1728: Ask Farnoosh: The Best Balance Transfer Card, 401(k) Loans and Estate Planning

This week on So Money: Creating a financial plan (for beginners), borrowing from your 401(k), selecting a balance transfer card and more.Download Farnoosh's FREE Financial Family Planning Guide here.Check out the new Farnoosh website and grab a free copy of her Investing Blueprint on the homepage.

Scott Trench, CEO of BiggerPockets, dives into the current real estate landscape—especially as interest rates come down. We explore how this shift impacts investors and what strategies can help you navigate today’s housing market. We also explore risks in the rental and Airbnb market. Plus, Scott shares the exciting news of BiggerPockets’ new partnership with The Chernin Group and what it means for their rapidly growing community of real estate enthusiasts.

As election season heats up, understanding the financial lives of our nation's leaders offers a fresh perspective on the intersection of wealth and power. Guest Megan Gorman, author of All the Presidents' Money, explains how the financial decisions of U.S. presidents shaped their policies and legacies.From Thomas Jefferson’s surprising debts to JFK’s complex wealth and the Clintons’ post-presidency financial journey, Megan shares fascinating insights that offer a deeper understanding of how personal finances influence leadership at the highest level, a blend of history and finance in unexpected ways.

How does this week's interest rate cut impact our investments, debt and savings? Is it a bad idea to open a mortgage in your mid 40s and potentially carry the debt into retirement? Georgia Lee Hussey, financial advisor and founder of Modernist Financial joins with advice and surprising insights.

A new study reveals that more people want to quit their jobs now than during the Great Resignation. Whether it’s to find better-paying work to address the rising cost of living, or simply to leave their company or industry and start fresh on a professional path they actually enjoy, the big question remains: Will they quit?Our guest today is helping people overcome that hurdle.Goli Kalkhoran is a Master-Certified Life Coach and former attorney who helps unfulfilled professionals create a career (and life) they truly enjoy. She’s the host of the Lessons from a Quitter podcast, where she de-stigmatizes quitting and offers resources and inspiration for individuals looking to pivot in their established careers.In this episode, we discuss:Why our culture is so afraid of quittingHow to afford quitting — both financially and energeticallyGoli’s own journey of quitting her law career and the many pivots that followed.

Would you buy real estate with friends? Kristina Modares is the founder of Open House Education, a vibrant community dedicated to women who are passionate about innovative real estate strategies and collaborative ventures. We explore the unique practice of co-buying real estate with friends or family members, including Kristina's own experiences. She shares some of the major pitfalls—such as friendships potentially souring or financial disagreements arising—and emphasizes the need for detailed agreements to protect everyone involved.

This week, listeners want to know: how to manage health care and 401(k) investing after a layoff, the best cadence for investing (weekly or lump sum?) and how can couples with income differences manage money equitably? Learn more about the So Money Members Club here.

We are diving deep into the world of wealth, class, and privilege with Sanibel, author of the forthcoming novel To Have and Have More and an expert on the subtle—and not-so-subtle—ways the ultra-wealthy wield their status. If you've ever been curious about the behaviors and dynamics that go beyond “quiet luxury” or the “nepo baby” conversation, you'll enjoy this conversation. Sanibel breaks down concepts like stealth privilege, coattail riders, and what she calls the rich person’s “cheat code.” We’ll also unpack the history of our cultural obsession with wealth in the U.S., why some believe wealth is a poison to our culture and explore why being "too rich" might just make you less empathetic.More about Sanibel: She is a writer based in NYC. She grew up in Princeton, NJ and studied Classics at the University of Pennsylvania before getting her MFA at The New School. Her essays appear in New York, Air Mail, ELLE, and Lit Hub. You can follow Sanibel on TikTok and Instagram.

Guest George Kinder is a renowned figure in the world of financial life planning, often referred to as the father of the life planning movement. His approach, which places individual freedom at the forefront, has inspired countless people to rethink their relationship with money. He joins to discuss his new book, The Three Domains of Freedom and ways we can create financial freedom during a time of unprecedented uncertainty and instability.

NEW Ask Farnoosh episode. Questions regarding adding children to your business payroll, enrolling in a 529 plan when college is just a few years away (good idea?) and how to manage a 401(k) that's being discontinued at work? Join the So Money Members Club.