HerMoney with Jean Chatzky

How many credit cards is too many? Are premium travel cards actually worth those eye-popping annual fees? And what should you do when a card in your wallet stops pulling its weight? This week, Jean Chatzky is joined once again by money expert Vivian Tu for a listener mailbag all about credit cards, points, and smart strategies for getting real value, without paying unnecessary fees or interest. Together, they break down: How to decide if high-end travel cards like Amex Platinum or Chase Sapphire Reserve are actually worth the cost The smartest way to evaluate card perks — from lounge access to travel protections — in real dollar terms When it makes sense to downgrade a credit card How to use points efficiently without spending hours comparison shopping What to say if you call your credit card company to ask for a lower interest rate How to switch cards while protecting your credit score and account history 📈 Join our InvestingFixx club, your first month is free!  Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

She’s back, and she brought her boldest advice yet. Vivian Tu, New York Times bestselling author and founder of Your Rich BFF, joins us to talk about her new book Well Endowed and why now is the time to rethink how you spend, save, and build the future you want. Vivian and Jean get real about what it means to be truly wealthy—not just financially, but emotionally and generationally. From burnout to budgeting to luxury trap purchases, this episode is your permission slip to stop spending for the wrong reasons and start aligning your money with what actually matters. What we’re diving into: The “values detox” every spender needs How to know if that splurge is really worth your time Why premium doesn’t always mean better (hello, MVP rule) What Vivian’s learned from the vibrant, retired women in her Miami building How to design a retirement that’s anything but tired Why estate planning is non-negotiable—even in your 30s Resources & Links: 💰 Order Well Endowed by Vivian Tu 🧠 Join the HerMoney InvestingFixx Club 📝 Subscribe to Vivian's Substack: enRICHed with Your Rich BFF 🎧 Listen to Vivian’s podcast: Networth and Chill Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

In this week’s episode of A Week In Her Wallet, we head to New Jersey to follow Prisca, a 35-year-old nurse and part-time money coach who tracks every dollar with intention. From $8 therapy copays to $25 dance classes that light up her world, Prisca shows us how structure and joy can coexist in personal finance. Prisca’s week is packed with practical tips, emotional insights, and small moments that reveal big truths. Whether it’s her mantra of "aiming for calm" or her strategy to save before she spends, this is a blueprint for budgeting with purpose. Resources: Join our investing club! Your first month is completely free. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

What do two financial pros with over 60 years of combined experience really wish they knew about money 30 years ago? In this very special crossover episode of HerMoney and The David Bach Show, Jean Chatzky sits down with longtime friend and bestselling author David Bach to share candid stories, big career lessons, and one bold new idea that could change retirement in America. Together, Jean and David trade their top financial insights, biggest regrets, and heartfelt advice for anyone navigating money, health, aging, and family in 2026. Resources: David’s Flat Tax Proposal The Automatic Millionaire (20th Anniversary Edition) HerMoney’s InvestingFixx Club Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

This week, we’re cutting through the chaos and zeroing in on what matters most to your financial life: your investments, your home, and your next money moves. Jean sits down with Dr. Mark Zandi, Chief Economist at Moody’s Analytics, to unpack how global uncertainty, rising mortgage rates, and Trump-era policies are reshaping our economy. From the stock market rollercoaster to the housing “lock-in” crisis, Mark offers practical, down-to-earth advice for navigating it all. You’ll learn: Why Mark says, “Don’t even look at the market” (and what to do instead) What the mortgage “doom loop” means for Millennials, Gen Z, and retirees How long it could take to restore housing affordability in America Why homeownership is still a powerful wealth-building tool The truth about 50-year mortgages, portable loans, and whether they can help How to think smartly about helping your kids now vs. leaving a legacy later 💡 Further reading and listening: The American Housing and Economic Mobility Act “Die With Zero” by Bill Perkins The Inside Economics Podcast – hosted by Mark Zandi Join our InvestingFixx Club today! Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

