HerMoney with Jean Chatzky

Student loans, credit card debt, retirement, oh my! Your questions have been rolling in over Twitter, Facebook and email. And so this week we decided to devote the entire episode to answering them. How to finance graduate school? What's the fastest and cheapest way to pay off $30,000 of credit card debt? Annuities in retirement — yea or nay? Please keep the questions coming — and share the episode with anyone you think would benefit from the answers.

If you want the next half of your life to be just as good as the first, then you've got to get a grip on these three things, says Jo Ann Jenkins, the new CEO of AARP (and the one in their ads telling us all that we "don't know AARP"). We talk about how to reimagine the life you're living now to put yourself on a healthier, wealthier and more self-satisfied track. We also hear about Jenkins' path to helm this mega-organization as, often, one of the few African American women in the room. Then, attention impulse shoppers! "Behavior Gap" author and certified financial planner, Carl Richards, explains why he believes you should wait 72 hours before buying pretty much anything (I'm down with 24 hours. We discuss.) And Kelly joins me to answer the financial questions you've sent us. Stay tuned next week for a whole HerMoney Q&A Show focused in large part on student (and other) debt. Why? Because you keep asking. And we hear you.

Confession: Carly Zakin and Danielle Weisberg started theSkimm — the daily email newsletter you, I, and 3.5 million other readers start their morning with — by floating it on their credit cards. It wasn't until this year that they dug their way out. And that's only one of the things we learned when the HerMoney team sat down with theSkimm founders. Tune in to find out how they got their mojo and stick around for the outtake to find out why we were in the "Munch" conference room. Hint: It's not about lunch. (This episode is one to share with all of your friends who want to start their own businesses!) Plus, Kelly joins me to answer your financial questions about when you may need a financial planner and how to transfer balances on your credit cards without it costing a mint. And, on this week's Thrive, we cover the sometimes sticky situation of whether to loan money to family or friends. If you like what you're hearing, please subscribe, encourage your friends to do likewise and leave us a review. Thanks!

As my listeners know, I'm good with money. Tech? Not so much. But after interviewing technology and social media expert Randi Zuckerberg, I feel much better. And I think you will, too. She helps untangle our wired lives, showing ways to use tech to hack your daily tasks and even bring the family closer together. We also discuss our lives online and off. Just how much screen time is good for your kids — and for you, too? Then, Kelly joins me to answer questions about starting a business and how to find the best interest rates on your savings. And we wrap things up with "Smart Mom, Rich Mom" author Kimberly Palmer, who offers tips for raising money-smart kids. If you like what you're hearing, please subscribe, encourage your friends to do likewise and leave us a review. (Thanks!)

A bubble bath, a nice scotch and some slow jazz? Which are wants? Which are needs? I thought I knew until I sat down with behavioral economist Sarah Newcomb for this week's episode of HerMoney. Newcomb, the author of a new book called "Loaded," figured she could solve all of her own money problems getting tactical and practical — she even studied personal financial planning in business school. Yet, she still struggled with her money. Eventually a course on money psychology set her straight. "I learned I was afraid of money, and I hated it!" She's come a long way since then and her candid advice made me think about my money — including a new way to frame the want/need dividing line — in ways I've never done so before. (And that's saying a lot.) Then, Kelly joins me to talk about how Health Savings Accounts (HSAs) may be the best, tax-free savings option you're not taking advantage of. And in our Thrive segment, strategies for embracing — and getting through — your money conflicts. We love hearing from you at HerMoney and hope you've noticed we're listening to your guest and topic suggestions. Keep them coming! Then, please share the word (and write us a review)!

To paraphrase Sara Bareilles: We want to see you be brave managing your money. And who better to inspire us to get there than best-selling author and preeminent TED talker Dr. Brené Brown? It's an obstacle she's tackled in her own life, as she admits, "I don’t understand everything that I feel like I’m supposed to understand, [and] not understanding puts me at risk." Sound familiar? Brené helps us understand these feelings of vulnerability and the fact that they don't make us weak. She takes us on a deep dive into some of the other basic human emotions — like guilt and shame — and how they’re entangled in our money mindsets. It's one of my favorite conversations. Then, Kelly joins me to answer your financial questions about how best to convert your savings into a monthly income and push your reluctant spouse to get a will. We hope you're enjoying HerMoney. Please share us with your family and friends, subscribe and leave us a review. We always want you to be part of the conversation!

