How strong and healthy are your relationships? Have you ever considered your relationships as valuable assets—ones that can lead you to a richer, more prosperous life?

Today, we're fortunate to be joined by Selena Soo, an acclaimed publicity and marketing expert, and the author of the captivating new book, Rich Relationships. Selena has built an extraordinary career teaching entrepreneurs and leaders the art and science of cultivating authentic relationships that not only stand the test of time but thrive and grow exponentially.

In our conversation, Selena reveals how genuine, meaningful relationships are your most powerful tools for success, going far beyond casual networking. She shares groundbreaking insights into how generosity and authenticity form the foundation of connections that can profoundly enrich your personal and professional life.

Key takeaways you'll gain from our discussion include:

• The crucial mindset shift from merely collecting contacts to building meaningful relationships.
• Practical strategies for nurturing relationships aligned with your values and goals.
• Selena’s expert advice on initiating impactful conversations with influential mentors and peers.
• Powerful ways to turn your fear of rejection into an empowering aspect of relationship-building.

Get the first 4 chapters of Selena's book plus more freebies here: RichRelationshipsBook.com/Farnoosh

This episode aired initially been on Feb 3, 2025.

Today, we're diving into the world of travel and points with none other than Brian Kelly, a long-time friend of the show and the founder of The Points Guy. Brian is here to talk about his new book, How to Win at Travel, a guide that helps you unlock all the secrets to mastering the points game, maximizing travel perks, and scoring luxury experiences without luxury price tags. We'll cover:

• Why Brian calls this era the "platinum age of travel" and how to take full advantage of it.
• The biggest mistakes travelers make with airline and hotel bookings—and how to avoid them.
• How to leverage rewards credit cards strategically to score free business-class trips to Europe.
• The top tech tools to help you find the best award flights and travel deals with minimal effort.
• Insider tips on travel insurance, packing, and even why you should throw an Apple AirTag into your luggage!

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.

This episode is a replay from October 11, 2024.

Download Farnoosh's Free Investing Blueprint to learn how to begin investing for your future.

Today's show: Is there such a thing as investing "too" much? Can obtaining a home equity loan be helpful when purchasing a second home? How to find a great accountant, and more.

Today, we’re diving into an extraordinary story of defiance and determination—how a group of bold women in Denver turned financial discrimination into a catalyst for change by founding the first women-owned bank in the country. Our guest is Grace L. Williams, a trailblazing financial journalist whose work has appeared in Forbes, The Wall Street Journal, and Harvard Business Review. She brings her signature clarity and depth to her new book, Give Her Credit: The Untold Account of a Women's Bank That Empowered a Generation.

The book tells the riveting story of the Women’s Bank of Denver, founded in 1978 by pioneers like Carol Green and B. LaRae Orullian. In an era when women couldn’t even get a loan without a male co-signer, this bank became a radical act of financial empowerment—and a powerful symbol of what women can build when they back each other.

Are you on the fence about having children? I'm talking to my women listeners out there. If this is you, you're not alone. In today's world, you know better than anyone that women face enormous pressure and endless questions around motherhood. Is this something I really want? Can I afford it? How will this impact my identity, my career, and my happiness? Our guest knows this internal struggle very well.

Ruthie Ackerman is an accomplished writer and journalist whose new memoir, The Mother Code: My Story of Love, Loss, and The Myths That Shape Us, dives deeply into these very questions. Ruthie bravely explores the emotional, societal, and financial realities of deciding whether or not to become a parent. In our candid conversation, she shares her deeply personal journey, questioning motherhood amidst family history, societal expectations, genetic fears, and profound personal and financial costs. She opens up about fertility treatments, egg freezing, IVF, and the financial strategies and sacrifices that made motherhood possible for her.

We also discuss how redefining motherhood can be a radical act of self-love and empowerment, and how financial independence can profoundly influence our personal choices, including our decisions to become parents

Joining me today for a very special Ask Farnoosh episode is Maggie Johndrow, a seasoned wealth advisor and partner with Johndrow Wealth Management. Maggie brings her signature calm, clear-headed guidance to our turbulent financial times — and let's be honest, we could all use a little Maggie in our wallets right now.

In this episode, we tackle some of the most pressing money questions on your mind as headlines swirl with talk of tariffs, market volatility, and a possible recession. Maggie walks us through:

• The behavioral traps investors are falling into right now (hello, regret aversion and herd mentality) — and how to avoid them.
• Her smart and simple "three-bucket strategy" for managing your investments during uncertain times, especially if you're nearing retirement or need access to cash soon.
• How tariffs might hit our wallets — from rising consumer prices to the potential ripple effects on jobs, inflation, and the Fed's next move.
• What to prioritize financially if you're worried about a layoff or loss of income, including how to protect your emergency fund, health insurance, and long-term goals like retirement and college savings.
• And perhaps most reassuring of all — why making small, consistent investing moves still matters more than trying to time the market perfectly.

A new survey sponsored by Hult International Business School finds that a growing number of employers say they’d prefer to automate entry-level jobs rather than hire a recent college graduate. AI is changing the job market faster than any of us imagined—reshaping not just who gets hired, but whether certain jobs even exist in the future.

My guest today is Dan Schawbel, a New York Times bestselling author, workplace expert, and managing partner at Workplace Intelligence. Dan has been tracking workplace trends for over a decade, advising companies on the future of work, and in his latest research, the results are terrifying. Not only are companies rethinking the value of a college degree, but some are outright saying they'd rather hire ChatGPT.

So what does this mean for workers? Which jobs are actually safe from automation? And if you’re in college right now—or raising kids who might be one day—how do you ensure your education actually pays off?

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.

This episode is a replay.