Download Farnoosh's Free Investing Blueprint to learn how to begin investing for your future. Learn more about her So Money Members Club.

In this week’s Ask Farnoosh, Farnoosh kicks off with a look at key economic headlines—from McDonald’s reporting a drop in customer traffic to new signs the U.S. economy may be cooling, including a GDP contraction and a spike in jobless claims. She also reflects on a powerful story shared by comedian Zarna Garg about how her family handled job loss during the pandemic, and why honesty with kids during financial stress can build resilience.

Then, Farnoosh answers three listener questions:

• Elizabeth is considering a new role at a worker cooperative with a significantly lower salary. Farnoosh walks through what questions to ask about co-op structures, how to weigh values vs. pay, and whether the trade-off is worth it.
• A listener worried about market volatility asks how to protect their 529 college savings plan over the next 10 years. Farnoosh shares practical strategies for adjusting investment risk and preserving growth potential.
• A Canadian teacher in her 30s feels stuck—financially overwhelmed, burned out, and unsure how to move forward. Farnoosh offers actionable steps to regain control, find short-term wins, explore alternate income streams, and shift mindsets around job security and reinvention.

Plus, a reminder to check out this week’s earlier episodes with Rachel Rodgers (raising financially confident kids) and Heather Zack (estate planning 101).

Today’s episode is a special one, pulled straight from inside the So Money Members Club. This month, we hosted a live workshop all about estate planning — a topic that many of our members requested — and we brought in an expert to guide us: Heather Zack, an attorney and financial planner who leads high-net-worth strategy at Commonwealth Financial Network.

Whether you're married or not, have kids or don't, own property or are just starting to build wealth, this conversation with Heather will help demystify the essentials. We cover wills, trusts (both revocable and irrevocable), how to choose the right people to manage your estate, and how to avoid common mistakes that can cost your loved ones time, money, and stress.

And if you’ve ever wondered whether those “create your estate plan in 30 minutes online” sites are legit? We get into that too.

Today's guest is Rachel Rodgers—a powerhouse entrepreneur, bestselling author, and tireless advocate for wealth building, especially for those historically excluded from financial success. You might remember Rachel from her groundbreaking book, We Should All Be Millionaires.

She's back with another insightful and empowering book titled Future Millionaire: A Young Person's Step-by-Step Guide to Making Wealth Inevitable. It's a powerful message for young people, particularly those aged 13 to 25, designed to equip them not just with dreams, but with a strategic blueprint for achieving genuine wealth.

Rachel's mission is clear: it's time we start teaching our children that wealth is within their reach, no matter their starting point. Today, she joins me to discuss how we can foster a millionaire mindset in our kids, why being rich and famous isn't the goal, and what practical steps parents and young adults can take right now to secure their financial futures.

How strong and healthy are your relationships? Have you ever considered your relationships as valuable assets—ones that can lead you to a richer, more prosperous life?

Today, we're fortunate to be joined by Selena Soo, an acclaimed publicity and marketing expert, and the author of the captivating new book, Rich Relationships. Selena has built an extraordinary career teaching entrepreneurs and leaders the art and science of cultivating authentic relationships that not only stand the test of time but thrive and grow exponentially.

In our conversation, Selena reveals how genuine, meaningful relationships are your most powerful tools for success, going far beyond casual networking. She shares groundbreaking insights into how generosity and authenticity form the foundation of connections that can profoundly enrich your personal and professional life.

Key takeaways you'll gain from our discussion include:

• The crucial mindset shift from merely collecting contacts to building meaningful relationships.
• Practical strategies for nurturing relationships aligned with your values and goals.
• Selena’s expert advice on initiating impactful conversations with influential mentors and peers.
• Powerful ways to turn your fear of rejection into an empowering aspect of relationship-building.

Get the first 4 chapters of Selena's book plus more freebies here: RichRelationshipsBook.com/Farnoosh

This episode aired initially been on Feb 3, 2025.

Today, we're diving into the world of travel and points with none other than Brian Kelly, a long-time friend of the show and the founder of The Points Guy. Brian is here to talk about his new book, How to Win at Travel, a guide that helps you unlock all the secrets to mastering the points game, maximizing travel perks, and scoring luxury experiences without luxury price tags. We'll cover:

• Why Brian calls this era the "platinum age of travel" and how to take full advantage of it.
• The biggest mistakes travelers make with airline and hotel bookings—and how to avoid them.
• How to leverage rewards credit cards strategically to score free business-class trips to Europe.
• The top tech tools to help you find the best award flights and travel deals with minimal effort.
• Insider tips on travel insurance, packing, and even why you should throw an Apple AirTag into your luggage!

Check out Farnoosh's new hyperlocal podcast The Montclair Pod

Join the So Money Members Club.

Download Farnoosh’s free investing blueprint.

Hang out with Farnoosh on Instagram.

This episode is a replay from October 11, 2024.

Download Farnoosh's Free Investing Blueprint to learn how to begin investing for your future.

Today's show: Is there such a thing as investing "too" much? Can obtaining a home equity loan be helpful when purchasing a second home? How to find a great accountant, and more.