HerMoney with Jean Chatzky

This week, we're spending seven days inside Shannon’s wallet, a 41-year-old teacher, mom of two, and money-minded multitasker who lives in a suburb of Washington, D.C. With summer break just beginning, Shannon uses her time off to reflect on her relationship with money, childhood financial trauma, and the emotional tug-of-war between responsible budgeting and spontaneous joy. 🎙️ In this episode, you’ll hear: How Shannon and her husband manage money as teachers Why she’s focused on paying off her credit cards daily, and what that’s done for her mental health The role of sinking funds in keeping her finances on track (yes, even for fun things!) How her childhood shaped the way she spends and saves today The internal negotiations she has before “want” purchases What she’s teaching her daughters about money If more financial confidence sounds good to you, then you might want to try… ⁠4-Week Coaching Program⁠: Identify and understand your spending, build a strategic plan, and take control of your money. ⁠6-Week Pre-Retirement Program⁠: We’ll help you prepare financially and emotionally for this exciting milestone. 📈⁠InvestingFixx⁠: Learn, connect, and start investing—your first month is completely free. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Have you ever dreamed of walking away from your job — not forever, but just long enough to breathe, explore, rest, or chase a big, bold adventure? This week, we're talking about a radical reframe: What if we didn’t retire once at 65… but instead took many retirements throughout our lives? Jean sits down with Jillian Johnsrud, author of Retire Often: How Anyone Can Take Multiple Career Breaks To Unlock Adventure, Advance Their Career, and Find Financial Freedom. By 40, Jillian and her husband had taken more than a dozen mini-retirements; all while raising six kids, building a real estate portfolio, traveling the world, and staying financially afloat. 💡 In this episode: What exactly is a mini-retirement,  and how is it different from a vacation or sabbatical? How to afford time off even on a normal salary The 6.5% savings trick that could fund a lifetime of breaks How to negotiate a month off from your employer Why taking time away from your career could actually make you better at it If more financial confidence sounds good to you, then you might want to try… ⁠4-Week Coaching Program⁠: Identify and understand your spending, build a strategic plan, and take control of your money. ⁠6-Week Pre-Retirement Program⁠: We’ll help you prepare financially and emotionally for this exciting milestone. 📈⁠InvestingFixx⁠: Learn, connect, and start investing—your first month is completely free. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

This week, we’re continuing our special series A Week In Her Wallet, where we follow real women from our community as they track their spending for seven days — and reflect not just on what they spent, but why. Our guest is Kathi B, a 48-year-old school counselor from outside Philadelphia. She's a mom of two teenagers, wife to another educator, and (like many of us) trying to stay on top of both everyday expenses and life’s little curveballs, especially during the summer. In this episode, Kathi opens up about: The “pink tax” and why her Ulta restock rang up to more than expected A sweet (and spendy) day out with her 6-year-old nephew Navigating credit card points, family budgets, and unexpected sports expenses How she and her husband manage shared expenses and prepare for the future If more financial confidence sounds good to you, then you might want to try… ⁠4-Week Coaching Program⁠: Identify and understand your spending, build a strategic plan, and take control of your money. ⁠6-Week Pre-Retirement Program⁠: We’ll help you prepare financially and emotionally for this exciting milestone. 📈⁠InvestingFixx⁠: Learn, connect, and start investing—your first month is completely free. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Are you doing everything right at work, meeting deadlines, showing up, delivering results, and still feeling stuck? This week, we’re welcoming back one of our favorite voices on workplace equity, Minda Harts, to dive into a topic that impacts every professional woman: trust. Trust at work isn’t just about your manager believing in you. It’s the key to feeling valued, getting promoted, and even building long-term wealth.  ✨ Plus, stick around for a special segment with Armoire CEO Ambika Singh, who shares how fashion rental can cut the cost (and the guilt) of getting dressed. Sign up here for up to 60% off your first month of membership + two free bonus items! In this episode, we discuss: What trust really looks like in a healthy workplace How to rebuild it when it’s been broken Why women of color face unique challenges with trust at work Scripts and strategies to help you advocate for yourself And how AI, layoffs, and hybrid work are shifting the trust dynamic 📚 Read the book: Talk To Me Nice: The 7 Trust Languages for a Better Workplace 🎧 More from Minda: Episodes featuring The Memo and Right Within in our archives ✨ With Armoire, your next look is always waiting. Sign up here for up to 60% off your first month of membership + two free bonus items!  If more financial confidence sounds good to you, then you might want to try… ⁠4-Week Coaching Program⁠: Identify and understand your spending, build a strategic plan, and take control of your money. ⁠6-Week Pre-Retirement Program⁠: We’ll help you prepare financially and emotionally for this exciting milestone. 📈⁠InvestingFixx⁠: Learn, connect, and start investing—your first month is completely free. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

