Farnoosh Torabi's Blog, page 11

Inc Magazine Profiles My Work, Advice and New Show

Inc Magazine’s Zoe Henry spoke with me for almost two hours earlier this month to learn all about my career, upbringing and financial advice, as well as my new show Follow the Leader on CNBC. At the end of our long conversation I jokingly asked, “Am I going to be on the cover?” Haha. No.

The piece is out and I wanted to share it with you. Zoe nicely summarized some of my top advice for business owners, particularly female entrepreneurs. Plus, how do my husband and I manage our household finances?  You can learn it all here.

Be sure to tune into CNBC this Wednesday at 10pm ET/PT for a fresh new episode of Follow the Leader.

This week: Legendary music impresario Lyor Cohen. 

Then you'll love my newsletter. Join my private online community and receive exclusive content, updates and freebies. Plus, get instant access to my new mini e-book, So Money Secrets, a compilation of expert financial habits shared on my new podcast, So Money.

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Brunch with Oprah?

With all of the excitement surrounding Follow The Leader, I failed to fill you in on a major announcement from earlier this week.

It involves OPRAH. And me.

About a year ago, I had a dream that I was brunching with Oprah.

It’s always been a dream of mine to meet her one day.  She’s been a gigantic inspiration in my life, as she has been for so many millions of people.

When people who’ve been fortunate to meet her visit my podcast, I usually spend 10 minutes asking them for every detail.

Like, is she as nice in person?

What perfume does she wear?

While I’ve (yet) to meet Ms. Winfrey, the next best thing just happened.

This time, in real life.

I’m honored and truly humbled to announce that I am the new financial contributor for O, The Oprah Magazine.

My first column is in the latest May issue — which just hit newsstands today. In it you can read all about my money story and the financial wishes I have for readers.

Both Elizabeth Gilbert (Yes. THAT Elizabeth Gilbert of Eat Pray Love fame!) and I are the new contributors.

We even got to celebrate together at Hearst earlier this month, ahead of the public announcement (pictured to the left).

I’m looking forward to bringing you and the readers of O fresh, new and — dare I say — fun financial content!

And maybe, just maybe, I’ll finally have that brunch with Oprah.

A girl can dream…

Then you'll love my newsletter. Join my private online community and receive exclusive content, updates and freebies. Plus, get instant access to my new mini e-book, So Money Secrets, a compilation of expert financial habits shared on my new podcast, So Money.

Follow the Leader Premieres Tonight!

The day that I have been waiting for and telling you about for days, weeks, and even months, is finally here.

Follow The Leader premieres TONIGHT at 10p ET/PT on CNBC.

So be sure to tune in or DVR it for later.

Tonight, the series kicks off with billionaire John Paul Dejoria, the co-founder of Paul Mitchell Systems and Patron Tequila. And the episode’s already abuzz. Here’s my interview in Inc. Magazine and my hometown newspaper, The Worcester Telegram & Gazette.

Without giving away too much in the first episode with JP Dejoria, you’ll learn:

What does it take to create a billion dollar brand?
How can a billionaire run and operate a business without a computer?
Is JP media trained for the cameras? Or is he always this happy?

I also shared some juicy takeaways from the episode right here.

And be sure to log onto Twitter to chat with me LIVE during and after the episode starting at 10pm. I’ll be tweeting along and answering your questions. I’m @Farnoosh on Twitter.

Please keep in touch and tell me what you think of the show.

See you tonight!

Farnoosh

PS – If you haven’t already, follow/like Follow The Leader on Twitter and Facebook to get a behind-the-scene look at the leaders and all the forthcoming drama this season.

Then you'll love my newsletter. Join my private online community and receive exclusive content, updates and freebies. Plus, get instant access to my new mini e-book, So Money Secrets, a compilation of expert financial habits shared on my new podcast, So Money.

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Win $100 to Amazon

It’s time to celebrate!!

So Money has officially surpassed 2 million downloads!

And to spread the good news, I’m heading to Instagram.

Want to join me? In exchange, I’m giving away 10 gift cards to Amazon worth $100 each!

Here’s how to enter to win:

Between now and Friday, head over to Instagram and upload a picture of yourself listening to So Money. Post as often as you want! 

Share what you love about the show or how it’s helped you with your finances, career, life, etc.

Please include the hashtag #SoMoney2million in your post. This is important to do, so I can find you!

On Friday at noon eastern time, I will announce the 10 fans on Instagram who will receive $100 Amazon gift cards for their amazing support!

Remember, you can post as often as you like! Just remember to use #SoMoney2million in your post.

Have fun!

