Today we're bringing you an extra special mailbag with friend of the show and Director of Personal Finance and Retirement Planning at Morningstar, Christine Benz. If you listened to our “New Rules for Retirement” episode, then you know all about Christine and why she thinks women need a new playbook for retirement. We are going to tackle a few of the follow-up questions that came from our viewers on YouTube , go check out our channel if you haven’t already! Chapters: 00:00 Introduction 03:00 Mai...
Oct 11, 2024•24 min
Admit it: You’re overworked. We spend more time working in America than any other developed country. And maybe you think we’re working extra hours because we’re doing work that feels necessary and engaging and fulfilling — but no. We just don’t care about our jobs as much as we used to. So, is there a way to ensure we’re doing productive work that we actually enjoy? Brigid Schulte, author of Over Work: Transforming the Daily Grind in the Quest for a Better Life , spent 10 years researching our d...
Oct 09, 2024•46 min•Ep. 444
When was the last time you made a new friend? A real friend, not an online one, a friend that you can actually grab brunch with, or go for a walk with. Our guest today, Adam Smiley Pozwolsky , millennial workplace expert and author of Friendship in the Age of Loneliness: An Optimist’s Guide To Connection says the average American hasn't made a new friend in the last five years, and that 75 percent of us are not satisfied with the friendships we do have. So our challenge for you today after you l...
Oct 04, 2024•29 min
We know that our connections to our families, our friends, and our communities are SO important — so important that when we don’t maintain them, our health and our overall well-being can suffer. Maintaining our connections in real life is essential, and perhaps nobody knows that better than our guest Danielle Bayard Jackson , known as “The Friendship Expert” on TikTok. Listen in to hear how societal changes, cultural obstacles, and personal expectations have changed the way we maintain our most ...
Oct 02, 2024•49 min•Ep. 443
Today we are bringing you two mailbag questions with our incredible listeners. First, we'll be talking to Beth. She is calling in from upstate New York. Beth is in her early 60s and her company's made the decision to terminate employee pensions, which has left her with some options: Should she take the lump sum? Should she roll it over? We'll dive into some timely advice for her. Then we'll be talking to Sarah. She is wondering how best to start a side hustle as she transitions out of her long-t...
Sep 27, 2024•34 min
Money is SO personal, and no matter how prepared you think you are to meet your money goals, there are many factors that can throw a wrench into your carefully designed plans. There’s perhaps no greater hurdle to overcome than being part of a community that is historically diminished in conversations about money. Ellyce Fulmore , a queer ADHD money coach and neurodivergent content creator, joins us to talk about the social and personal identities that make you who you are — and how they shape th...
Sep 25, 2024•58 min•Ep. 442
It finally happened… the Fed lowered interest rates, by a greater-than-expected half a percentage point when they met on Wednesday. This was the first time rates were cut in more than four years, and it’s expected that the Fed may continue cutting the rate at its two remaining meetings before the end of this year. We’ve heard from many of you who have been waiting to drive off the lot in a new — or new-to-you — car until rates fell. That’s why this week, we’re re-releasing one of our most popula...
Sep 20, 2024•56 min
A few months ago, AARP released a survey that found that one in five Americans over 50 reported having no retirement savings, and over half don’t think they'll have enough money to keep them going in retirement. While many of us used to have pension plans to keep us afloat in retirement , now the vast majority of us rely heavily on Social Security and 401(k)’s. Our system and our life expectancy are just different now…which means we need to plan differently. (And yes, this means we need to actua...
Sep 18, 2024•45 min•Ep. 441
CDs (Certificates of Deposit) often get dismissed as "your parent's savings plan"—safe but, let's be honest, a little boring. But in today's high-interest-rate environment , they're making a strong comeback as a smart choice for short- and medium-term savings. With inflation cooling and the Fed expected to cut rates soon, these great rates won’t last forever . Joining us today is banking veteran and CEO of CD Valet , John Blizzard, to break down what CDs are, who should consider them, and whethe...
Sep 16, 2024•25 min
In this double-feature Mailbag, Jean talks to Kathryn and Audrey. Kathryn is a little over a decade from retirement and recently started a new job. In her new role, she'll be eligible to receive a pension when she retires. She's wondering if, in addition, an annuity makes sense for her. Our next call is from Audrey who’s working on rebuilding her credit after not being employed for a little while. She’s wondering if now is the right time to close the credit cards she opened up that have monthly ...