In this episode of A Week In Her Wallet, we head to Chicago to meet Zoe M., a 29-year-old accountant who tracks every dollar with care, not just to budget, but to live in full alignment with her values.  Zoe opens up about what it really means to spend with intention, how she and her boyfriend use a shared Google doc to manage finances together, and why she prioritizes saving 36% of her income each month — all while living in one of the most expensive cities in the country. Tune in to hear: How Zoe manages shared expenses in her relationship with fairness and flexibility Her strategies for avoiding impulse purchases Why spending money on values-aligned experiences is always worth it What it looks like to balance short-term joy and long-term goals If more financial confidence sounds good to you, then you might want to try… ⁠4-Week Coaching Program⁠: Identify and understand your spending, build a strategic plan, and take control of your money. ⁠6-Week Pre-Retirement Program⁠: We’ll help you prepare financially and emotionally for this exciting milestone. 📈⁠InvestingFixx⁠: Learn, connect, and start investing—your first month is completely free. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

When you hear the words estate planning, do your eyes glaze over? Or maybe you assume it's something you'll get to “one day”? In this episode, Jean Chatzky sits down with powerhouse elder law attorney and former New York State legislator Ann-Margaret Carrozza to explain why estate planning is not just for the wealthy, and why it matters way more than most of us think. Ann-Margaret breaks down exactly what needs to go in your plan, how to avoid the biggest (and most expensive) estate mistakes, and how to protect your family from lawsuits, taxes, and unexpected drama.  You’ll learn: What estate planning really means (and why it’s not just about having a will) Why avoiding probate isn’t the only reason to consider a trust The key documents every adult needs — even if you’re single and child-free How to protect your legacy and your peace of mind Learn more about Ann-Margaret Carrozza If more financial confidence sounds good to you, then you might want to try… ⁠4-Week Coaching Program⁠: Identify and understand your spending, build a strategic plan, and take control of your money. ⁠6-Week Pre-Retirement Program⁠: We’ll help you prepare financially and emotionally for this exciting milestone. 📈⁠InvestingFixx⁠: Learn, connect, and start investing—your first month is completely free. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

We’ve officially hit Peak 65, the historic moment when more Americans than ever are turning 65. But retirement in 2025 looks nothing like it used to. In this eye-opening episode of Your Money Map, Jean Chatzky sits down with generational researcher Jason Dorsey to explore how Baby Boomers, Gen Xers, and even Millennials are rethinking retirement — financially, emotionally, and socially. 💬 Topics We Cover: Why 65 is no longer the "retirement finish line" The surprising truth about Gen X’s financial mindset How social media is changing money conversations between generations The rise of working later — not because people have to, but because they want to What the data says about Social Security fears and long-term income planning Why denial is one of the biggest threats to retirement readiness 🎯 Jason’s advice for pre-retirees is both practical and empowering — and it might just change how you think about your own future. 🔗 Resources & Links: Learn more at ProtectedIncome.org Explore Jason’s research at JasonDorsey.com Sign up for the Alliance for Lifetime Income newsletter: protectedincome.org/subscribe Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Social Security is back in the headlines, and the news isn’t exactly comforting. Words like shortfall and cuts are sparking real fear among retirees, near-retirees, and younger workers who wonder if the program will even be there for them. In this episode, Jean sits down with Michelle Singletary, nationally syndicated personal finance columnist for The Washington Post, to break it all down: What a potential 20–25% shortfall in 2033 could actually mean for retirees. Why your check won’t disappear entirely  The surge in early claims: Should you take the money now, or wait? Why writing Social Security out of your retirement plan is a mistake for Gen X, millennials, and Gen Z. Michelle’s must-do checklist for near-retirees: from eliminating your mortgage to building a realistic budget. If more financial confidence sounds good to you, then you might want to try… ⁠4-Week Coaching Program⁠: Identify and understand your spending, build a strategic plan, and take control of your money. ⁠6-Week Pre-Retirement Program⁠: We’ll help you prepare financially and emotionally for this exciting milestone. 📈⁠InvestingFixx⁠: Learn, connect, and start investing—your first month is completely free. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