Farnoosh

P.S. Be sure to watch Follow the Leader on CNBC next Wednesday April 6th at 10pm ET/PT! You can check out the trailer for the show here.

Then you'll love my newsletter. Join my private online community and receive exclusive content, updates and freebies. Plus, get instant access to my new mini e-book, So Money Secrets, a compilation of expert financial habits shared on my new podcast, So Money.

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Behind the Scenes: My CNBC Panel at SXSW

If you ever wanted to know what Mr. Wonderful (Kevin O’Leary) from Shark Tank is really like, I can now tell you.

He’s just as intimidating and straight-forward as he is on the hit show.

But he’s also really lovable.

I had the incredible opportunity to spend some time with him, along with CNBC co-talent Tim Love of Restaurant Startup and Rooster McConaughey of West Texas Investors Club at the 2016 South by Southwest Festival.

(My show Follow the Leader is now premiering April 6 – not March 23. Please re-set you calendars and DVRs!)

This was my first time attending SXSW. Did you know the festival is in its 30th year?

I quickly learned there’s an event or panel for every topic.

I mean…

“Life After High School Football Concussions”

“Tiny House Movement MeetUp”

And the one that really got my attention: “If You Are in Advertising, You Might Be a Racist!”

My panel wasn’t as controversial, but still packed a massive crowd (obviously, with Mr. Wonderful there).

It was called, “When Everybody Wants to Be an Entrepreneur.”

Some of the key takeaways for any aspiring entrepreneur or business owner:

Know your numbers. Seriously. If you can’t explain how you make money and your valuation, Mr. Wonderful will eat you alive.
If you can’t sell your idea, well, hire someone who can. You may have a great concept, be the brains behind the idea… but are terrible at marketing and public speaking. That’s fine. Hire someone who can make your idea sexy and talk it up to investors and customers.
Be able to explain what makes you stand out. Because there’s no such thing as a new idea. It’s how you position it and differentiate yourself and your story.

Now, go get ’em!

Then you'll love my newsletter. Join my private online community and receive exclusive content, updates and freebies. Plus, get instant access to my new mini e-book, So Money Secrets, a compilation of expert financial habits shared on my new podcast, So Money.

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So Money Tops iTunes Chart

 To my surprise (and delight!), I recently found So Money topping the charts as the #1 podcast on iTunes in its category. Next to Marketplace, Bloomberg and the Wall Street Journal’s podcast.

And yes, in case you were wondering my celebratory dance looked exactly like this.

As always, thanks for tuning in and showing the podcast tremendous love.

If you haven’t already, I’d be thrilled it if you’d leave a review on iTunes. And let me know when you do so that I may thank you personally.

And if you’re wondering why we skyrocketed to #1, we have the recent So Money guests to thank:

Joe Koss: An avid So Money listener and college professor who paid off $50K in student loans and who secretly donates $$ to one student per year to help with their loans.
Allison Task: My friend and life coach who once lost $1 million – and how she climbed back.
Clay Clark: A serial entrepreneur, dubbed “The Jim Carrey of Entrepreneurs.” He shares the 3 habits of successful people.
Natalie MacNeil: Creator of SheTakesOnTheWorld.com. She shares how she transformed her blog into a multi-million dollar business.

Also, have you started following me on Snapchat yet? Get some behind the scenes pics and videos of my crazy life.

Find me here: FarnooshTorabi (one word).

Plus, don’t forget to mark your calendars for March 23 at 10p ET/PT for the premier of my new show Follow The Leader. It’s the job of a lifetime where I get to follow around rockstar entrepreneurs like John Paul Dejoria, founder of Paul Mitchell and Patron Tequila, music industry mogul Lyor Cohen and Katia Beauchamp, founder of Birchbox.

Stay tuned and make sure to sign up below for continuous updates and behind-the-scenes!

Then you'll love my newsletter. Join my private online community and receive exclusive content, updates and freebies. Plus, get instant access to my new mini e-book, So Money Secrets, a compilation of expert financial habits shared on my new podcast, So Money.

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Sallie Krawcheck Joins Me on So Money

Did you hear? The one and only Sallie Krawcheck joined me on So Money.

She has been at the top of my guest wish list since Day 1.

In case you’re not familiar with Sallie, she is one of the most accomplished and inspirational women in the financial industry.

She was the CEO of Wealth Management for Merrill Lynch. And before that, Smith Barney at Citigroup.

In summary, she’s a #BFD (big freakin’ deal).

Now, she’s taking on the investing gap between men and women in a big way with a new investment platform for women called Ellevest. She’s already raised $10M and is giving my listeners special access ahead of its launch later this year.

Tune into the episode to discover how to get in on this amazing service.

