So Money with Farnoosh Torabi

Are you on the fence about having children? I'm talking to my women listeners out there. If this is you, you're not alone. In today's world, you know better than anyone that women face enormous pressure and endless questions around motherhood. Is this something I really want? Can I afford it? How will this impact my identity, my career, and my happiness? Our guest knows this internal struggle very well.Ruthie Ackerman is an accomplished writer and journalist whose new memoir, The Mother Code: My Story of Love, Loss, and The Myths That Shape Us, dives deeply into these very questions. Ruthie bravely explores the emotional, societal, and financial realities of deciding whether or not to become a parent. In our candid conversation, she shares her deeply personal journey, questioning motherhood amidst family history, societal expectations, genetic fears, and profound personal and financial costs. She opens up about fertility treatments, egg freezing, IVF, and the financial strategies and sacrifices that made motherhood possible for her.We also discuss how redefining motherhood can be a radical act of self-love and empowerment, and how financial independence can profoundly influence our personal choices, including our decisions to become parents

Joining me today for a very special Ask Farnoosh episode is Maggie Johndrow, a seasoned wealth advisor and partner with Johndrow Wealth Management. Maggie brings her signature calm, clear-headed guidance to our turbulent financial times — and let's be honest, we could all use a little Maggie in our wallets right now.In this episode, we tackle some of the most pressing money questions on your mind as headlines swirl with talk of tariffs, market volatility, and a possible recession. Maggie walks us through:The behavioral traps investors are falling into right now (hello, regret aversion and herd mentality) — and how to avoid them.Her smart and simple "three-bucket strategy" for managing your investments during uncertain times, especially if you're nearing retirement or need access to cash soon.How tariffs might hit our wallets — from rising consumer prices to the potential ripple effects on jobs, inflation, and the Fed's next move.What to prioritize financially if you're worried about a layoff or loss of income, including how to protect your emergency fund, health insurance, and long-term goals like retirement and college savings.And perhaps most reassuring of all — why making small, consistent investing moves still matters more than trying to time the market perfectly.

A new survey sponsored by Hult International Business School finds that a growing number of employers say they’d prefer to automate entry-level jobs rather than hire a recent college graduate. AI is changing the job market faster than any of us imagined—reshaping not just who gets hired, but whether certain jobs even exist in the future.My guest today is Dan Schawbel, a New York Times bestselling author, workplace expert, and managing partner at Workplace Intelligence. Dan has been tracking workplace trends for over a decade, advising companies on the future of work, and in his latest research, the results are terrifying. Not only are companies rethinking the value of a college degree, but some are outright saying they'd rather hire ChatGPT.So what does this mean for workers? Which jobs are actually safe from automation? And if you’re in college right now—or raising kids who might be one day—how do you ensure your education actually pays off?Check out Farnoosh's new hyperlocal podcast The Montclair PodJoin the So Money Members Club.Download Farnoosh’s free investing blueprint.Hang out with Farnoosh on Instagram.This episode is a replay.

Right now, the world feels like it’s moving a mile a minute. News cycles are relentless, the pressure to keep up—professionally, personally, financially—is overwhelming. And beneath all that hustle, so many of us are quietly struggling. We feel disconnected, depleted… yet on the surface, everything looks “fine.”That’s why today’s guest and conversation feel especially urgent.Dr. Judith Joseph is a renowned psychiatrist, researcher, and media personality. Her new book, High Functioning: Overcome Your Hidden Depression and Reclaim Your Joy, is putting a name to what so many high-achieving, outwardly successful people are feeling on the inside.She introduces us to the concept of high-functioning depression—where you're still performing, still showing up, but joy and meaning are missing. And in this episode, Judith helps us understand the roots of this experience—trauma, relentless self-sacrifice, even our relationship with money—and how we can begin to heal using her powerful, evidence-based framework: the Five V’s.What I especially love is her invitation to slow down—to pause, reflect, and reconnect with who we are beyond our productivity. In a time when everything feels uncertain and fast-moving, her message is a reminder that stillness is not weakness—it’s where clarity and joy can return.Check out Farnoosh's new hyperlocal podcast The Montclair PodJoin the So Money Members Club.Download Farnoosh’s free investing blueprint.Hang out with Farnoosh on Instagram.