This week, we’re bringing you the first episode of our new series: A Week In Her Wallet, where real women track their spending for seven days — every swipe, tap, and temptation — and then reflect on not just what they bought, but why. In this episode, we're joined by Lizzie, a 41-year-old chiropractor, mom of two, and small-town New Englander who is all about spending with intention. She's self-employed, passionate about local businesses, and has a refreshing perspective on budgeting for real life. Lizzie walks us through: Why she skipped $1,000 concert tickets — and doesn’t regret it How her family handles finances and decision-making together What self-care looks like to her Her candid thoughts on gift-giving pressure from her family Why her week felt like a love letter to her town Plus, she reflects on where money seems to “leak” most easily and why she doesn’t mind spending on the things that truly bring value. … Does more financial confidence sound good to you, then you might want to try:  🚀 FinanceFixx – HerMoney’s 4 or 8-week Money Makeover financial coaching program that will help you get your finances on track!  📈 InvestingFixx – HerMoney’s investing club for women who are ready to learn market lingo, and grow their wealth. Your first month with us is completely free!  Have a question for us? Write to us (or send us a voice note!) at mailbag@hermoney.com.  While you’re at it, join the HerMoney community! For the latest episode drops and financial news-you-can-use, subscribe to our newsletter at Hermoney.com/subscribe! Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Debt isn’t just a number on a statement — for so many of us, it’s tied to shame, secrecy, and the pressure to keep up. This week, Jean sits down with Jamie Feldman, writer, producer, and co-host of the Debt Heads podcast, who went from ignoring her $18,000 in consumer debt to tackling it head-on… and talking about it openly with the world. If you’ve ever felt alone in your money struggles, this conversation will remind you: you’re not. And the first step toward a different future might be as simple as talking about it. If more financial confidence sounds good to you, then you might want to try… 4-Week Coaching Program⁠: Identify and understand your spending, build a strategic plan, and take control of your money. 6-Week Pre-Retirement Program⁠: We’ll help you prepare financially and emotionally for this exciting milestone. 📈⁠InvestingFixx⁠: Learn, connect, and start investing—your first month is completely free. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

In this special HerMoney Mailbag episode, Jean Chatzky is joined by financial feminist icon Tori Dunlap, founder of Her First $100K and host of the Financial Feminist podcast. Tori returns to tackle some of your most pressing financial dilemmas. 💳 One listener is drowning in $100,000 of credit card debt despite making $180K/year. What can she do next when consolidation loans and HELOCs are off the table? ✈️ Another wants to know if her premium travel credit card is still worth the sky-high fee now that her lifestyle has changed. Should she downgrade and preserve her credit? 💼 And a couple wonders if their $4 million net worth (including real estate) means they're ahead of retirement benchmarks or behind. Whether you're reevaluating your spending, saving for retirement, or simply wondering if you're doing enough with your money, this episode is full of insight, empathy, and financial empowerment. … Does more financial confidence sound good to you, then you might want to try:  🚀 FinanceFixx – HerMoney’s 4 or 8-week Money Makeover financial coaching program that will help you get your finances on track!  📈 InvestingFixx – HerMoney’s investing club for women who are ready to learn market lingo, and grow their wealth. Your first month with us is completely free!  Have a question for us? Write to us (or send us a voice note!) at mailbag@hermoney.com.  While you’re at it, join the HerMoney community! For the latest episode drops and financial news-you-can-use, subscribe to our newsletter at Hermoney.com/subscribe! Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

