HerMoney with Jean Chatzky

The economy added 172,000 jobs in May, nearly double what economists expected. So why did consumer sentiment just hit a record low? Why does everything still feel so hard? In this episode, Jean sits down with Sarah Foster, Personal Finance Reporter at Bloomberg, to break down what's really going on beneath the surface of those headline numbers, and what it means for your job, your home, and your retirement savings. In this episode, you'll learn: Why keeping your money in a traditional savings account right now means you're slowly losing ground What the lock-in effect really means for women who want to downsize before retirement How to think about home equity as a retirement tool The one financial move Sarah says everyone should make right now Jean's new book, The Forever Paycheck, is available for pre-order now. It's your guide to building a secure, steady income stream that actually lets you enjoy the retirement you've worked so hard for. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Annuities might be one of the most misunderstood financial products out there – and they come with plenty of opinions…as well as questions. Are the fees really that high? Do advisors just push them for the commission? Could an annuity actually be the missing piece of your retirement plan?  On this episode of the HerMoney Podcast, we’re cutting through the noise with two leading experts: Michael Finke and Tamiko Toland of LIMRA’s Retirement Income Institute. They’re busting the biggest annuity myths, answering questions straight from our HerMoney Community and helping you figure out whether this type of protected income deserves a spot in your financial future.  Listen in to hear them cover: A jargon-free explanation of annuity types and terms to be aware of What to know if you’re buying an annuity – including how fees work Whether there’s a “right” age to purchase an annuity The next steps to take if an annuity sounds right for you Learn more: Most people want protected income for life. Few realize that’s what annuities provide. This resource from LIMRA covers everything you need to know. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

For white-collar workers, the recent headlines about AI are more than a little bit fear-inducing. AI could automate millions of white-collar jobs within 18 months. College graduates are booing commencement speakers who bring it up. And women — whose jobs are three times more likely to be automated — are falling behind on AI adoption. So what do you actually do? Pulitzer Prize-winning New York Times journalist Jodi Kantor has answers. Her new book, How to Start: Discovering Your Life's Work, grew out of a question her Columbia University students asked her that she couldn't shake: how, in this environment, are we supposed to find our life's work? The answer, it turns out, applies just as much to a woman reinventing herself at 52 as it does to a 22-year-old just starting out. In this episode, Jean and Jodi get into: The two things every successful, happy person has: craft and need Why your messy, nonlinear résumé might be your biggest asset right now How to get a real human being to respond to your job outreach in the age of AI screening Jodi's three tips for cold outreach that actually work And if you're thinking about what your financial future looks like through all of this change, pre-order Jean's new book, The Forever Paycheck — your guide to building income that lasts as long as you do. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

A new study shows Americans expect to delay retirement by four years as the cost of living rises…and 4 in 10 aren't confident they'll have enough money to last. If that sent you into a spiral, this episode is your permission to exhale. Historian, real estate investor, and early retiree Joseph S. Moore, PhD, spent years stress-testing three centuries of American financial advice, and what he found will reframe the way you think about retirement. His new book, How to Get Rich in American History: 300 Years of Financial Advice That Worked (and Didn't), makes the case that retirement anxiety is nothing new, and that every generation that's felt it has ended up being fine. Then, Jean sits down with Lacy Garcia, founder and CEO of Willow, an award-winning platform that connects women with vetted fiduciary financial advisors who actually understand their lives. Jean and Lacy get refreshingly honest about the money moves they wish they'd made sooner: investing earlier, finding an advisor before they felt "ready," keeping an emergency fund, and having the money conversations they'd been putting off.  Find a fiduciary advisor through Willow: hermoney.com/findanadvisor  📚 Pre-order Jean's new book, The Forever Paycheck Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

We've been told to lean in, speak up, ask for the raise, and take up space. But what happens when doing everything right still isn't enough? Journalist and financial expert Stefanie O'Connell joins Jean to talk about her deeply researched new book, The Ambition Penalty: How Corporate Culture Tells Women to Step Up — and Then Pushes Them Down. In this conversation, Jean and Stefanie dig into why the girlboss era failed us, why women are penalized not for a lack of ambition but because of it, and what we can actually do about it. They cover: Why being fluent in the language of empowerment is not the same as actually being empowered How the ambition penalty follows women outside the workplace  Why you can't outwork inequality, but you can outorganize it What it really takes to build a life where your ambition is championed, not penalized And if you loved today's conversation, don't miss Jean's new book, The Forever Paycheck — your guide to building a secure, steady income stream that lets you actually enjoy the retirement you've worked so hard for. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