Sep 13, 2024•27 min
From lip butter to Botox, people today are shelling out a lot of money on beauty products and procedures. According to The Aesthetic Society, people in the U.S. spent $11.8 billion on aesthetic procedures in 2022. When it comes to beauty products, one report from Lending Tree shows the average American spends $1,754 annually, with younger generations budgeting even more for beauty (thanks, TikTok). But do we really need to spend big bucks on beauty products and procedures to look our best? Val M...
Sep 11, 2024•47 min•Ep. 440
Did you spend too much this Labor Day weekend? Yeah...us too. Marketers are smart and they're only getting smarter. These days, there is so much targeted marketing based on what we like on Instagram, what we're watching on TikTok, or even (more creepy) the conversations we’re having with friends. Sometimes it can be really difficult not to just click buy when the recommendations are SO spot on. So, how do we resist? And how do we know when it's really the best time to buy the mattress, or the TV...
Sep 06, 2024•45 min
Close your eyes for a second and step back to the 1940s. Specifically, New York City in the 1940s. You’re walking down the crowded street with a certain pep in your step because guess what? You’re headed to your favorite department store, Lord & Taylor. Department stores were not only the places where women shopped but also the places where women had power — power they did not have elsewhere at the time. Julie Satow joins us to talk about her new book: “ When Women Ran Fifth Avenue: Glamour ...
Sep 04, 2024•44 min•Ep. 439
In this Mailbag, Jean talks to Ally, a 39-year-old single woman who bought a house in 2020 when rates were low and is wondering if now is the right time to upgrade and whether or not to keep her current home as a rental property. Have a personal-finance question for us or want to jump on a call with Jean so you can get all of your follow-up questions answered? Write in at mailbag@hermoney.com . For the latest episode drops and financial news-you-can-use, subscribe to our newsletter at Hermoney.c...
Aug 30, 2024•21 min
Very classy, very demure, very mindful…that’s how the new TikTok trend that recently went viral from creator Jools Lebron says we should be in the workplace. We should be presentable, wear minimal, clean makeup, and not take up too much space. In other words, we should be bringing a muted version of ourselves to the workplace. Bonnie Hammer, Vice Chairman of NBC Universal and author of: “15 Lies Women Are Told At Work: The Truth We Need To Succeed” has a different take. She says work doesn’t hav...
Aug 28, 2024•53 min•Ep. 438
Last week, 2.9 billion records of personal data were for sale, from people in the US, Canada, and Britain, stolen from a company that does background checks called National Public Data. This data breach included the holy grail, Social Security numbers. This is just one of the thousands of data breaches that have happened so far this year and a continuation of a growing pattern. Kim Komando joins us to share the 4 simple steps you can take right now to protect your data online . Chapters: 00:00 T...
Aug 26, 2024•27 min
Annika Sorenstam is one of the best female pro golfers that the world has ever seen. She also is a woman, like many of us, who started out with very little money, made some, and had to learn first how to budget it, and then how to invest it. She shares how she manages her money and advocates for other female professional golfers, on and off the green. Chapters: 00:00 The Parallels Between Sports and Personal Finance 03:19 Discipline and Preparation for Success 07:41 Applying Discipline to Financ...
Aug 23, 2024•36 min
However you feel about LinkedIn, there’s no denying that having a profile is important . According to Forbes , LinkedIn is an essential platform to not only establish a professional online presence but also to showcase your skills and accomplishments. Hala Taha, top LinkedIn influencer and host of the Young and Profiting podcast says that having a LinkedIn that gets you noticed is so much more than uploading your resume and a nice headshot. She shares how to use LinkedIn effectively to build you...
Aug 21, 2024•49 min•Ep. 437
In this Mailbag, Jean talks to Allie, who is looking for advice on how to help her friends who are about to inherit a significant amount of money. She wants them to make smart financial decisions and overcome their struggles managing money in the past. Have a personal finance question for us or want to jump on a call with Jean so you can get all of your follow-up questions answered? Write in at mailbag@hermoney.com . For the latest episode drops and financial news-you-can-use, subscribe to our n...
Aug 16, 2024•16 min
Learning something new can be daunting, especially as you get older. But here’s the thing, the sooner you master a new skill, whether it be how to invest in the stock market , manage your debt, or take on a new sport — the closer you are to mastering it. Gwendolyn Bounds, author of “ Not Too Late: The Power of Pushing Limits At Any Age ,” wants you to ignore that nagging voice at the back of your head that says that you don’t know enough to get started and just take the first step. She did that ...