When people think about preparing for retirement, they usually think about saving. But the real challenge? Making sure your money lasts as long as you do. Morningstar’s Christine Benz joins us for a conversation about the smartest ways to prepare for retirement and make sure your money goes the distance.  This episode is part of our new, monthly retirement-focused series, brought to you by LIMRA. With practical tips and real-world conversations, these episodes will give you the tools to help you feel more confident about what comes next. In this episode, Jean and Christine break down: Why there’s no one-size-fits-all retirement plan How to shift from a saving to a spending mindset in retirement The biggest retirement blind spots – and why they’re more challenging for women The steps you can take today to feel less overwhelmed about retirement planning 🛣️ ARE YOU ON TRACK? If you’re ready to start putting together a retirement plan that works for you, download LIMRA’s free Retirement Income Planning Starter Guide. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

You’ve got questions, we’ve got Amanda Holden. In this special Mailbag episode of HerMoney, Jean is joined once again by investing expert and How to Be a Rich Old Lady author Amanda Holden to tackle your biggest investing dilemmas. We’re talking: What to actually do after opening a Roth IRA Whether crypto deserves a spot in your portfolio What to do with a $500,000 401(k) after a layoff Whether target-date funds are worth the cost And why diversification is non-negotiable ✨ Want to get smarter with your money in 2026? Join our women-only investing club, InvestingFixx, where expert stock pickers pitch ideas—and you help build the portfolio. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

As we kick off 2026, it’s time to talk about the future—and the woman you want to become. Whether she’s rocking silver bangles on the beach or sipping coffee in her cabin, your Rich Old Lady deserves a life of financial freedom. And today’s guest is here to help you build it. Amanda Holden is the founder of Invested Development and the author of How to Be a Rich Old Lady: Your Guide to Easy Investing, Building Wealth, and Creating the Wild, Beautiful Life You Want. After a career in investment management (yes, she was once a finance bro), Amanda walked away from Wall Street to help over 25,000 women learn to invest, without shame, jargon, or feeling overwhelmed.  In this episode, Jean and Amanda break down: Why the financial system feels so exclusive—and how to take your seat at the table How to build “the Gap” (your most powerful financial tool) Amanda’s hilarious (and helpful) dating metaphor for asset allocation Whether it’s too late to catch up on retirement (spoiler: it’s not) The surprising risks of today’s AI-driven stock market boom 💼 Want more support with your investing journey? Join our women-only investing club, InvestingFixx, today! Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Is fair always equal when it comes to family and money? On this week’s HerMoney Mailbag, Jean Chatzky is joined by Quentin Fottrell, Managing Editor of Advice at MarketWatch and the voice behind The Moneyist column, to tackle the most emotionally charged financial questions from our listeners and his inbox. They dive into: 💸 Whether a promised $250K inheritance should include interest 🏡 How to avoid probate and protect your family home using a Lady Bird Deed 🧺 A listener whose parents are giving each son a $500K laundromat (but don’t want to give their spouses anything) Whether you're planning your estate, helping aging parents, or wondering how to protect family assets, this episode is packed with practical tips, legal insights, and thoughtful perspectives. Want more smart money advice from Jean? Subscribe, leave a review, and send your questions to mailbag@hermoney.com. Resources Mentioned: 🔗 The Moneyist at MarketWatch 🔗 HerMoney Facebook Group 🔗 Join the InvestingFixx Community Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

The markets are still riding high, but if 2025 taught us anything, it’s that not everything that glitters is gold. In this episode, Jean Chatzky sits down with legendary investor and InvestingFixx co-founder Karen Finerman to unpack the wild ride of 2025: the highs, the flops, the lessons learned, and the big bets she’s making in 2026. We also talk about what makes a winning portfolio, how our InvestingFixx club beat the market, and how you can start building confidence with your own investments, one smart move at a time. In this episode: What Karen’s biggest winner of 2025 says about the market’s resilience Her biggest regret and what she’d do differently Whether the AI hype is starting to look like 1999 How to use the volatility index to make better decisions Why banks might be the most overlooked opportunity of 2026 What our InvestingFixx community got right and how they keep winning Looking for more? Join our InvestingFixx club Listen to How She Does It with Karen Finerman Karen Finerman’s viral end-of-year thread on X Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

