Show Notes
We're closing in on the end of 2026, and on paper, it's been an amazing year for the markets. But that doesn't change the math that so many of us are feeling in our day-to-day lives. That’s why we’re back with Tori Dunlap, founder and CEO of Her First $100K, to walk us through her top moves for building real wealth as we head into the final stretch of the year.
Jean and Tori get into what to do with cash sitting in a high-yield savings account right now, why Tori says it's now unequivocally smarter to rent than buy in most major U.S. cities, and the trap she sees so many high-earning women fall into.
In this episode:
Why Tori says to beef up your emergency fund right now, even if you're already investing
How to build a truly diversified portfolio beyond a single index fund
What a HENRY is, and why decent income can disconnect you from your money
And if you've already read The Forever Paycheck, leave a review on Amazon and send Jean a screenshot at [email protected]; you'll be entered to win a signed copy. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices
More from HerMoney with Jean Chatzky
How much do you need to retire, not just comfortably, but happily, in 2026?
The ten years before retirement are your last, best chance to get it right. In this episode, Jean and Anne Lester, author of Your Best Financial Life, former head of Retirement Solutions for J.P. Morgan Asset Management, and a fellow with LIMRA’s Retirement Income Institute, break down what the ten years before retirement should really look like and everything you need to tackle to enter retirement with confidence.
Financial literacy isn’t just a problem for young people — it spans every generation and income bracket, and the numbers have only gotten worse over the last decade. So what actually works?
Sixty percent of Americans say they feel scared when they think about the future, and women are more likely than men to feel that way. If your instinct is to push that fear down, breathe through it, or just try to be more fearless, Farnoosh Torabi wants to stop you right there. Because fear, she argues, isn’t the enemy. It’s actually one of the most powerful tools you have, if you know how to listen to it.
Have you ever stopped to think about how nearly every product in your life — the car you drive, the shoes on your feet, the chair you're sitting in right now — was actually designed for men? Because cars were designed for men, women are 73% more likely to be seriously injured in a crash, and 17% more likely to die in one. And it doesn't stop at cars; even your sneakers were likely modeled on a man's foot first.