This week, we’re sounding the alarm on a story that hasn’t gotten nearly enough attention but could have major consequences for your paycheck, retirement, taxes, and future. Jean sits down with HerMoney favorite and leading labor economist Kathryn Edwards to unpack the recent firing of the Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS) chief and why it could undermine the very data we rely on to understand inflation, jobs, and the strength of our economy. Also in this episode: 💥 What’s really happening in the job market 📉 Why the economy may be weaker than it looks 📊 How inflation and revisions to labor data could hit your investments 🏡 A candid, eye-opening investor playbook for navigating today’s economic uncertainty If more financial confidence sounds good to you, then you might want to try… ⁠4-Week Coaching Program⁠: Identify and understand your spending, build a strategic plan, and take control of your money. ⁠6-Week Pre-Retirement Program⁠: We’ll help you prepare financially and emotionally for this exciting milestone. 📈⁠InvestingFixx⁠: Learn, connect, and start investing—your first month is completely free. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Women are building wealth like never before and doing it with confidence, strategy, and purpose. In this episode, Jean sits down with Tori Dunlap, founder of Her First $100K and host of the Financial Feminist podcast, to talk all things investing, financial power, and the game-changing “Great Wealth Transfer” that’s already underway. Whether you’re ready to invest for the first time, build better financial systems, or just stop apologizing for your ambition, this episode is for you. What You’ll Learn: Why index funds are Tori’s go-to investment strategy The emotional weight of inheriting money and how to handle it with grace How to set up systems that make your money work for you Smart credit card point strategies that won’t wreck your credit How financial self-care can change your life If more financial confidence sounds good to you, then you might want to try… ⁠4-Week Coaching Program⁠: Identify and understand your spending, build a strategic plan, and take control of your money. ⁠6-Week Pre-Retirement Program⁠: We’ll help you prepare financially and emotionally for this exciting milestone. 📈⁠InvestingFixx⁠: Learn, connect, and start investing—your first month is completely free. 💬 Connect with Tori: herfirst100k.com/quiz  🎙️ Rate and Review: If you loved today’s conversation, please leave us a 5-star review.  Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

As more companies push for a return to the office, one thing is clear: workplace etiquette has never felt murkier. What’s the right way to navigate a hybrid schedule, an in-person meeting full of “old-school” colleagues, or a toxic work environment that feels impossible to escape? In this special HerMoney Mailbag episode, Jean Chatzky is joined by Lizzie Post, great-great-granddaughter of Emily Post and co-author of the new book Emily Post’s Business Etiquette. Lizzie brings clarity to the confusion with thoughtful, modern advice on everything from salary negotiations to how to speak up in a room full of senior men. Together, they answer your real-world questions, including: How to take credit for your ideas without sounding arrogant What to say when you're being seen as "the daughter" instead of the professional Whether that shiny new job offer is worth the pay cut (or worth leaving your current one) How unlimited PTO really works (and if it’s too good to be true) If more financial confidence sounds good to you, then you might want to try… ⁠4-Week Coaching Program⁠: Identify and understand your spending, build a strategic plan, and take control of your money. ⁠6-Week Pre-Retirement Program⁠: We’ll help you prepare financially and emotionally for this exciting milestone. 📈⁠InvestingFixx⁠: Learn, connect, and start investing—your first month is completely free. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

This week, we’re talking politics, but not the messy gridlock in Washington. We’re going hyper-local. Because local elections shape our neighborhoods, our schools, our budgets, and our rights. And right now, women are stepping up to lead the charge. Jean Chatzky sits down with Amanda Litman, co-founder of Run for Something and author of When We're In Charge, and Sarah Pierce, HerMoney’s own managing editor and the first female Mayor of Watertown, NY. They get real about what it takes to run, how young women are changing the face of leadership, and why local office might be the most powerful place to start. If more financial confidence sounds good to you, then you might want to try… ⁠4-Week Coaching Program⁠: Identify and understand your spending, build a strategic plan, and take control of your money. ⁠6-Week Pre-Retirement Program⁠: We’ll help you prepare financially and emotionally for this exciting milestone. 📈⁠InvestingFixx⁠: Learn, connect, and start investing—your first month is completely free. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

What if midlife isn’t a crisis, but a chrysalis? On the most recent episode of Your Money Map, our weekly show with the Alliance for Lifetime Income, Jean Chatzky sits down with the always-inspiring Chip Conley — entrepreneur, bestselling author, and founder of the Modern Elder Academy — to talk reinvention, purpose, and how to make the second half of life the best half. If you like this episode and want more, check out all of our Your Money Map episodes at protectedincome.org/your-money-map/ or tune in live every Wednesday at 12 PM ET on Facebook or LinkedIn. If more financial confidence sounds good to you, then you might want to try… 4-Week Coaching Program: Identify and understand your spending, build a strategic plan, and take control of your money with expert coaching and real accountability. 6-Week Pre-Retirement Program: Thinking about retirement? We’ll help you prepare financially and emotionally for this exciting milestone. 📈InvestingFixx: A dynamic club for women who are ready to grow their wealth and build investing confidence. Learn, connect, and start investing—your first month is completely free. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

