Absolutely Not Podcast
Host: Heather McMahon
Guest: Vivian Tu ("Your Rich BFF")
Episode: Well Endowed with Vivian Tu
Date: February 25, 2026

Episode Overview

This episode features comedian Heather McMahon in conversation with financial expert and author Vivian Tu ("Your Rich BFF") on the day of her new book launch, Well Endowed. The discussion is a fun, honest deep dive into financial literacy, consumer psychology, demystifying investing, and challenging societal narratives around money—especially for women and young professionals. Vivian brings practical, accessible advice, and Heather keeps the energy high with relatable stories and sharp humor.

Key Discussion Points & Insights

Vivian’s Book Launch & Financial Literacy for All (00:06–03:16)

• Heather introduces Vivian Tu, lauding her for making finance understandable for “people like me with ADHD” and for “breaking down health insurance in a way that actually made sense.”
  • "She's going to teach you how to be rich as fuck. But also, even if you have $3, 3 pennies to rub together, she's going to teach you how to be financially savvy." — Heather (00:27)
• Vivian shares the exhaustion of launch day and her dedication to making financial topics approachable.
  • "I was tossing and turning like I was getting a free exorcism... till 3 am." — Vivian (02:11)

Breaking Down the Health Insurance Maze (03:16–03:59)

• Both praise how Vivian’s book simplifies complex topics like health insurance, with Heather grateful for understanding tricky terms (deductible, premium, HMO/PPO).
  • "Why the fuck did they name it that stuff? ... Just call shit what it is." — Vivian (03:16)
• Discussion highlights why financial education isn't taught in school and how that serves the status quo.
  • "If you teach people how to actually be smart... they're not going to do the shitty jobs anymore, period.” — Vivian (03:37)

Vivian’s Origin Story: Wall Street to Media Star (03:59–05:11)

• Vivian left Wall Street after toxic work dynamics and pivoted into media at BuzzFeed.
  • Details a sexist experience where a manager commented on her clothes ("He kimono’d me").
  • "I'm not gonna be disrespected. So I ended up pivoting into media." — Vivian (05:02)
• Combines finance expertise with media savvy to create “Your Rich BFF".

The Psychology of Consumerism (05:50–09:58)

• Explains how online advertising manipulates our buying decisions, using her own obsession with a pair of shoes as an example.
  • "It's like an Apple air tag in your pocket ... and that is why you are literally compulsively spending." — Vivian (06:45)
• Asks listeners to reflect on why they're buying things: is it for themselves, or to signal status online?
  • "Do you want it or do you want to tell people you have it?" — Vivian (07:56)
• Highlights difference between buying impressive, “braggable” items (BMW, designer bags) versus items that improve quality of life (mattresses).
  • "People aren't bragging about their mattresses." — Vivian (09:11)
• Both hosts reminisce humorously about their loyalty to comfortable, affordable shoes (Jessica Simpson, Cole Haan).

Demystifying Financial Shame & Investment Jargon (10:28–11:54)

• Heather highlights Vivian’s non-judgmental tone and how her explanations reduce financial shame and complexity.
  • “It just made sense. I was like, this is my girl talking to me, not talking above me, not talking down to me." — Heather (10:28)
• Discuss why investing isn’t taught and how jargon gates progress.
  • "It feels like you're learning a new language when in fact ... this math is actually not harder than like basic seventh grade algebra." — Vivian (11:37)
  • The real reason so many fear finance: the industry → complex language.

Q&A with Listener Questions (16:55–26:22)

Impulse Spending & Marketing Tricks (16:55–21:12)

• Heather asks for simple advice to curb impulse spending.
  • Vivian: “Are you trying to buy a thing or a feeling? ... You have to remember, you're buying a thing. You don’t get all the warm glow.”
• Car buying advice: Vivian discusses how tax write-offs work with heavy vehicles (>6,000 lbs), e.g., G-Wagon loophole for business owners (19:56).
• Tips to check incentives of influencers and marketers before making purchases (Stanley cup vs. regular thermos).