No more midlife crises! Tired of all the negative talk surrounding the word "midlife"? So was my friend and psychotherapist Dr. Robi Ludwig — so much so, she wrote a book about it: "Your Best Age Is Now." That's why we're re-framing the conversation on this week's episode of HerMoney. Research shows women in their 40s, 50s and 60s are living longer and younger. In fact, despite the myths, midlife is the most creative time for us, because we know ourselves better than our younger selves. So, if you're regretting not doing what you always wanted to do, get over it and do it now! Robi tells us how. And since work and feeling accomplished play two important roles in a woman's transition into midlife, she also shares some great advice for dealing with work crises, too. Speaking of regrets, we also talk about the financial ones and how to use them to your advantage to create new opportunities to fuel your future. Kelly joins me to answer your financial questions. This week we simplify that complicated emergency cushion formula and talk over something I needed to do myself: start from scratch after divorce. And, as we all swelter as temps rise (hello #HeatDome), we ask Kerry Cooper, CEO of Choose Energy for savings tips so that your wallet doesn't feel the heat this summer. (We've got your wallet covered for winter, too.) As always, we hope you're enjoying HerMoney. Please subscribe, share us with your friends and leave us a review. We always want YOU to be a part of the conversation!

All those tips come courtesy of PureWow editor Jillian Quint. If you're not familiar with PureWow, it's a newsletter written like a note from your smartest girlfriend, who is always ahead of what's trending when it comes to lifestyle, parenting and, yes, money. With Jillian, we take on sticky situations like splitting the check at a group dinner and talking with your parents about their retirement plans. And play along with us as we get down and dirty about when to save and when to splurge. Organic milk? Chicken? Car seats? Kelly joins me to answer your questions about IRAs, and — since so many of you have asked how to choose a financial planner — we decided to invite Liz Davidson of Financial Finesse to give us some expert advice. We hope you are enjoying HerMoney. Please share with one friend you think will like it, leave us a review and let us know what you think!

Practice with me: "Yes, thank you. I'm very proud of that FILL IN THE BLANK accomplishment." I know it's hard for women to go from a "we" world to a "me" world. We're all about the team. Less about ourselves. The problem is when we do this we don't rise through the ranks, make more money and simply get credit for all the good work we've done. Just how can women learn to be more assertive at work and at home without being called bitchy? Dr. Ben Sorensen, a charismatic leadership trainer and executive coach, knows how. I recently met him at a conference and wanted to share him with all of you. Ben and I teach you the right words to say to communicate more effectively –– without the backlash. Of course Kelly joins me to answer your financial questions, and in a very special Thrive segment this week, Alison Sweeney, you know her from "The Biggest Loser" and "Days of our Lives," shares her distressing story of identify theft and how her fans saved her from more financial peril. Identify theft is all too common, so we tell you what to do to prevent it. We hope you are enjoying HerMoney. Please share it with your family, friends and colleagues. Subscribe and leave us a review –– we want to hear what YOU want to talk about. Thanks!

I am so proud to call Jane Bryant Quinn a friend as well as a mentor. You know her as a female pioneer and personal finance advocate, trusted by millions as a columnist for Newsweek, a reporter for CBS News and a prolific author, but to me, she is an inspiration. Jane showed me –– and so many others –– there was a space in the world for women to talk in a smart, intelligent and understandable way about money. So this week we dig in and get granular about the biggest financial fear going: Outliving your money. Jane explains simple strategies that'll get you there, and why "right-sizing" your life now –– not later –– can be key. She also shares what it was like to be one of the first female journalists in a very male world. As always, Kelly joins us to answer your financial questions about closing credit cards and saving after you’re 65. And, for this week's Thrive segment, we're literally talking about, talking about money. Yes, it's scary, but we'll help you through it. How to demystify that money convo with your spouse or family is one of our goals here at HerMoney. We hope you're enjoying HerMoney. Please share us with your friends, subscribe and send us your money questions. We want you to be part of the conversation!