What happens when a physician becomes a financial planner? You get someone who truly understands that your health and wealth are inseparable. In this live episode from the Morningstar Investment Conference in Chicago, Jean Chatzky sits down with Dr. Carolyn McClanahan, MD, CFP®, and founder of Life Planning Partners, to explore how women can better prepare for their financial futures by making smart health and money choices today. If you're in your 30s, 40s, or 50s and wondering, “Is it too late to start planning?” — the answer is no. But it’s time to get serious.  What You’ll Hear In This Episode: The caregiving trap and its impact on women’s careers and finances How to financially and emotionally prep for marriage and kids Long-term care planning: what to expect, how to pay, and why facilities may be more affordable than you think Creating a “Big 4” aging plan: housing, healthcare, finances, and transportation The role mental health plays in your financial wellbeing—and why advisors should care Why joint accounts and financial transparency might just be the glue that holds marriages together The best way to find an advisor who actually plans for your whole life, not just your portfolio If you’d like to learn more about the conference or sign up for updates on MIC 2026, head to the MIC website—you can join the mailing list right from the homepage. If more financial confidence sounds good to you, then you might want to try… ⁠4-Week Coaching Program⁠: Identify and understand your spending, build a strategic plan, and take control of your money. ⁠6-Week Pre-Retirement Program⁠: We’ll help you prepare financially and emotionally for this exciting milestone. 📈⁠InvestingFixx⁠: Learn, connect, and start investing—your first month is completely free. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Divorce is hard—emotionally, logistically, and yes, financially. But it doesn’t have to be devastating. In this special HerMoney mailbag episode, Jean Chatzky welcomes back family law attorney and Hello Divorce founder Erin Levine to answer real listener questions from women going through divorce. 💡 Topics Covered: “How can I bullet-proof my finances before filing for divorce when my spouse is likely to fight me on everything?” “I’m freshly divorced with two kids. If I can only claim one child, is filing ‘Head of Household’ still worth it?” “The house is mine, but the mortgage is ours. Can I get my ex off the loan without a pricey refi?” “I was a stay-at-home mom and never saw the divorce coming. With $14K in savings and $1K a month in child support, where do I even start?” Get 10% off any legal plan or Certified Divorce Financial Analyst (CDFA) service at Hello Divorce. Visit HelloDivorce.com/hermoney and use code HerMoney at checkout. … Does more financial confidence sound good to you, then you might want to try:  🚀 FinanceFixx – HerMoney’s 4 or 8-week Money Makeover financial coaching program that will help you get your finances on track!  📈 InvestingFixx – HerMoney’s investing club for women who are ready to learn market lingo, and grow their wealth. Your first month with us is completely free!  Have a question for us? Write to us (or send us a voice note!) at mailbag@hermoney.com.  While you’re at it, join the HerMoney community! For the latest episode drops and financial news-you-can-use, subscribe to our newsle Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

In this week’s episode, Jean Chatzky sits down with attorney and Hello Divorce founder Erin Levine to unpack the tiny financial landmines that derail even the most amicable splits.  From Netflix passwords and travel points to start-up equity and forgotten retirement accounts, Erin shares the overlooked details that can lead to drawn-out negotiations, unexpected legal fees, and serious resentment. Plus, she breaks down why the way you start your divorce can determine everything that follows, and how to do it with more clarity, control, and less chaos. Get 10% off any legal plan or Certified Divorce Financial Analyst (CDFA) service at Hello Divorce. Visit HelloDivorce.com/hermoney and use code HerMoney at checkout. If more financial confidence sounds good to you, then you might want to try… ⁠4-Week Coaching Program⁠: Identify and understand your spending, build a strategic plan, and take control of your money. ⁠6-Week Pre-Retirement Program⁠: We’ll help you prepare financially and emotionally for this exciting milestone. 📈⁠InvestingFixx⁠: Learn, connect, and start investing—your first month is completely free. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

In today’s Mailbag, Jean and Kathryn are diving into the issues that keep many of us up at night: how to plan for long-term care, whether it's actually possible to over-save for retirement, and how to know when it's okay to step off the corporate treadmill for good. 💡 Topics Covered: Managing $2M in assets with no heirs When it’s okay to slow down on saving for retirement  Navigating job loss in your 50s and redefining work on your terms … Does more financial confidence sound good to you, then you might want to try:  🚀 FinanceFixx – HerMoney’s 4 or 8-week Money Makeover financial coaching program that will help you get your finances on track!  📈 InvestingFixx – HerMoney’s investing club for women who are ready to learn market lingo, and grow their wealth. Your first month with us is completely free!  Have a question for us? Write to us (or send us a voice note!) at mailbag@hermoney.com.  While you’re at it, join the HerMoney community! For the latest episode drops and financial news-you-can-use, subscribe to our newsletter at Hermoney.com/subscribe! Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices