1676: How to Plan (and Afford) a Career Break After Kids

Whether you're an entrepreneur or not, retired or at the beginning of your career, most of us have personal brands. We're trying to push something forward, and much of what we've been taught about connecting with our audience and winning them over is not what *actually* works. Guest Leslie Zane is an award-winning marketer, TEDx speaker, and the foremost authority in harnessing the instinctive mind to accelerate brand and business growth. Her new book, The Power of Instinct, challenges conventional wisdom in business and brand building and teaches how the key to a brand's success is tapping into the unconscious mind.

Apply for Farnoosh's Mentorship Program.Today's show focuses on helping a listener who is an exceptional saver - but has no financial goals. How can she prioritize her spending? Also, navigating a future fiance's massive debt load and job interview red flags. Listen to hear how to win a free copy of Thank You, More Please. Mentioned: The So Money episode on Pre-Nups.

How can money be a real tool to help you achieve what matters... and less a reflection of your worth? Holly Trantham, author of the new book Beyond Getting By, joins to discuss ways we can build a sustainable, wealth-generating plan for the future. More about Holly: She joined The Financial Diet as a managing editor in 2016. She is now the team’s creative director, leading editorial strategy and branded campaigns.

**Book Giveaway** Leave a review for this episode in Apple Podcasts to enter to win one of 10 copies of Thank You, More Please.** Lily Womble, feminist dating coach and founder of Date Brazen, joins So Money to share advice from her new book, Thank You, More Please. Learn how to navigate the dating world without depending on matchmaking apps, and using "Essence-Based Preferences" to attract exactly what you desire in your love life.

Learn more about Farnoosh's mentorship program.This week's questions focus on smart budgeting frameworks, earning more outside a 9 to 5, dealing with high annual credit card fees and a pro tip for handling medical debt.

New York Times bestselling author of Take Back Your Brain, Kara Loewentheil, unveils her proven strategies for closing the "brain gap," and how women can reclaim their financial confidence in a patriarchal society.

Want to learn how to get your money to work for you? Stop living paycheck to paycheck, build multiple revenue streams and a sustainable business plan? Entrepreneur and money mentor Mel Abraham shares insights from his new book, Building You Money Machine, available for pre-order.

This week, Pam Krueger, founder of Wealthramp, joins to help answer listener questions about life insurance, investing, and debt management. Listen to Pam's interview from earlier this month, discussing ways to find a great financial advisor. Wealthramp is a platform that has matched over 20,000 individuals with fiduciary advisors and financial planners since 2019 and boasts client retention rates exceeding 98%. Wealthramp’s vetted advisor network spans the country and offers diversity in geography, specialization, gender, and fee structure. Visit Wealthramp.com/Farnoosh to start your search today.

Guest Neha Ruch, founder of Mother/Untitled, discusses the often deductive ways society characterizes stay-at-home mothers and is on a mission to rebrand this role to bring more dignity and respect to parents choosing to take a break from their careers to support their children and families. Neha's forthcoming book The Power Pause: How to Plan a Career Break After Kids--and Come Back Stronger Than Ever is available for pre-order.

Just days away from the next So Money Pop-Up Workshop, which will focus on “Couples and Money.” Register here. Today, we're in discussion with a a financially exceptional couple, Katie and Alan Donegan, who managed to quit their day jobs and retire when Katie was 35 and Alan was 40. We’ll hear how they calculated for this accelerated plan, how they’re living out their early retirement dreams, and advice for listeners on determining how much one needs to save for retirement. Learn more about the Donegans and their Rebel Finance School here.