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 financial advisors that fit your priorities and preferences. Also joining is Marienela Collado, CFP and CPA for Tobias Financial Advisors.

This episode aired originally on July 12, 2024.

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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 Substack Holy Trip, You Guys at holytripyouguys.com, and you can find his day-to-day insights on Instagram at @holyshityouguys.

This conversation was originally recorded inside the So Money Members Club this summer, where Dan joined us for an in-depth workshop on mastering travel rewards. Consider it a sneak peek of the kind of learning and access you get inside the Club.

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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-so-subtle — ways marketers capitalize on our optimism, impulsivity, and desire for status.

We talk about:

• Why your brain underestimates the pain of future debt
• How credit card companies brand products to play on our egos
• Why handling money can make us less generous
• The hidden costs of “quiet luxury” and keeping up appearances
• And how Dinsmore’s own research found that just touching $20 bills increased testosterone and reduced charitable giving

This episode is a replay.

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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 headlines:

• Tariff Rebate Checks? A proposed bill would send $600 checks to Americans, redistributing billions in collected tariff revenue. Supporters call it a timely relief, while critics question whether it's a sustainable solution.
• Housing Market Reset: As pandemic-era price surges deflate in places like Austin, buyers may finally have leverage — but high mortgage rates remain a hurdle.
• AI and the Return of In-Person Job Interviews: Companies like Google are bringing back face-to-face interviews to combat AI cheating in virtual screenings.
• The Tooth Fairy’s Budget Cuts: Delta Dental reports a 14% drop in the average payout for lost teeth — a sign of tighter household budgets.

In the mailbag, Farnoosh answers three timely listener questions:

1. How to Prep for a Recession and a Weak Dollar: Farnoosh recommends beefing up emergency savings, diversifying investments, considering inflation hedges like TIPS or gold, and reducing high-interest debt. Flexibility is key.
2. Juggling a Mortgage and Child Care Costs: She reframes child care as a career investment, suggests alternatives like nanny shares or Dependent Care FSAs, and advises delaying large home upgrades until expenses ease.
3. Will My Teen’s Job Hurt Financial Aid?: Unlikely, says Farnoosh. The FAFSA allows students to earn about $7,600 before aid is impacted. Still, she warns that assets in a teen’s name can carry more weight than income.

Farnoosh closes with a reminder that applications for her mentorship program close this Sunday — an opportunity for listeners looking to build a sustainable, personal brand.

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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 riders, and what she calls the rich person’s “cheat code.” We’ll also unpack the history of our cultural obsession with wealth in the U.S., why some believe wealth is a poison to our culture and explore why being “too rich” might just make you less empathetic.

More about Sanibel: She is a writer based in NYC. She grew up in Princeton, NJ and studied Classics at the University of Pennsylvania before getting her MFA at The New School. Her essays appear in New York, Air Mail, ELLE, and Lit Hub. You can follow Sanibel on TikTok and Instagram.

Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

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 could impact your favorite retailers
• The real danger behind “feminine energy” dating advice
• Practical ways to protect yourself financially in relationships
• Why playful money trends like “Girl Math” aren’t as harmless as they seem

Links & Episodes Referenced:

• Priya Malani, Founder of Stash Wealth
• SoMoneyLinks.com – My curated tools for saving, investing, and earning more
• Apply to Farnoosh BTS – My fall mentorship program for entrepreneurs and content creators\
• Want to ask a question for an upcoming show? Head to SoMoneyPodcast.com or DM me @FarnooshTorabi on Instagram!

Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

As summer winds down and Montclair empties out, The Montclair Pod is here with a jam-packed Season 2 finale to help you make the most of August, whether you’re staying put or sneaking in one last getaway.

Co-hosts Farnoosh and Mike share their personal vacation stories (pork shoulder rotisserie, anyone?), surprising listener hotspots, and clever ways to spend your August locally, including music, beaches, comedy, pools, workouts, and yes…Medieval Fest.

Plus:

• A fire closes two Bloomfield Ave. businesses—how to help
• Montclair Public Schools’ $11M budget shortfall (and wild Reddit theories)
• Updates on QuickChek's replacement
• Montclair’s own spy scandal and true crime lore
• A very sweaty trip to the astronaut-inspired fitness studio, Brain & Body Method
• Live music picks from Forest Hills to Iridium Jazz Club
• Why one listener says Point Pleasant Beach beats the others.
• Montclair’s pool drama, and whether you can crash Glen Ridge or Maplewood

• GoFundMe: Help Rebuild Hava Fei
• Montclair Schools on Reddit
• Montclair Early Music: Medieval Fest Info + Tickets
• Brain and Body Method Say you heard about them on The Montclair Pod to unlock 3 free sessions.
• Forest Hills Stadium Concert Lineup
• Montclair Comedy Festival Submissions
• The Funplex Waterpark
• Montclair Art Museum (Wine & Wheel)
• Montclair Jazz Festival Soundcheck Series at Wellmont Plaza
• Aziz Ansari at the Wellmont Theater
• Lady Gaga at Madison Square Garden
• Medieval Fest

What happens when you devote your life to raising a family—stepping away from the workforce, supporting your partner’s career, managing the household—only to realize one day that you have no financial autonomy? That you’ve been left in the dark about your own future?

In this episode, we’re joined by Anna Goff, a former stay-at-home mom turned fierce financial advocate, who opens up about her own journey through marriage, motherhood, and an eye-opening divorce. Anna’s story is raw and revealing, and it underscores a reality too many women face: being financially vulnerable in a relationship, especially without a paycheck of their own.

We unpack what true partnership looks like, how to create transparency around money before it’s too late, and the exact steps Anna recommends for any caregiver or non-earning partner to protect themselves—emotionally, legally, and financially.

Anna also shares details about her accessible and deeply practical course, Protect Yourself Without a Paycheck, designed for women navigating these exact challenges.

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 messaging does more harm than good.

But we don’t stop there. We also dig into what it really takes to build wealth when you don’t come from generational wealth, how financial knowledge—not money—is often the most valuable asset, and why staying politically engaged is a financial strategy. Meg also talks about her popular Substack Call Your Representatives, and we close out with a little joy: what she's happily spending her money on this summer.

Links + Resources Mentioned:

• Meg's Free Guide: equitablemoneyproject.com/somoney
• SoMoneyLinks.com – My curated tools for saving, investing, and earning more
• Apply to Farnoosh BTS – My fall mentorship program for entrepreneurs and content creators
• Want to ask a question for an upcoming show? Head to SoMoneyPodcast.com or DM me @FarnooshTorabi on Instagram!

Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.