Sixty percent of Americans say they feel scared when they think about the future, and women are more likely than men to feel that way. If your instinct is to push that fear down, breathe through it, or just try to be more fearless, Farnoosh Torabi wants to stop you right there. Because fear, she argues, isn’t the enemy. It’s actually one of the most powerful tools you have, if you know how to listen to it.

This week, Jean sits down with Farnoosh Torabi to talk about her book, A Healthy State of Panic: Follow Your Fears to Build Wealth, Crush Your Career, and Win at Life.

They dig into:

• The difference between healthy and unhealthy fear 
• The live TV snafu that taught Farnoosh to stop performing and just be herself (and what that has to do with your next big meeting or financial conversation)
• Why your fear of money might actually be ingrained, and what to do about it

I'm hosting a free Forever Paycheck book club November 17th at 7 ET! Sign up here.

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Have you ever stopped to think about how nearly every product in your life — the car you drive, the shoes on your feet, the chair you're sitting in right now — was actually designed for men? Because cars were designed for men, women are 73% more likely to be seriously injured in a crash, and 17% more likely to die in one. And it doesn't stop at cars; even your sneakers were likely modeled on a man's foot first.

This week, Jean sits down with Karen Reuther — former Global Creative Director at Nike, VP of Creative Direction at Reebok, and now a design lecturer at Harvard — to talk about her new book, Man-Made: How We Designed a World That Leaves Women Out, and How We Can Make It Right. 

They dig into:

• The "headspace gap" — the hidden mental tax women pay navigating cities, commutes, and public spaces built around men
• How the Stanley Quencher became a case study in designing for women
• Practical ways to push back on the pink tax with your voice, your vote, and your wallet

The Forever Paycheck is officially a New York Times bestseller! If you've read it and found it useful, leave a review on Amazon and send a screenshot to [email protected] to be entered to win a signed copy.

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We're closing in on the end of 2026, and on paper, it's been an amazing year for the markets. But that doesn't change the math that so many of us are feeling in our day-to-day lives. That’s why we’re back with Tori Dunlap, founder and CEO of Her First $100K, to walk us through her top moves for building real wealth as we head into the final stretch of the year.

Jean and Tori get into what to do with cash sitting in a high-yield savings account right now, why Tori says it's now unequivocally smarter to rent than buy in most major U.S. cities, and the trap she sees so many high-earning women fall into.

In this episode:

• Why Tori says to beef up your emergency fund right now, even if you're already investing
• How to build a truly diversified portfolio beyond a single index fund
• What a HENRY is, and why decent income can disconnect you from your money

And if you've already read The Forever Paycheck, leave a review on Amazon and send Jean a screenshot at [email protected]; you'll be entered to win a signed copy.

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In this AMA, Jean sits down with Anne — a 57-year-old retiree, self-taught investor, and self-described "super saver" — who's questioning whether her advisor's 60-basis-point fee (upwards of $50,000 a year) is still worth it now that she's retired, debt-free, and increasingly comfortable managing her own portfolio.

They talk:

• The real difference between a pre-retirement growth plan and a post-retirement income plan
• Why getting your advisor, accountant, and estate planner talking to each other matters 
• How to "shop around" for an advisor without necessarily planning to leave the one you have

Thanks to all of you, The Forever Paycheck hit the New York Times Best Seller list. Leave us a review on Amazon and send a screenshot to [email protected]m⁠ to be entered to win a signed copy.

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It's no secret that Dr. Jill Biden has been through a lot. She opens her new memoir, View From The East Wing, by telling us about the heartbreak of losing her son Beau to brain cancer at the age of 46. In the wake of that loss, she and her husband almost lost their son Hunter Biden to addiction.

And more recently, she has been by former President Joe Biden's side through his diagnosis of an aggressive form of prostate cancer that has metastasized to his bones, though she says they are very optimistic about his most recent scans.

Yet in an era where "unprecedented" has been used more times than most of us can stomach, Jill Biden has stayed steady — continuing to teach as a community college English professor even through her husband's presidency, making her the only First Lady in history to hold an outside job while her husband was in office.

In this episode, Jean Chatzky sits down with Dr. Jill Biden to talk about money, independence, and resilience. They discuss:

• How a first marriage that ended in financial panic shaped everything she believes about money
• Why she and Joe Biden have always kept separate bank accounts, and why she thinks every woman should
• Her message to women in their 50s and 60s who feel like they've missed their window

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For almost twenty years, HerMoney CEO Jean Chatzky was an annuity denier. In 2006, when her mother's financial advisor suggested putting some of her mom's money into one, Jean told him, flatly, to forget it. This week, she tells the full story of what changed her mind.

Jean walks through the research that convinced her — retirees with annuitized income spend meaningfully more than retirees with similar wealth who don't have it, in some cases twice as much — and unpacks the psychology behind why a paycheck feels safer to spend than drawing down a balance on your own. 

Want a signed copy of The Forever Paycheck? Leave the book a review on Amazon, screenshot it, and email it to [email protected] to be entered to win.

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Gold's had a strong run in recent months, climbing toward $4,700 an ounce at one point in late August — and if you've been wondering whether it's too late to get in, or whether gold even deserves its reputation as a 'safe haven,' this episode is for you.