In this week’s Ask Farnoosh, we’re diving into the ripple effects of the latest tariff threats and what they could mean for your wallet — from rising prices on everyday goods to the broader risk of a recession. Farnoosh explains what’s happening, why it matters, and how to protect your finances now.Plus, answers to your questions, including:Is it wise to switch jobs right now, given the shaky labor market?How can I invest in supporting both myself and my aging parents in the long term?And how do I go about divesting a sibling from a co-owned property?Sign up for Farnoosh’s free Investing BlueprintFollow on InstagramJoin the So Money Members Club

How do you navigate a tricky boss, advocate for a raise, or stay sane when your manager is MIA?On today’s So Money, author and executive coach Melody Wilding returns to share wisdom from her new book, Managing Up: How to Get What You Need from the People in Charge. We explore how to maintain internal boundaries, read between the lines in power dynamics, and own your value—even when leadership is falling short.Melody unpacks what it really means to manage up—not to flatter your boss, but to create the conditions for your success. She walks us through powerful frameworks, communication tips, and yes, how to advocate for more money without burning bridges.Sign up for Farnoosh’s free Investing BlueprintFollow on InstagramJoin the So Money Members Club

This episode is brought to us by Mastercard.The financial world is changing fast, and as we enter the 10th year of So Money, one of my goals is to keep us updated on the latest innovations and technology shaping our money world…to help you understand what’s coming, why it matters, and how you can leverage these changes to improve your financial life.Let me start with a quick thought: what if we had the power to unlock opportunities by using our own data — to switch direct deposits in minutes, get faster loans, or use your rent history to build credit?This is where one of the newest innovations in the finance world enters the picture. It’s called open banking and it’s transforming the financial ecosystem.Joining me today is someone who is at the forefront of opening banking: Jess Turner, EVP and Global Head of Open Banking and API at Mastercard. Listen as Jess breaks down what open banking is, why it’s the thread tying together this new financial world, and how it’s transforming the way we borrow, save, and spend.To learn more about Open Banking, visit this comprehensive guide.

In this week’s Ask Farnoosh episode, Farnoosh unpacks your top financial questions with the looming threat of a recession on everyone’s mind. Should you prioritize paying off debt or building up savings? Is it ever wise to cash out a Roth IRA? What’s the deal with doctor-specific mortgage programs? And how can you move money between brokerage accounts without triggering taxes?Farnoosh also breaks down the latest CNBC CFO Council survey, which reveals growing pessimism and recession forecasts.

What if the secret to extraordinary wealth isn’t about betting on the next big thing, but buying something tried-and-true—like a plumbing business, a car wash, or a cleaning company? What if the future of entrepreneurship isn’t on Wall Street or in Silicon Valley, but on Main Street—if only we knew how to seize it?My guest today is Codie Sanchez, founder and CEO of Contrarian Thinking, a digital education platform and media company with over 6 million followersIn her new book, Main Street Millionaire: How to Make Extraordinary Wealth Buying Ordinary Businesses, Codie lays out her bold argument: that buying profitable, established, cash-flowing businesses is the most underrated path to building wealth—and that now is the time to act. Why? Because America is facing a generational handoff. Over 40 million Americans are hitting retirement age, and baby boomers—who currently own nearly two-thirds of small businesses with employees—are poised to sell. Codie calls it a “silver tsunami,” and for those who know how to navigate it, it could mean once-in-a-generation opportunity.In our conversation, Codie opens up about her own unlikely journey from journalism to Wall Street to Main Street. We talk about how she made the leap, the psychological hurdles to entrepreneurship, and how she thinks about power, relationships, and the future of work in an AI-driven world.

Today, I’m sharing something a little different in the feed.As some of you may know, I recently launched a new podcast called Leading By Example in partnership with iHeartMedia and Ruby Studios. Over there, I’ve been diving into powerful conversations with changemakers who are redefining leadership in their own unique ways—and today, I wanted to bring one of those episodes to the So Money audience.In this episode, I sit down with Kathleen Griffith, a serial entrepreneur who walked away from an unfulfilling corporate career and went on to build Build Like a Woman—a movement and business that’s helping women create the lives and careers they truly want. Through her company Grayce & Co, Kathleen has overseen more than $500 million in marketing strategy for major brands like NIKE Women and Verizon.Kathleen opens up about the bold decisions she made to pivot her life, what she’s learned along the way, and how she’s empowering other women to build—with intention, courage, and heart.Sign up for Farnoosh’s free Investing BlueprintFollow on InstagramJoin the So Money Members Club