How do you invest in yourself when life throws you off course? In this special HerMoney Mailbag episode, Jean Chatzky and Maha Abouelenein, author of 7 Rules of Self-Reliance, answer your real-life questions about navigating layoffs, career pivots, and side hustles. We answer your questions on: What to do immediately after a layoff to protect your career momentum How to transition to a less stressful career after parental leave Smart ways to supplement your income from home  How to build your personal brand and start getting noticed on LinkedIn Why your network is your greatest asset and how to start using it  We love your questions! Send them to us at mailbag@hermoney.com. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Ready to invest in yourself in 2026 and beyond? In this empowering episode, Jean sits down with Maha Abouelenein, global communications strategist and author of the bestselling book 7 Rules of Self-Reliance, to talk about how women can build confidence, create value, and stop waiting for permission to grow. Maha shares the pivotal story of how she rebuilt her life after a major career pivot, going from secretary to business partner in just four years, and how we can all tap into the mindset of self-reliance to create real opportunity, no matter where we’re starting from. We discuss: What it really means to invest in yourself—personally, professionally, and financially Why your reputation is currency, and how to build a personal brand that opens doors How to develop the five key traits of self-reliant people: initiative, adaptability, decision-making, leadership, and growth mindset Maha’s mantra “Stay low, keep moving”—and how it can help you block the noise and stay focused Why hustle culture is out, and value culture is in How to use small daily actions to build lasting change 🎧 Don’t miss our bonus Mailbag episode this Friday, where Maha returns to answer your real-life questions on personal branding and career transitions. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

This week, we’re following Beth, a 52-year-old federal attorney from Kentucky who earns $230K a year and is raising a blended family, a 14-year-old son, two grown stepsons, and two adorable grandkids. Beth walks us through a week of intentional spending, including: Snagging $10K worth of high-end furniture on Facebook Marketplace for just $750 Treating herself to monthly DryBar blowouts Managing skyrocketing teen food bills And staying mindful through a hybrid work schedule and variable family expenses We’re looking for more real women to share their spending diaries. 👉 Fill out this quick form to get started Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

As we head into a new year and set goals for our health, wealth, and happiness, there’s one powerful factor that’s often overlooked: social connection. In this episode, Jean Chatzky sits down with Ken Stern, longevity expert and author of the new book Healthy to 100: How Strong Social Ties Lead to Long Lives, to explore how the loneliness epidemic is quietly threatening both our health and our finances, and what we can do about it. Whether you're nearing retirement, navigating your second act, or just looking to improve your healthspan (not just lifespan!), this conversation is packed with practical tips on: How to build meaningful relationships without overspending Why third places (not home or work) are essential to healthy aging What other countries are doing right when it comes to retirement and lifelong learning How women, in particular, can fight isolation and plan for long, vibrant lives 📚 Resources: Get Ken Stern’s new book: Healthy to 100: How Strong Social Ties Lead to Long Lives Listen to Ken’s podcast: Century Lives by the Stanford Center on Longevity Join the HerMoney Community for more conversations like this 💬 Like what you hear? Please leave us a ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️ review on Apple Podcasts: it helps more women find the show and join the conversation about living richer, bolder, more connected lives. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

How do you stick to a budget in retirement without feeling restricted, anxious, or deprived, especially when the cost of living keeps rising? This week on Your Money Map, Jean Chatzky is joined by Tiffany Aliche, better known as The Budgetnista, to talk about what budgeting and financial security really look like in retirement today, and why the old rules don’t always apply anymore. Why budgeting alone isn’t always enough, and what does help How to think about spending in retirement without feeling deprived The case for lowering overhead before you stop working Paying off a mortgage vs. keeping a low-interest loan Hidden programs and benefits that activate later in life Tiffany’s top three tips for anyone approaching retirement 🎧 More resources on building retirement income you can’t outlive: Visit protectedincome.org   📬 Sign up for the newsletter at protectedincome.org/subscribe In this episode, we cover:📘 Get Good With Money by Tiffany Aliche Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Car buying can be one of the biggest — and most stressful — financial decisions we make. And too often, the auto industry feels like it was built to leave women out of the conversation. That ends today. In this episode, Jean Chatzky sits down with Chaya M. Milchtein, automotive educator, author of Mechanic Shop Femme’s Guide to Car Ownership, and all-around badass when it comes to helping women and LGBTQ+ folks feel confident in car buying, maintenance, and ownership. We also dive into: Why EVs aren't for everyone, and what to know before you commit How to figure out the true cost of car ownership The #1 negotiating mistake people make (and how to avoid it) How women can reclaim power in auto spaces that weren’t built for us What to do if you're buying a car for your kid, and peace of mind is your top priority 📚 Get Chaya’s book: Mechanic Shop Femme’s Guide to Car Ownership Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

