HerMoney with Jean Chatzky

Ep 515: Stability Over Stress: Building A Retirement Plan For Uncertain Times

If you’ve read economic headlines recently and thought, “Well, that’s not comforting,” you’re not alone. Market swings and broader economic uncertainty are enough to make even confident investors second-guess their strategies.  And here’s the hard truth: Wall Street doesn’t care if you’re retiring next year. It doesn’t care if you’re five years away. And it definitely doesn’t care if you’re lying awake at night wondering if you’ve done “enough.” The good news? You can take steps to build confidence.  On a special episode of the HerMoney Podcast, sponsored by LIMRA, Jean sits down with two of the smartest voices in retirement – Jason Fichtner, Executive Director of the LIMRA Retirement Income Institute and David Blanchett, head of retirement research at Prudential, a portfolio manager at PGIM and a LIMRA Retirement Income Institute Fellow – to talk about how to step off the emotional rollercoaster of the markets and build a retirement plan that feels stable, predictable and livable.  In the episode, they’ll break down: Why market swings hit harder as retirement gets closer How protected income can help build a foundation for financial peace of mind Whether you should be worried about the future of Social Security Why waiting to claim Social Security can be one of your biggest wins – and strategies to make doing so easier Protected income can play a helpful role in creating more stability in retirement. If you’re curious and want to dig deeper, these two resources from LIMRA can help: Retirement planning can feel complex. This resource breaks down how fees and commissions work, so you know what to expect and what questions to ask. There’s plenty of conflicting information online about annuities. This guide walks through common misconceptions and explains the basics to help you better understand how they fit into retirement planning. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Single, Self-Sufficient & Paying More? How to Beat the Singles Tax

More American women are single than ever before, but our financial system is still built for couples. In this episode, Jean Chatzky sits down with finance journalist and author Renée Sylvestre-Williams to unpack the hidden financial penalties of being single (aka The Singles Tax) and what solo earners can do to protect themselves, build wealth, and plan for retirement on their own terms. We're talking about: What the “Singles Tax” really is—and where it hits hardest Why single women may need larger emergency funds and more downside protection Renting vs. buying: how to decide what’s right for you The most overlooked tax strategies for single women The biggest retirement planning mistake single women make 📚 Resources & Links: Join InvestingFixx, our judgment-free investing community designed to help you build confidence, grow your money, and make smart decisions. The Singles Tax: No-Nonsense Financial Advice for Solo Earners by Renée Sylvestre-Williams The Budgette Newsletter (Renée’s newsletter for single earners) Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Ep 514: Why Every Woman Needs a “F*ck Off Fund” — And How It Evolves as You Age

What does financial freedom really mean? Not just a healthy retirement account or a growing investment portfolio, but the ability to walk away from a situation that isn’t right. To say no. To have choices. In this episode, Jean sits down with writer and speaker Paulette Perhach, whose essay about building a “F*ck Off Fund” has resonated with women for nearly a decade. Together, they explore how financial independence evolves over a lifetime, from the early years of building an emergency cushion to the later years of protecting your retirement, your relationships, and your sense of agency. In this episode, we discuss: What a “F*ck Off Fund” really is,  and why it doesn’t have to be a huge number to change your life Why financial independence is about more than money The power of small boundaries and everyday decisions How to talk to daughters, nieces, and younger women about money  Why many women still feel financially fragile, even when they’re doing everything “right” How financial independence evolves as you approach retirement Resources Mentioned in This Episode Join InvestingFixx (HerMoney’s twice-monthly women’s investing club) Switch: How to Change Things When Change Is Hard  The Paradox of Choice Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Premium Credit Cards: Are They Actually Worth the Fee? With Your Rich BFF Vivian Tu

How many credit cards is too many? Are premium travel cards actually worth those eye-popping annual fees? And what should you do when a card in your wallet stops pulling its weight? This week, Jean Chatzky is joined once again by money expert Vivian Tu for a listener mailbag all about credit cards, points, and smart strategies for getting real value, without paying unnecessary fees or interest. Together, they break down: How to decide if high-end travel cards like Amex Platinum or Chase Sapphire Reserve are actually worth the cost The smartest way to evaluate card perks — from lounge access to travel protections — in real dollar terms When it makes sense to downgrade a credit card How to use points efficiently without spending hours comparison shopping What to say if you call your credit card company to ask for a lower interest rate How to switch cards while protecting your credit score and account history 📈 Join our InvestingFixx club, your first month is free!  Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Ep 513: Vivian Tu on Building a Well Endowed Life That Buys You Time, Not Just Things

She’s back, and she brought her boldest advice yet. Vivian Tu, New York Times bestselling author and founder of Your Rich BFF, joins us to talk about her new book Well Endowed and why now is the time to rethink how you spend, save, and build the future you want. Vivian and Jean get real about what it means to be truly wealthy—not just financially, but emotionally and generationally. From burnout to budgeting to luxury trap purchases, this episode is your permission slip to stop spending for the wrong reasons and start aligning your money with what actually matters. What we’re diving into: The “values detox” every spender needs How to know if that splurge is really worth your time Why premium doesn’t always mean better (hello, MVP rule) What Vivian’s learned from the vibrant, retired women in her Miami building How to design a retirement that’s anything but tired Why estate planning is non-negotiable—even in your 30s Resources & Links: 💰 Order Well Endowed by Vivian Tu 🧠 Join the HerMoney InvestingFixx Club 📝 Subscribe to Vivian's Substack: enRICHed with Your Rich BFF 🎧 Listen to Vivian’s podcast: Networth and Chill Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices