HerMoney with Jean Chatzky

Everyone dreams of the day they can stop saving for retirement. And a growing number of people say they can get there early by hitting their Coast FIRE number: the moment you’ve invested enough that you can stop contributing to your retirement savings and let compound growth do the work. But is it as simple as hitting a number?

Jean sat down with Erin Moriarity, creator of the YouTube channel Erin Talks Money, about when you can really ease off saving, what can derail the plan, and how to spend with confidence once you get there.

In this episode:

How Coast FIRE works, and the crossover point when your portfolio grows by more in a year than you add to it

What to do if you’re playing catch-up in your 50s and 60s

How Erin plans to build her own Forever Paycheck

Jean is hosting a free Forever Paycheck book club November 17th at 7 ET. Sign up here!
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AI was supposed to make life easier. So why do so many of us feel busier and more overwhelmed than ever?

Axios co-founder Roy Schwartz joins Jean Chatzky to talk about his new book Simplify: Do 50% More with 50% Less. They dig into why AI is adding complexity instead of removing it, and how to push back at work, with your money, and in how you structure your days.

In this episode:

Why you should treat AI like “the smartest intern ever,” but on day one

How to use AI as an executive coach to audit your meetings

How to brief an AI chatbot when talking to it about your money goals

The four things that drive health, happiness, and longevity

Jean is hosting a free Forever Paycheck book club November 17th at 7 ET. Sign up here!
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The entire American retirement system was built for people with a steady employer, a predictable paycheck, and benefits that are easy to opt in to. But that’s just not how a huge number of people make money anymore. Freelancers, consultants, gig workers, seasonal workers, and side-hustlers are building their financial lives without a 401(k) match or a biweekly deposit, and “just save more” won’t cut it.

Jean talks with AJ Ayers, CFP®, co-founder of Brooklyn Fi and author of Creative Money. AJ shares practical, realistic advice for artists, freelancers, and solopreneurs, whether you chose self-employment or the job market chose it for you.

In this episode:

How to set up your finances when you go out on your own

How self-employment differs in your 50s versus your 30s

How much to keep in an emergency fund when your income is unpredictable

Jean is hosting a free Forever Paycheck book club November 17th at 7 ET. Sign up here!
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Botox can run $500 to $1,000 per visit. Add a laser, a peel, a monthly facial membership, and perhaps a facelfit, and suddenly you’re talking about five figures.

On this episode, Jean Chatzky is joined by Val Monroe, former beauty director at O, The Oprah Magazine, and writer of the Substack How Not to F*ck Up Your Face, to sort out what’s worth paying for and what you’re being sold.

In this episode:

What to ask before you pay for a procedure: what results you’ll see on your face, how long they’ll last, and whether the consultation fee is applied to the procedure

Why Val recommends a consultation with a doctor you trust

Botox or a chemical peel? Why they do different jobs

Mentioned in this episode

I’m Not Going to Lie About My Neck, Molly Jong-Fast, The New York Times

My Post-Face-Lift Panic, Tara Ellison, The Cut

Your Perfectly Imperfect Face, Val Monroe’s latest Substack post

I'm hosting a free Forever Paycheck book club on November 17th at 7 ET. ⁠Sign up here!
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Ask a financial pro how they invest their own money, and the answer usually isn’t flashy. That’s the idea behind How I Invest My Money: Volume 2, a collection of 25 essays from financial pros, each answering one question: How do you invest your money?

Jean sits down with behavioral finance expert and editor Brian Portnoy to talk about what the experts do, why they don’t always agree, and how to give yourself permission to enjoy the money you’ve worked so hard to save.

In this episode:

Why the experts disagree on international investing

How to figure out what matters most to you with Brian’s “four Cs”

Why lifelong savers have such a hard time spending, and how to give yourself permission to enjoy life now

How Brian invests his own money

I'm hosting a free Forever Paycheck book club on November 17th at 7 ET. ⁠Sign up here!
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