This week, we’re welcoming back someone who feels like part of the HerMoney podcast family: happiness expert and New York Times bestselling author Gretchen Rubin.  Gretchen is back with Jean to tackle some of the trickiest, most taboo, and surprisingly relatable money dilemmas our listeners have shared, including: What to do when your bank suddenly shuts down your account with no explanation How to confidently ask your employer to sponsor you in a pageant (without sounding cringe) And how to professionally advocate for yourself when a colleague with less experience is making $20K more 🎧 Got a money question of your own? Write to us at mailbag@hermoney.com 📲 And be sure to check out Since You Asked wherever you get your podcasts! Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

When bestselling author and podcast host Jen Hatmaker’s 26-year marriage imploded, she realized something shocking: even though she was the breadwinner, she had no idea how much money she made… or how to access it. In this deeply honest and empowering conversation, Jen sits down with Jean Chatzky to discuss her financial “wake-up” — how she went from completely disconnected to financially independent after divorce. Together, they unpack how faith, purity culture, and traditional gender roles shaped her relationship with money, and how she ultimately took back control. What You’ll Hear In This Episode: Why she went to an attorney, not a therapist, after finding out about her husband’s affair The cultural and religious beliefs that kept her from managing her money Jen’s 90-day crash course to financial independence (and the exact checklist she followed) How friendships and solo travel helped her heal emotionally and financially Her evolving relationship with spirituality after stepping away from church Jen’s advice for women who feel they’re “late” to their own financial lives Resources & Links: Jen Hatmaker’s memoir: AWAKE Jen’s podcast: For The Love Follow Jen on Instagram More financial tips and support: HerMoney.com If you enjoyed this episode, please leave us a review on Apple Podcasts and share it with a friend who needs to hear it. Subscribe for more stories of reinvention, resilience, and taking control of your financial future. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

This week on A Week In Her Wallet, we meet Megan, a 47-year-old office manager living on Long Island with her husband. Together they earn around $200,000, but keep most of their spending separate — and it works. Megan hasn’t paid a cent in credit card interest in over two decades and recently spent just $400 in a week, all while training for her fifth marathon. Tune in as she shares: Why she keeps her money separate from her spouse, and how they make it work The real costs of marathon training How she budgeted for a trip to Barcelona without touching savings Her unique take on tipping, impulse buying, and personal finance independence 🎯 Ready to understand your own money style? Take our MoneyType™ quiz 💡 Want to build better habits? Join our InvestingFixx club. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Today on the HerMoney Podcast, we're bringing you something special — an exclusive preview of one of our brand-new Patreon-only AMA episodes. In this series, Jean sits down one-on-one with real listeners to talk through their biggest financial questions in real time. In this episode, you’ll meet Donna, a 68-year-old listener who is rebuilding her financial life from scratch after the end of a 30-year marriage, years out of the workforce, and time spent navigating disability. Now she’s back at work full-time — earning nearly double what she made before — and she’s trying to figure out how to use this new income to build the retirement she wants. Jean and Donna talk through: What it feels like to step back into the workforce at 68 How to choose between Roth and traditional contributions How to invest when you feel “behind” on retirement What to do when advisors tell you your portfolio is “too small.” And how to finally create a plan after years of trying You’ll hear the first half of their conversation here. To listen to the full episode — plus all of our new bonus content — join us on Patreon. 👉 https://www.patreon.com/cw/HerMoneyPodcast  As a Patreon member, you’ll get: 1–2 exclusive bonus episodes every month AMA call-in mailbags with Jean A lively private chat with the HerMoney community Ad-free listening across the entire feed Early access to submit your money questions Access to a special live event we’re hosting in the new year If you love having more HerMoney in your week, we’d love to have you join us. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices