1665: Ask Farnoosh: Withdraw Early From My 401k to Pay Off Debt?

Today's show centers on ways we can protect ourselves from dangerous financial scams, many powered by AI. Our guest is Allison Baggerly, financial expert, author and founder of Inspired Budget. Sign up for Allison's free budget class here. The CUT article about the Amazon scam referenced in the show is here.

Deesha Dyer is the former White House Social Secretary under President Obama, meaning she was THE person responsible for state dinners, official functions, visits by Popes and presidents, performances by Beyoncé (!), and more. Deesha's new book UNDIPLOMATIC pulls back the curtain on White House life to funny, winning effect, but even more so, it documents a young Black woman's struggle to belong in our nation's most prestigious spaces. In 2009, at age 31, Deesha Dyer's finances were... messy. She'd dropped out of college, accruing a mountain of debt but no degree. She had an eviction on her record and bad credit. She plugged away at an admin job, while freelancing as an organizer and blogger of her beloved hip-hop / soul scene in Philly. (Hello, Jill Scott!) Inspired by the Obama campaign, she applied for a White House internship that she knew was a longshot. These jobs were for phenoms from Harvard and Howard. Not part-time community college students in their thirties with zero connections. To her shock, Deesha got the gig. For the first time in her life, she had a full-time job that reflected her passion for change. In just five years or so, she was in charge of a whole White House department.

Today's show: Managing a $100k inheritance; debt pay-down strategies; should I pay for a certification to switch careers if I'm in debt? Also: Farnoosh weighs in on Footballer Harrison Butker's ridiculous graduation speech directed at the women graduates.Sign up for the So Money Members Club.Get on the waitlist for the next Book to Brand here.

Author of the national bestselling novel THE SICILIAN INHERITANCE and host of the UNDER THE INFLUENCE podcast, Jo Piazza, joins the show to discuss the rich themes in her newest book.

Stay tuned for tonight's Webby's BTS, where So Money receives an award -- on Farnoosh's Instagram.Today's show covers the ins and outs of LLCs and S-Corps and how to determine which one (or both) is best for structuring your business. The guest is Hannah Cole, creator of Sunlight Tax. You can visit Sunlight Tax for resources mentioned in today's episode.

Join the So Money Members Club to gain access to Farnoosh on the go and a front-row seat to her monthly workshops.Today's episode addresses questions from the audience about career transitions. One listener is concerned that making a job switch could impact the finances in her relationship, as she is the sole breadwinner at the moment. Another listener struggles to pivot in her 40s, worried about the risks of "starting over" in a new career. Finally, one friend in the audience wants to know how to become more ready for retirement. Where should she park $400,000 in cash?

May is Mental Health Awareness Month, a time to reflect on how our financial well-being impacts our mental health and how generational trauma may be at the root of stress and anxiety about money. Guest Sahaj Kohli is the founder of Brown Girl Therapy and the author of the new book But What Will People Say: Navigating Mental Health, Identity, Love, and Family Between Cultures.

We’re dedicating this entire episode to probably the biggest question I get from listeners: Should I work with a financial planner? We’re addressing your top concerns and questions about working with a financial advisor with guest Pam Krueger, a seasoned financial journalist and the creator and co-host of MoneyTrack, which ran on PBS stations nationwide.Pam is also the founder of Wealthramp, 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. No matter your income or asset level, Wealthramp is flexible, and can accommodate your needs with various project scopes and fee options.I'm excited to announce my collaboration with Pam and Wealthramp to connect So Money audience members with top-notch, fee-only financial advisors. Visit wealthramp.com/farnoosh to start the easy process of finding an advisor or planner aligned with your needs, goals, and budget. The initial meeting with any advisor is free. One thing I especially like about Wealthramp is the advisors they recommend can’t contact you unless you ask them to - your information is protected, and you’re in control. Again, the website is wealthramp.com/Farnoosh.

Join Farnoosh's private community to up-level your finances at SoMoneyMembers.Last day to join Book to Brand in NYC.This week's questions: Does it ever make sense to withdraw early from a 401k to pay down debt? What investing fees should we watch out for? Is my target date fund OK, or should I expand my investments?

The average worker believes they need over $1 million to retire comfortably. How can small business owners secure this lofty financial goal for themselves and their employees with less stress? Guest Jean Smart is the founder and CEO of Penelope, a fintech company that is disrupting retirement solutions for small and micro businesses. Penelope (named after her daughter) was inspired by her personal experiences, as Jean is the daughter of Korean immigrant business owners who were not prepared for their own retirement.