Plus, Sallie talks deeply on the show about her financial experiences as child, the ways she runs her personal finances, and how she’s always advocated for herself in the workplace.

Then you'll love my newsletter. Join my private online community and receive exclusive content, updates and freebies. Plus, get instant access to my new mini e-book, So Money Secrets, a compilation of expert financial habits shared on my new podcast, So Money.

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Announcing “Follow the Leader” on CNBC

Ok.

An epic announcement, friends.

But first, we’ve got a special birthday in the house!

So Money turns a ripe 1 year today.

Exactly one year ago today, I released my podcast into the universe (also known as iTunes).

I anticipated a thunderous applause. I mean, hello. Tony Robbins was my first guest.

Instead, I got crickets.

Because, that’s the thing about podcasts. They take a while to catch on.

But thanks to consistent publishing and marketing, the listeners arrived.

And stayed.

 

In one year, So Money has received:

5 million downloads.
over 330 5-star reviews.
the award for Top Financial Podcast of 2015.
features and accolades in The Wall Street Journal, Money Magazine, Business Insider, Entrepreneur, Inc. Magazine, Forbes and Bloomberg.

 

Click to tweet: “Happy 1st Birthday, #SoMoney!”

But the best gift of all?

The experience of the podcast has led me to massive opportunities.

Opportunities of a lifetime, in fact.

Coinciding with this special birthday, I’m so proud to share the official announcement of my upcoming CNBC Primetime show, Follow the Leader.

During the series I have the incredible opportunity to follow some of the world’s most successful and innovative entrepreneurs to showcase their philosophies, methods and practices to succeed in the business world. What drives them? What makes them tick? How do they uniquely view the world?

Some of the entrepreneurs that will be featured include John Paul DeJoria, founder of Paul Mitchell Systems and Patron Tequila, Lyor Cohen, CEO of 300 Entertainment and Michael Dubin, Founder and CEO of Dollar Shave Club.

I’m actually in Los Angeles right now filming the first episode with John Paul Dejoria.

Keep an eye on my Twitter & Instagram to get a glimpse of the behind-the-scenes.

And mark your calendar for the show’s premiere on March 23 at 10P ET/PT.

– Farnoosh

P.S. To celebrate our first year, today’s episode is all about how to save 50% of your income. No joke.

Then you'll love my newsletter. Join my private online community and receive exclusive content, updates and freebies. Plus, get instant access to my new mini e-book, So Money Secrets, a compilation of expert financial habits shared on my new podcast, So Money.

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Today Show: Best Things to Buy in January

Stopped by the TODAY Show to talk with Carson about items that will be on deep discount in January, so if you didn’t get everything on your holiday wish-list don’t be sad just yet.

You can watch the full segment below:

1. Flatscreen TVs

“January is an amazing time to buy a flatscreen TV,” Brian Hoyt, vice president of communications at RetailMeNot, told TODAY.com.

This is in part because retailers need to make room for new products that they’ll be seeing at the annual Consumer Electronics Show (CES), which takes place on Jan. 6-9 in Las Vegas.

“Retailers are furiously trying move those older products off those shelves to prepare for the inventory switch that occurs around February and March,” Hoyt said, adding that consumers can expect to see discounts in the 35 percent range.

It’s good timing, as many shoppers will be eyeing a new TV in time for the Super Bowl on Feb. 7. Brent Shelton, an online shopping expert at Fatwallet, told TODAY.com by email that in 2015, 20 percent of consumers said they planned to buy a new HDTV during pre-Super Bowl sales, second only to 25 percent who said they would do so on Black Friday.

“Consumers can expect savings from $200 and up on name brand models from Vizio and Samsung,” Shelton said.

Best Buy told TODAY.com in an email statement that its current offering of 20 percent off select HDTVs will be running throughout the month of January.

For example, a Samsung, a 32-inch Class (31-1/2-inch diagonal)LED 1080p HDTV runs for $199.99. That’s $70 off the regular price of $269.99.

2. Exercise equipment and gym memberships

January is the season of New Year’s resolutions, and gyms and sporting good stores are eager to help you keep your “new year, new you” promise with big sales in the 30-percent off range, Hoyt said.

Check with your local gym for new membership discounts. Or, if you’re looking to build up a home gym, January is the time to save on fitness purchases large and small.

“Shoppers should turn to sporting goods stores, big-box stores, and specialty fitness retailers for deals on everything from treadmills to dumbbells to yoga pants,” Kendal Perez, a savings expert at Coupon Sherpa, told TODAY.com. “Expect savings between 25 percent and 50 percent off fitness goods.”

You can even save on fitness bands. At Microsoft, from Jan. 4 through Feb. 1, you can trade in your old smartwatch or fitness tracker for $35 toward a Microsoft Band 2, marked down from $249.99 to $199.00, the company said.

3. Linens

Long ago, “white sales” were created to help retailers clear out bed linen inventory. “Back then linens only came in white,” said Shelton, adding that today, January White Sales have expanded to include bed and bath linens.

“Unlike holiday discounts on mid-level quality linen, January White Sales bring some of the biggest discounts of the year on both lower and higher quality sheets, towels and other textile related items for the home,” said Shelton.

Check out West Elm, Kohl’s and Target for some of the best deals.

“Last year, West Elm offered 20 percent off select styles of bedding; Kohl’s advertised a Home Closeout sale of up to 60 percent off; and Target offered up to $25 savings on home items,” said Perez.

Already West Elm is offering up to 30 percent off on bedding this year. The line of Diamond Chenille Jacquard duvet cover and shams, for instance, has been marked down from $34 to $209, for total prices ranging from $24.99 to $149.99. No end date is listed for the sale.

Also go to stores you may not immediately think of, like Costco and Zara.

“Zara’s home store provided savings of up to 60 percent last year on bedding, bath and other home items, while Costco offered $20 off bedding purchases of $100 or more,” said Perez.

Zara Home Collection is currently touting between 20 percent and 30 percent off bedding. For example, Rainforest Percale Bed Linen, regularly priced at $17.99 to $139.00, is on sale for $11.90 to $99.90 through Jan. 7.

4. Kitchen appliances

Home items are a general focus of January sales, and this means discounts on kitchen appliances.

Fong recommends Macy’s as a destination to find big sales on kitchenware, but you should also check out Lowe’s.

In an email to TODAY.com, Lowes said that its “kitchen event” sales, running now through Jan. 5 and again on Jan. 12-25, feature 20 percent off in-stock kitchen cabinets and 20 to 40 percent off in-stock kitchen sinks. Here are a pair of specific deals:

The Franke USA 32-by-18.5-inch Radiant Silk double-basin stainless steel undermount kitchen sink was $329.99, and has been reduced by 40 percent to $199.00.

Some cabinets are reduced as much as 40 percent, too. Like the Kitchen Classics Arcadia 30-by-30-by-12-inch wall cabinet, which is marked down from $100.80 to $60.48.

5. Video games

Retailers will need to start making room for new releases they’ll see at the annual Toy Fair in February. Comic Con will also be coming up, and retailers will be looking to “move the needle,” said Hoyt.

“There’s not an official release date for video games as there is in the consumer electronic space, but there is the cyclical nature of introducing what will be the big thing in 2016,” said Hoyt.

From now through Jan. 7, Microsoft is running its dountdown sale, offering deals on both Xbox One and Xbox 360 digital games, “with up to 40 to 60 percent off, and some deals even more than 60 percent off.”

Specific offers include “Halo 5: Guardians,” marked down from $59.99 to $49.99, and “Rise of the Tomb Raider,” also marked down $10 to $49.99.

For more items on deep discount visit TODAY.com.

Then you'll love my newsletter. Join my private online community and receive exclusive content, updates and freebies. Plus, get instant access to my new mini e-book, So Money Secrets, a compilation of expert financial habits shared on my new podcast, So Money.

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So Money in The Wall Street Journal

So Money podcast was featured in the Monday edition of the Wall Street Journal highlighting people and places Millennials gravitate towards for financial advice. Writer Jillian Berman picked my podcast as one of those top places. She shadowed me one morning, as I conducted podcast interviews, to get a sense of the behind-the-scenes of the show… a true journalist!

To read the whole article click here.

So Money is featured under the, “Different Goals,” sub-section. See below for the full snippet:

“Farnoosh Torabi, 35, host of the “So Money” podcast series, keeps her personal-finance message free of nitty-gritty investment strategies. Instead, she interviews experts and celebrities, like fashion personality Tim Gunn, about how they approach financial health. She says millennials appreciate advice that’s more than just quick tips or calculations they could look up on Google. Aspirational 20- and 30-somethings are looking for ways to sort through their emotions surrounding money, Ms. Torabi says. Hearing candid stories from guests about how they worked through some of their biggest money problems helps empower her listeners to make their own money decisions.

“It’s not really about the numbers on the show, it’s about the behaviors,” says Ms. Torabi. Her podcast, launched in January, is on track to surpass 1.5 million downloads by the end of the year.”

 

Photo courtesy of The Wall Street Journal

Then you'll love my newsletter. Join my private online community and receive exclusive content, updates and freebies. Plus, get instant access to my new mini e-book, So Money Secrets, a compilation of expert financial habits shared on my new podcast, So Money.

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