If you've been feeling financially anxious lately, the numbers back you up. A record 55% of Americans say their financial situation is getting worse, and 67% say they're more afraid of running out of money than dying.  This week, Jean sits down with Carrie Joy Grimes, author of the new book The Joy of Money, for a candid, wide-ranging conversation about financial anxiety, behavioral science, and exactly what wealthy people are doing with their money right now. In this episode, we cover: What wealthy people do differently with their money during volatile markets The Life Happens Fund: why a basic emergency fund isn't enough and how to build a real financial cushion The three-step self-compassion practice backed by behavioral science that helps you stop shame-spiraling over money mistakes The "Good Enough Retirement Vision" exercise that will help you stop feeling paralyzed about the future And if today's conversation got you thinking about your financial future, don't miss Jean's brand new book, The Forever Paycheck. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

She's been famous since childhood, but Brooke Shields might be having her most interesting chapter yet, and she's the first to say she's done waiting to be picked. This week on HerMoney, we're thrilled to share a special replay of one of our favorite recent episodes from our sister podcast, How She Does It with Karen Finerman. Karen sits down with the actress, author, and entrepreneur for a wide-ranging conversation about reinvention, resilience, and what it really means to come into your own at 60. In this episode, you'll hear about: Why Brooke got tired of waiting for Hollywood to cast her and decided to develop her own show The very real moment she stood up to a dismissive VC Her experience with postpartum depression and why breaking the silence still matters What it's really like to serve as president of Actors' Equity  The beauty industry's failure to represent women over 50, and why Brooke decided to do something about it And if Brooke's story of betting on herself got you thinking about your own financial future, Jean's new book, The Forever Paycheck, is the perfect next read. It's all about building income that lasts, so you can keep funding the next chapter. How She Does It is part of HerMoney Media. Subscribe and catch every episode wherever you listen to podcasts. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

There are people who change the way you think about money. And then there are people who change the way you think about life, and do it through the lens of money. Jonathan Clements was one of those people. The beloved personal finance columnist and Wall Street Journal veteran passed away in September 2025, leaving behind a remarkable legacy and one final book: Money and Me: How to Make Your Finances Work Harder for You and Your Family. This week, Jean sits down with Jason Zweig, Jonathan's dear friend and fellow Wall Street Journal columnist, to honor that legacy and dig into the lessons Jonathan left behind for all of us. They cover: The investing philosophy he championed for nearly 40 years, and why it's still the best advice out there The three dimensions of money and happiness: freedom from worry, spending on experiences, and using money to create meaning Why the shift from saving to spending in retirement is one of the hardest psychological transitions we face, and how to make it easier Jonathan's take on how much money to leave your kids  Why spending small is actually the smartest spending strategy of all And if today's conversation got you thinking about your own relationship with money, Jean's new book, The Forever Paycheck, is the perfect next read. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

What does a week of grocery shopping actually look like for real women right now? Jean Chatzky teams up with Yasmeen Khan, writer of Consumer Reports' Bread and Butter newsletter, for a special edition of A Week in Her Wallet, focused entirely on the grocery store. First, Jean and Yasmeen sit down with Lori, a mom of two boys in Massachusetts, who spent the week bouncing between Trader Joe's, Costco, and Stop & Shop. Then, Jean and Yasmeen dig into the bigger picture: what three women's grocery weeks revealed about how savvy shoppers have become, why store brands deserve a second look, and Consumer Reports' best tips for cutting costs at the checkout line right now. Links mentioned: Subscribe to Bread and Butter by Consumer Reports Yasmeen's recent newsletter on saving on groceries Fill out this form to be considered for a future A Week in Her Wallet episode Pre-order Jean's new book, The Forever Paycheck Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

You’ve heard of the gender pay gap – but there’s a quieter crisis unfolding for millions of women: the retirement gender gap. Whether you’ve taken time out of the workforce to care for a loved one, are a Gen X’er racing toward retirement with less saved than you’d like, or recently lost a spouse and are suddenly in charge of finances you’ve never managed alone, this episode is for you.  In it, two experts from LIMRA, Chief Marketing Officer Tina Beckwith and Retirement Income Institute Fellow Suzanne Norman, break down: Why women face a steeper climb to retirement security Who’s most at risk The concrete steps you can start taking today to close the gap Learn more: Women – and especially widows – often want a trusted partner to help navigate retirement decisions. Here are 7 key tips they can keep in mind when looking for a financial professional.  Pre-order Jean's new book, The Forever Paycheck — your guide to building a secure, steady income stream for the retirement you've worked so hard for. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Nicole is 56, single, and living in Raleigh, North Carolina, and she has a spreadsheet for everything. After her divorce left her saddled with debt, she spent two decades building a budget system so airtight she hasn't carried a credit card balance since. Now she's earning over $100k a year, paying off every card in full, and chipping away at a student loan she could settle tomorrow if she wanted to. But when Nicole spent a week tracking every dollar for A Week in Her Wallet, she made a surprising discovery: she has far more money left over each month than she ever realized, and she’s ready to put it to work. In this episode, Jean and Nicole cover: The medical billing maze that's costing Nicole more than it should The three-debit-card system Nicole built  Why a diagnosis changed how she thinks about spending on her own wellbeing The student loan she's been carrying strategically  What Nicole's retirement dream actually looks like Pre-order Jean's new book, The Forever Paycheck — your guide to building a secure, steady income stream for the retirement you've worked so hard for. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

