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

Today's episode focuses on ways to manage financial stress and burnout. Guest Kate Northrup is a financial expert, author, and host of Plenty who believes paying attention to nature and your biology can help inform how and when to pursue growth and when to scale back. 

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. (This episode aired originally on May 27, 2024)

Today's episode dives into many of your biggest questions about retirement: How much is enough for a typical retirement? What are the best ways to save and invest towards this goal? Do I put it all into my 401(k) or spread it over multiple retirement accounts? What can we expect from social security? How to prepare for unexpected health expenses in retirement? Should I hire someone to manage my retirement nest egg? What's the best place to store my cash after selling my house in my late 50s? Co-host Pam Krueger is a longtime financial journalist and founder of Wealthramp, a platform that helps you find a fiduciary (i.e., trustworthy) financial planner. Visit Wealthramp.com/Farnoosh to get matched with a pre-vetted advisor.

How to create a 7-figure side hustle? Guest Rachel Rodgers is the CEO/Founder of Hello Seven, an award-winning company that teaches women, BIPOC, and LGBTQIA people how to build a seven-figure business and create generational wealth. She’s the author of We Should All Be Millionaires: A Woman’s Guide to Earning More, Building Wealth, and Gaining Economic Power. Her new workbook, Million Dollar Action, is a companion to her bestselling book.

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.