “didn’t pay themselves,” how HSAs work after enrolling in Medicare, and where to safely keep a $20,000 gift intended for a future home purchase. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

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 yourself in life.We’re talking about writing.In a hyper-AI world, where polished, generic language is now the floor, the ability to think clearly, express yourself distinctly, and tell your story has become a superpower.And that’s why I invited back someone you may remember from a past So Money episode: Terri Trespicio.[Try Terri's writing studio for a free week, January 12 -16, by clicking here.]Terri is a writing expert, teacher, and the author of Unfollow Your Passion. [She is also the co-host of a brilliant new podcast called Gen Artax where she and her sisters read from their adolescent diaries and journals.] She works with professionals across every industry, from engineers to executives to creatives to scientists, helping them clarify their thinking, stand out in crowded, automated spaces, and reconnect with their own voice in an age when it’s very easy to outsource your thinking to a machine.In this conversation, we connect some unexpected dots:Why writing is a form of critical thinking — not creativity reserved for “writers.”How AI can help after you do the thinking, but can’t replace itWhy your career, your money story, and your confidence all depend on your ability to articulate what you know, want, and believeAnd how writing can even help us process financial baggage, scarcity, and fear, especially as many of us enter the sandwich-generation yearsP.S. Try Terri's writing studio for a free week, January 12 -16, by clicking here. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Happy New Year! In this brand new episode, financial guru and NYT bestselling author David Bach returns to So Money to mark the 20th anniversary of The Automatic Millionaire, which has been expanded and updated, and to explain why its core message still holds up—even in today’s high-cost, AI-driven economy. Bach argues that we now live in an “automatic economy” that can quietly make us richer or poorer depending on how our money flows, and that paying yourself first through automation remains the most dependable path to financial security. Drawing on personal stories, market data, and lessons from living abroad in Italy, he reframes wealth as freedom, not just net worth, and makes a compelling case for starting small, investing consistently, and using money to build a life—not just a balance sheet. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

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 stubbornly high despite easing inflation elsewhere. Farnoosh also answers a wide range of listener questions from investing to estate planning. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

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 ExcerptsTess Waresmith (Episode 1876) – Crypto and alternative assets entering 401(k)s, what the legislation actually means, the risks and fees to watch for, and how much exposure is too muchNick Maggiulli (Episode 1856) – The Wealth Ladder, the 0.01% rule for smarter spending decisions, and how to evaluate career and income opportunities as your net worth growsBarry Ritholtz (Episode 1840) – Investing humility, avoiding unforced errors, how to speculate without blowing up your portfolio, and adjusting risk as you approach retirementDr. Annie Cole (Episode 1829) – The rise of “micro-retirement,” how to take intentional breaks without sabotaging your finances, and planning time off in a tough job market Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

In this Best of So Money 2025 episode, we revisit some of the most powerful conversations about managing money through midlife — a stage where financial decisions collide with health changes, caregiving responsibilities, relationship transitions, and neurodiversity. From menopause and medical advocacy, to rebuilding after divorce, to rethinking money with ADHD, to caring for aging parents, these excerpts offer practical guidance and reassurance for navigating one of the most complex (and consequential) phases of our financial lives.Featured Guest ExcerptsTamsen Fadal (Episode 1799) – Menopause, medical blind spots, ageism in healthcare, and how women can better advocate for their health and financial well-being during midlifeElizabeth Cronise McLaughlin (Episode 1835) – Rebuilding financially after divorce, confronting money trauma, paying down debt, and modeling financial confidence for childrenNicole Stanley (Episode 1841) – ADHD and money, late diagnosis in midlife, why traditional budgeting often fails neurodivergent brains, and building systems rooted in compassion and dopamineBeth Pinsker (Episode 1874) – Financial caregiving for aging parents, the critical importance of power of attorney, and how to avoid costly legal and banking roadblocks Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Ask Farnoosh tackles three timeless money crossroads: getting out from under high-interest credit card debt, taking a career break without losing financial footing, and deciding whether an early retirement package is a smart (and safe) next move. Questions Include: How to manage credit card debt at 30% interest? Consolidation options, reputable nonprofit credit counseling, negotiating APR, and a realistic payoff plan Burnt out breadwinner considering a 6-month break? Exploring a “middle path” (sabbatical/reduced hours), runway math, and navigating the fear of financial dependence Take an early retirement package? Evaluating the offer, retirement readiness checks, when to consult a planner, and why buyouts can signal future layoffs Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

In this Best of So Money 2025 episode, we revisit the conversations that best captured how AI is reshaping our careers, how we learn, and how we protect our money. Workplace expert Dan Schawbel breaks down what employers really think about degrees in the age of automation, Pat Flynn shares a smarter way to build skills without overwhelm, cybersecurity founder Martha Underwood explains how AI is supercharging scams—and how to defend yourself right now. And last, Amanda Holden offers investing guidance amidst fears of an AI bubble bursting in 2026.Featured Guest ExcerptsDan Schawbel (Episode 1781) – The shifting ROI of college, the automation threat to entry-level work, and the skills employers say matter most nowPat Flynn (Episode 1838) – “Lean Learning,” the one-one-one strategy, and how to build confidence and clarity by serving one real person firstMartha Underwood (Episode 1883) – AI-powered fraud, voice cloning and spoofing, and practical steps to protect your identity (including family “safe words”)Amanda Holden (Episode 1915) – Investing in the age of AI hype, bubble anatomy, and what diversification really means when mega-cap tech dominates indexes Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

In this special Best of So Money 2025 episode, we revisit four of the year’s most powerful conversations at the intersection of money, feminism, and choice. From caregiving and career pauses to beauty standards, ambition, and the myth of “having it all,” these excerpts explore how women navigate systems that shape our financial lives—and how we reclaim power, agency, and options along the way.Featured Guest ExcerptsNeha Ruch (Episode 1774) – Reframing career pauses as The Power Pause and why caregiving chapters can be strategic, dignified, and financially intentionalKatie Gatti Tassin (Episode 1832) – The “Hot Girl Hamster Wheel,” the beauty tax, and how cultural pressure quietly drains women’s wealthAmina AlTai (Episode 1880) – The ambition penalty, broken systems at work, and how to shift from painful ambition to purposeful ambitionDr. Corinne Low (Episode 1919) – Rethinking “having it all,” using data to understand tradeoffs, timing, and women’s life satisfaction Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.