"I lost my job, I lost my breasts, I lost my hair and I found myself." That's Rene Syler, former anchor for CBS News' The Early Show, on HerMoney explaining what happened in a tumultuous two years of her life. In this week's episode, Rene candidly shares with us her transition from network news to entrepreneur, author and host of her new web series "The Good Enough Mother." Rene is one of those women who makes me feel better about my parenting skills –– and honestly, myself -- on a daily basis. We talk about why it's powerful to own our truth rather than sugarcoat it. "I got fired, fired, fired, fired," she says. We also dish on why women like us care so much about our hair. As always, Kelly joins me to answer your financial questions, this week seeking advice about small businesses and how grandparents can teach kids to save when their parents don't. And, in our Thrive segment, what to do when your millennial can't afford to leave home. We hope you're enjoying HerMoney. Please share it with your friends, subscribe and leave a review to tell us what you think.

Candid. If I had to pick one word to describe Jennifer Weiner, author of "Good in Bed," "In Her Shoes" and so many other great reads, I'd pick that one. Though, smart, funny and fearless also come to mind. I knew I wanted her on the podcast the minute I read her frank essay about the fact that she and her new husband are polar opposites financially. (Though I confess, I am also an avid follower of her savvy Bachelorette Twitter feed, which I read while I watch). Anyway, I was thrilled to meet Jennifer in Philadelphia for this week's episode of HerMoney. We had a fun and very frank conversation about negotiating money, particularly in a second marriage, how she worries about raising two young daughters to respect money and why she waited to have a million dollars in the bank before she had her kids. We also share our "women in the workplace" experiences, and how, sadly, women bullies seem to have no age limit. Of course Kelly is with me to answer your financial questions about how to cultivate a network and safe online money management. And, we tackle the topic of credit card debt head in this week's Thrive segment. Please join us today, subscribe and share with your BFF's (Jennifer wrote that book, too) and let us know what you think!

This week I traveled to Nashville to sit down with financial powerhouse Dave Ramsey and his daughter Rachel Cruze. We talk about how the baby steps to take control of our own financial lives haven't changed in the 25 years Dave and I have been doing this – and how they have. In particular, we dive into the impact social media is having on our spending and saving (not always for the good) and how you can raise financially savvy kids like Rachel, who, by the way, has a new book coming out soon called, "Love Your Life, Not Theirs." We'll answer your financial questions with Kelly (a "friend" of hers is in a new relationship and needs advice, ahem) and in this week's Thrive segment, more about teaching millennials how to start investing in themselves and their futures. P.S. I hope you enjoy HerMoney. Please subscribe and share us with your BFF's. I want to know what you think!

Grit – and a grand! In this episode of HerMoney, I fill you in on how I found over $1,000 in missing money (my own, embarrassingly) and how you can do the same. And, I get the down and dirty on GRIT and how the power of "Guts, Resilience, Initiative and Tenacity" can take you from ordinary to extraordinary. Advertising aces Linda Kaplan Thaler and Robin Koval, authors of a great new book on the subject, share how two girls from the Bronx with no special advantages, rose through the male-dominated, cutthroat world of advertising to run their own booming ad firm. They posit (and research corroborates) that the real secrets to success come through perseverance and determination more so than intellect or inside connections. Plus: Do you have your best ideas in the shower? Many people do and there's science behind why. We'll share. And when Kelly and I answer your financial questions, we tell you why stay-at-home moms absolutely need their own personal credit cards and how to find a legitimate charity. And when we "Thrive," we'll discuss how to you know whether a new job offer is good enough to jump for. P.S. I hope you enjoy HerMoney. Please subscribe and share us with your BFFs. I want to know what you think!

Tell your children how much money you make! That’s what Ron Lieber, NYT best-selling author, personal finance columnist and father says to do if you want to raise kids who are grounded, giving and yes, smart, about money. Ron caused quite a flurry when he challenged that generational taboo, and this week on HerMoney, we talk with Ron about money basics for parents and kids, starting with the tooth fairy through cell phones to college tuition. Get paid for chores? No! Have a say in how the family gives to charity? Yes! We also talk about why expectations for girls are still different than those for boys and how to change that. Then, Kelly and I will answer your financial questions about how best to start your kids investing and creating savings habits for life, and what to do (as debt nears an all time high!) if you have too many high interest credit cards. P.S. Stands for "Please Share." If you like what you hear, please 1) share us on your Facebook and in every other possible way 2) leave us a review and 3) subscribe. Thanks!