Aug 14, 2024•54 min•Ep. 436
When we start losing our hard-earned money in the market , we want to put a stop to it. We want to take action. But statistically, we know that investors who stay the course do better over time than those who try to time the markets. Jinny Uppal, author of “IN/ACTION: Rethinking the Path to Results, " dishes on why we should stop listening to the voice in our head that tempts us to a default action path. "The belief that ‘I am the one who can control the outcome with my action,’ makes us take mo...
Aug 09, 2024•51 min
Today is Mom’s Equal Pay Day so we’re talking about the reality of motherhood in America today, no not the reality we see on social media where momfluencers make pregnancy to childbirth, to raising multiple kids seem like a breeze…we’re talking about what it’s really like to have kids in a country that doesn’t make it easy for us. Jessica Grose, author of, “ Screaming on the Inside: The Unsustainability of American Motherhood ,” said she did everything right before she had kids, she was married,...
Aug 07, 2024•49 min•Ep. 435
In this special episode, Jean Chatzky is joined by professional investor and cohost of our InvestingFixx club , Karen Finerman. They’re talking about what the heck is going on with the stock market right now. With tech stocks plummeting and recession fears looming, Jean and Karen emphasize the cyclical nature of markets and the importance of staying calm in a downturn. They share their extensive experience with market fluctuations and offer practical advice on managing your investments during tu...
Aug 06, 2024•32 min
You asked, we answered! In this Mailbag, Jean is joined by Celeste Headlee, author of, “ We Need To Talk: How To Have Conversations That Matter” to talk through how to approach your toughest money conversations. They tackle your questions on everything from preparing kids for navigating their own finances in college to addressing salary disparities at work. Celeste shares practical advice from her own life, including budgeting tips for teens and strategies on how to approach a raise conversation...
Aug 02, 2024•19 min
We’re smack dab in the middle of one of the hottest summers on record and although the heat can make many of us go a little crazy, it also forces us to slow down a lot , spend some time by the pool or the beach (or in the comfort of your living room with the AC on full blast) and embrace boredom more. Celeste Headlee, author of, “ Do Nothing: How to Break Away from Overworking, Overdoing, and Underliving ,” joins us to talk about why taking all of your vacation days is good for your career and h...
Jul 31, 2024•45 min•Ep. 434
In this Mailbag, Jean talks to Cecilia, a 58-year-old listener, about asset allocation and portfolio management as she approaches retirement. She has a defined benefit pension and government benefits, but also wants to draw down on her portfolio for the first few years of retirement. They explore the need to adjust asset allocation, the role of fixed income in your portfolio, and the importance of building a cash cushion for the initial years of retirement. Have a question for us or want to jump...
Jul 26, 2024•17 min
When we think about our financial fears, one tops the list: Running out of money before we run out of time. According to the Center for Retirement Research at Boston College, half of all US households are at risk of not having enough income to maintain their standards of living in retirement. The bottom line is that Americans have a problem and we know it. The good news is that we have the ability to fix this problem in our own individual lives, with tools we already have access to today. They’r...
Jul 24, 2024•49 min•Ep. 433
For years, we’ve been told that we need a college degree to get anywhere in life and that a college education is the most important thing for our careers. But lately, young people have been asking themselves: do you really need a college degree anymore? Hannah Maruyama , one of those would-be college students, decided not to take that path. Now she’s making $100,000 a year working in AI and teaching other young people how to discover their passions without a degree. Her experience led her to fou...
Jul 19, 2024•38 min
We are just past the halfway point of 2024, and things aren’t feeling great economy-wise, despite the US economy reaching “superstar status,” according to a recent article in the Atlantic. Kyla Scanlon coined the term “vibecession” to explain this feeling. In her new book, “ In This Economy? How Money & Markets Really Work ,” she breaks down why what’s really going on in our economy feels at odds with what we’re experiencing in our day-to-day lives. Chapters: 0:00 Intro 4:08 The Disconnect B...
Jul 17, 2024•45 min•Ep. 432
Have you ever stopped for a second and thought about all of the things you do at work in a week? There are some tasks most of us need to do to be successful at our jobs. But do you also find yourself doing other tasks like administrative work, planning and setting up for parties, or training new employees? And have these responsibilities started to take over your work days? If so, you’re not alone. These types of tasks are called “non-promotable tasks” and women volunteer for them far more often...
Jul 12, 2024•34 min
