1729: Affording Kids: Creating Your Financial Plan

Join Farnoosh's newsletter and receive a free copy of her Investing Blueprint.Download Farnoosh's Family Financial Planning Guide.Today's show: Navigating the 98 billion dollar baby industry. Guest Nicole Stanley, founder of Denver-based financial caching practice Arise Financial, gives tips on how to create a budget that reflects your values and priorities, smart ways to factor in childcare costs, the importance of valuing your energy and time as much as your money, and how she managed the finances in her family to be able to afford ambitious goals like traveling through Europe. 

A conversation with board-certified pediatrician and founder of PedsDocTalk, Dr. Mona Amin, on ways families can save on health care, doctor visits, and medical treatments, and smart ways to enlist financial guidance from our health care professionals. Download the free guide to Family Financial Planning here.

Today, we kick off a series of episodes on how to afford kids in America. Today's episode is a conversation with Brian Walsh, a certified financial professional and the Head of Advice & Planning at SoFi. We discuss practical and manageable ways to save and pay off debt to afford the costs of parenthood. Click here to download Farnoosh's free guide, which was created in partnership with SoFi.

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.