In a recent session of HerMoney’s InvestingFixx club, Jean sat down with Meghan Pinchuk, Chief Investment Officer and Partner at Morton Wealth, and we’re sharing it with you here as a sneak peek! 

In this episode, you’ll learn:

• The connection between rising government debt and gold's recent rally
• The differences between physical gold, gold ETFs, and gold mining stocks
• A reasonable gold allocation for most individual investors

Curious to hear more conversations like this one? Jean runs InvestingFixx, a Zoom-based investing club just for women — no experience required, and your first month is free. Check it out at InvestingFixx.com.

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What does being “good with money” actually look like?

It might look like steadily contributing to your 401(k). Or figuring out how to pay for summer camp while continuing to save for retirement. It might mean comparing health insurance plans, building an emergency fund, deciding how much house your family can comfortably afford, or simply asking the right questions before making a big financial decision.

In other words, women are making important financial decisions every single day — and there’s a good chance we’re doing many of them more successfully than we give ourselves credit for.

On this special episode of the HerMoney Podcast, Jean Chatzky sits down with FourLeaf Federal Credit Union President and CEO Linda Armyn to talk about the Money Like A Woman movement and the Five Pillars that they created: building financial confidence and independence; spending, borrowing, and planning with intention; building and growing wealth; protecting what matters; and strengthening your financial community.

Jean and Linda discuss why being “good with money” has traditionally been defined far too narrowly — and why we don’t have to be experts on Wall Street to build wealth. (In fact, many of the habits women may dismiss as “boring,” like saving slowly over time, trading less frequently, and staying invested for the long haul, can actually be some of the keys to financial success!) 

They also dig into what it means to spend with intention (yes, you can buy the 10 pairs of black shoes!), why protecting the people you love through insurance and estate planning is a form of love, how to protect yourself from increasingly sophisticated financial scams, and why talking openly about money can help strengthen our entire financial community.

Ultimately, as Linda explains, the goal is for “anyone and everyone” to be able to Money Like A Woman, regardless of gender.

Be curious. Ask questions. Think long term. Make deliberate choices. Prepare for the unexpected. Share what you’ve learned. And give yourself a little more credit for everything you’re already doing right.

LEARN MORE ABOUT THE MONEY LIKE A WOMAN MOVEMENT HERE!

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Ever moved money out of your vacation fund to cover a car repair, or dipped into your emergency fund for something that wasn't quite an emergency? That's exactly where sinking funds come in. 

This week, Jean sits down with Sean Pyles, CFP® and host of NerdWallet's Smart Money Podcast, and his co-host Elizabeth Ayoola to break down the sinking fund strategy: separate, named savings buckets each tied to a specific goal. 

Plus, Lacy Garcia of Willow is back. She's sharing the five things worth splurging on before the end of 2026, and the trade-offs she makes to afford them. She and Jean also get into when a financial advisor is actually worth the money, and what Willow's version of an advisor looks like for someone who's just trying to get organized. 

Find NerdWallet's Smart Money Podcast wherever you get your podcasts. Get guidance and connect with a vetted fiduciary https://hermoney.com/findanadvisor/.

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Medicare can feel like a maze of parts, plans and deadlines – and getting it wrong can cost you.

On this episode of the HerMoney Podcast, sponsored by LIMRA, Jean sits down with mother-daughter Medicare experts Diane Omdahl and Melinda Caughill of 65 Incorporated to break down exactly what you need to know: when to enroll, how to choose between Original Medicare and Medicare Advantage, and what's changing in 2027 that could catch beneficiaries off guard – from Part D drug plan shakeups to insurers pulling back from Medicare Advantage.

We cover:

• The basics of Medicare – who's automatically enrolled and who isn't, and when you should start prepping to make Medicare decisions

• A quick guide to Parts A, B, C and D, plus where Medigap fits in

• Original Medicare vs. Medicare Advantage: the key differences and why the choice matters more than you think

• What to know about switching plans later – and why timing is everything
• What's changing with Part D and Medicare Advantage in 2027
• A tool that can help simplify comparing your options during open enrollment

After you’ve listened, if you’re ready to dig in, LIMRA’s 5-step guide to planning for healthcare costs in retirement is a great place to start. It will help you get organized, understand your options, and know what to ask your advisor about building a healthcare strategy before you retire.

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Jenna joins Jean Chatzky on this week's episode for another AMA conversation, this time digging into a decision that sits right at the heart of Jean's new book, The Forever Paycheck: Is it worth giving up more money on paper for the peace of mind that comes with guaranteed income?

In this episode:

• Why Jenna and her husband are reconsidering the lump sum after years of assuming it was the obvious choice
• Jean's take on why retirees with pensions tend to spend significantly more than retirees with the equivalent balance sitting in a retirement account
• How guaranteed income can free up the rest of a portfolio to be invested more aggressively
• Why Jenna says choosing peace over optimization is exactly how she and her husband got their finances in order in the first place

Want a signed copy of The Forever Paycheck? Leave The Forever Paycheck a review on Amazon, screenshot it, and email it to [email protected] to be entered to win.

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