If financial uncertainty is keeping you awake at night, this episode is for you. Author and journalist Simone Stolzoff joins Jean to talk about his new book, How To Not Know: The Value of Uncertainty in a World That Demands Answers, and why learning to sit with the unknown might be the most powerful financial skill you can develop right now. And in this week's Mailbag, Jean is joined by Lacy Garcia, founder and CEO of Willow, to help three listeners navigate inflection points in their lives: how to start dividing shared assets before a divorce is filed, what to do with your 401(k) after a layoff, and how to think about a lump-sum inheritance without letting fear or emotion drive the decision.  Resources mentioned in this episode: The Good Enough Job by Simone Stolzoff Hanna Horvath, Your Brain on Money on Substack The Forever Paycheck by Jean Chatzky — available for pre-order now Subscribe to the HerMoney newsletter Ready to connect with a fiduciary advisor who's the right fit for you? Find one at hermoney.com/findanadvisor. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

This week, Jean sits down with Louise, 56, a high-tech executive who's burned out, stretched thin, and seriously asking herself whether it's time to walk away from her career. Louise has done everything right: she and her husband have $3.2M in retirement accounts, over $400k in vested stock, a home worth almost $2 million, and 529s for the kids. But with a family of six to cover, and healthcare costs that could rival a mortgage, the math is murkier than it looks. Jean helps her think through what early retirement would actually cost, where the real risks are, and what she needs to figure out before she makes any moves. In this episode: The Rule of 55 — what it is, how it works, and whether it's the right move Why the 4% rule may not be enough when you're only 56 Healthcare on the open market: what it really costs for a family of six post-subsidy How unvested stock grants could completely change Louise's retirement picture Why your home equity belongs in your net worth calculation The case for finding a middle path between burnout and full retirement What to ask a financial advisor before making any early retirement decisions Never miss a money moment — sign up for the free HerMoney newsletter. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

It was 1996 when a young journalist named Beth Kobliner published a book called Get A Financial Life, and for a whole generation of women in their twenties and thirties, it became the money bible they didn't know they needed. Thirty years later, Beth is back with a completely updated fifth edition, and the timing couldn't be more perfect. This week, Jean sits down with Beth for a wide-ranging conversation about what thirty years of writing and talking about personal finance has taught them both, and why the fundamentals Beth wrote about in the 90s are more relevant, and more urgent, than ever.  In this episode, you'll learn: Why taking care of your own finances is one of the greatest gifts you can give your kids What Gen Z is actually getting right about money  Why slow and steady still wins The truth about neobanks, crypto, and gambling apps  The single most important money move a young person can make today that their future self will thank them for Subscribe to the free twice-weekly HerMoney newsletter. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

What does it actually look like to spend just $400 in a week… intentionally, joyfully, and with a clear-eyed plan for the future? This week on A Week in Her Wallet, Jean sits down with Ann, a 63-year-old Early Childhood Director from upstate New York, who is on a mission to build what she calls her "rich enough old lady future self." Ann brings in over $100k a year, but her spending week clocked in at under $400, not because she's depriving herself, but because she's figured out exactly what she values and what she doesn't. From homemade iced coffee and Sunday meal prep to a cleaning splurge she refuses to apologize for, Ann's week is a masterclass in intentional money. In this episode, Jean and Anne talk about: The "All About Me" account Anne created to spend guilt-free — and why it changed her relationship with money How a scarcity mindset from childhood still shows up today, even after buying window treatments she saved two years for Why Ann went from DIY-ing her investments to hiring a financial advisor, and why she calls it the best money she's ever spent Her paid-off Honda, "the green lady," and what shifting from luxury cars taught her about values Navigating finances in a new relationship after a 36-year marriage ended What she wants women in their late 50s and 60s, especially those feeling behind, to hear If you want to be considered for a future episode of A Week in Her Wallet, fill out the form here, we'd love to hear from you. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

What's the best financial advice you've ever received? Not the trendiest tip or the hottest stock pick; what’s the wisdom that actually holds up over a lifetime? That's exactly the question Diane Harris, Deputy Editor of Kiplinger, put to 35 of the most trusted voices in personal finance…and the answers are as practical as they are profound. In this episode, you'll learn: Why "spend less than you make" is still the foundation of everything, and what Jean says happens when you don't Peter Lynch's "elevator pitch" test for any stock you own (and why most people fail it) Teresa Ghilarducci's one-date-a-year rule for protecting yourself from panic-selling Why Christine Benz says paying off your mortgage early makes sense, even if the math says otherwise Diane’s number one personal finance tip she learned from taking care of her mother Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices