This episode is brought to you by Chase. Social media scams are on the rise and it’s important we know how to spot the tell-tale signs and how to protect our information and money from scams. Visit Chase.com/DontGetReeledIn to learn more.

We're turning our attention to the rise of social media scams and how we can protect ourselves from phishing and impersonation scams to fake ads, quizzes, and job posts. The numbers are staggering. Scammers are targeting everything from fake event tickets and rental properties to counterfeit products. These scams are becoming harder to detect. For more on this, I've invited Darius Kingsley on the show.

Darius is head of consumer banking practices at Chase based in New York. Darius leads efforts to protect Chase's customers from fraud and scams. He's also responsible for supporting Chase's elder customers and leading sustainability initiatives. In our conversation, we're going to get into how scammers use all sorts of social media platforms to target unsuspecting victims, how artificial intelligence and technology have changed their tactics and how we can protect ourselves. We'll also talk about the safest payment methods to use when shopping online and what steps to take if you fall victim to a scam.

Imagine this: You’re nine months pregnant, shopping for a crib at IKEA, when suddenly—a massive earthquake hits. No phone. No keys. No way to reach your family. Just the immediate reality of survival.

That’s the premise of Tilt, a gripping new novel that forces us to ask: How does financial precarity shape our survival? What happens when class determines who makes it out—and who doesn’t?

Today, I’m talking to award-winning journalist and climate crisis storyteller Emma Pattee, whose novel Tilt is as much about disaster as it is about money, resilience, and the choices we make when everything changes in an instant.

We’re unpacking the financial fears that show up in moments of crisis, why money is a survival tool, and the hidden ways class shapes disaster response. Plus, Emma shares her own experiences with money and motherhood—things she wishes she had known before having kids.

Farnoosh answers financial questions from viewers, covering topics such as the pros and cons of the National Debt Relief Program, the impact of selling individual stocks for index funds, and strategies for recent graduates entering the job market. The discussion also includes advice on saving strategies, including automated contributions and side hustles. Additional questions addressed include navigating a severance package post-layoff, COBRA insurance options, and the best methods for investing money either incrementally or as a lump sum. Lastly, the importance of broadening job searches and making the most of living with family to save on housing costs is emphasized.

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Most couples struggle to get on the same page regarding money and relationships. Less than 40% of married couples discuss their finances in detail—a staggering statistic that often leads to miscommunication, conflict, and, for some, divorce. But today’s guests, Jessica and Brandon Norwood, are trying to change that narrative.

Jessica and Brandon are the dynamic duo behind The Sugar Daddy Podcast, a show dedicated to helping millennials break the stigma around money conversations and build wealth as a team. As a married couple who have navigated everything from student loans to merging their financial lives, they bring a wealth of personal and professional insight. Jessica, a tech professional and the breadwinner in their family, and Brandon, a licensed financial planner, have developed a proven 5-step framework for creating financial harmony in relationships.

In this episode, we dive into:

• The importance of shared values and financial alignment—why dreaming big as a couple is key.
• Tackling financial dealbreakers—and why financial infidelity might be a red flag you can’t ignore.
• What it’s like being a female breadwinner—and how Jessica and Brandon embrace modern parenthood and partnership.
• And a bold take on affording kids—why waiting for financial “readiness” might mean you’ll never leap.

Check out this download to better understand the couple's D.R.E.A.M Framework for navigating money in your relationship.

Known for his no-nonsense approach to money and his former role as a Ramsey Solutions personality, guest Anthony O'Neal has helped millions take control of their finances. He has written several books, including his latest, Take Your Seat at the Table, where he empowers readers to create a vision for their lives and build wealth on their terms.

In this episode, Anthony shares his remarkable journey from being a 19-year-old drowning in $35,000 of debt to becoming debt-free and building a seven-figure business. He opens up about his time working with Dave Ramsey, how it influenced his financial philosophy, and why he eventually decided to strike out on his own to bring financial education to underserved communities.

You’ll learn:

• The money mistakes Anthony made at 19 and how he turned his life around.
• The importance of avoiding consumer debt and focusing on building assets.
• How faith and purpose are pivotal in Anthony’s financial teachings.
• Why creating a clear vision for your life is the first step to achieving financial freedom.
• Practical steps for eliminating debt, building generational wealth, and owning your financial life.

Sign up for Farnoosh’s free Investing Blueprint

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Join the So Money Members Club

Leave a review on Apple Podcasts

Order Farnoosh’s new book, A Healthy State of Panic

This episode originally aired on January 8, 2025.

In this week's Ask Farnoosh episode, we tackle three major financial dilemmas from listeners: Setting Boundaries as a Daughter of Immigrants, Avoiding Financial Dependence on a Partner and Knowing When to Walk Away from a Business. Plus, a behind-the-scenes update on The Montclair Pod, and reflections on launching a new show 10 years after So Money.

Resources & Links:

• Listen to The Montclair Pod
• Join Book to Brand workshop in NYC (March 7)
• Join the So Money Members Club.
• Download Farnoosh’s free investing blueprint.
• Hang out with Farnoosh on Instagram.

Today we’re catching up with the incredible Jannese Torres, host of Yo Quiero Dinero podcast and trust me—she’s had a year. Since her last visit, she’s launched her book Financially Lit, traveled the country on a book tour while secretly pregnant, became a mom, got engaged, and even bought a house.

But that’s just the beginning. In this conversation, we dive into how financial independence has reshaped her life as a new parent, her approach to building wealth while growing a family, and—something we don’t talk about nearly enough—how she and her fiancé have structured their finances now that he’s a stay-at-home parent on her payroll.

From prenups to parenthood, from self-employment hacks to the real cost of giving birth (wait until you hear her hospital bill), Jannese gets real about the financial and emotional shifts that come with these big life changes.

Register for Farnoosh's next Book to Brand workshop.

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.

Guest Brittany Wilson started listening to So Money in 2020 when she realized she needed to take charge of her finances. She grew up with little financial literacy and took on high-interest student loans without knowing what she was signing up for. But once she made the decision to educate herself, everything changed.

Since then, Brittany has increased her salary by $42,000, fully funded her emergency savings, diversified her investments, started a side business, and—perhaps most importantly—helped her mom open her very first Roth IRA. Last year, she took one of the biggest leaps of her life: quitting her job to run her career coaching business, Career Candor, full-time.

In today’s conversation, we discuss Brittany’s financial transformation, how she navigated job loss and used it as a catalyst for entrepreneurship, and her top career coaching advice—including how AI is changing the hiring process. We also talk about the emotional side of money, the power of financial friendships, and why helping others—especially the women in our lives—can be one of the most rewarding financial moves we make.

Register for Farnoosh's next Book to Brand workshop.

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.