The “F-You Number”: How Much Money Do You Need to Retire? (22:08–26:22)

• Vivian introduces the concept of the "fuck you number"—how much you’d need invested to retire comfortably.
  • Step-by-step: Add up the cost of your “perfect year” → divide by 0.04 (4%) to get the total lump sum you’d need invested for a safe, sustainable lifestyle.
  • "Take that number for your perfect year, divide by 0.04... that is how much you want to have invested." — Vivian (24:12)
• Clarifies that it doesn’t all have to be cash; it should be invested.
  • “I am someone who’s very comfortable with my investments funding part of my lifestyle, and then continuing to work.” — Vivian (25:02)

Why Billionaires Pay Less Tax & Systemic Frustrations (26:22–29:52)

• Explains how billionaires’ wealth isn’t typically from income, but from investments/ownership, making it harder to tax.
  • “If you are lower rich or upper poor ... those are the people paying out the nose in taxes. ... Billionaires don’t make money from income though. They make their money through ownership.” — Vivian (27:22)
• Critiques the myth of “trickle down economics” and highlights the lack of financial recirculation among billionaires vs. high-earning entertainers/athletes.
  • “Turns out the people who are exploitative enough to make a billion dollars don’t actually like passing on savings... They just hoard it.” — Vivian (28:13)
• Laugh-out-loud moment when both riff on Peter Thiel as an “Illuminati lizard” (28:05).

Desensitization to Scandal & Societal Apathy (33:17–34:30)

• Both comment on society’s numbness to headlines (Epstein files, political scandals).
  • “The line keeps moving. And that’s the problem. ... We’ve already moved so far from what, like, reality is.” — Vivian (33:40)

Diversification & International Investments (34:42–37:23)

• Vivian recommends diversifying with international funds (e.g., Vanguard VXUS).
  • Heather: "Vanguard X US... We can remember this."
• Warns listeners it's risky to hold only U.S. assets given current global trends and currency pressures.

Do You Need a Financial Advisor? (37:23–40:35)

• Most people don’t actually need a financial advisor, unless they have complex incomes/assets.
  • For most, a robo-advisor or well-allocated target-date fund suffices.
  • "Just because you have a lot of money or you make a lot of money doesn't mean you have a complicated financial picture." — Vivian (37:49)
• Encourages women and non-experts to take control: statistics prove women often outperform men in investing due to risk aversion and patience.
  • “Women’s portfolios outperform men’s because men are so focused on trying to day trade... Women are more buy and hold.” — Vivian (40:01)

Rewriting the Money Narrative (41:35–44:25)

• Vivian’s mission: Demystify finance for “smart people who are not smart with money.”
  • “My content is for smart people who are not smart with money.” — Vivian (41:35)
• Critiques the way debt is viewed: demonized for the poor, celebrated as “leverage” for the wealthy.
  • "When poor people borrow money ... we call it debt... When rich people borrow, we call it leverage and put them on the covers of magazines.” — Vivian (44:03)

Rapid-fire: Crypto, Catching Up, and Compound Growth (44:54–50:26)

• Crypto advice:
  • “Crypto can be a perfectly healthy part of your portfolio... think about crypto like sprinkles on a sundae.” — Vivian (45:01)
  • Only invest in crypto after maxing retirement accounts. Avoid meme coins/items with no utility.
  • "If you can't explain it to a fifth grader, you don't need to have it." — Vivian (48:12)
• Importance of remembering your crypto wallet passwords, referencing the guy who lost billions in bitcoin.
• It’s never “too late” to start investing; compound interest means time > lump sum, but higher income later can help catch up.
  • “Having a lot of time makes you that money.” — Vivian (49:33)

Notable Quotes & Memorable Moments

• “Do you want it or do you want to tell people you have it?” — Vivian (07:56)
• “People aren't bragging about their mattresses.” — Vivian (09:11)
• “If you can't explain it to a fifth grader, you don't need to have it.” — Vivian (48:12)
• “My content is for smart people who are not smart with money.” — Vivian (41:35)
• “When poor people borrow money... we call it debt. When rich people borrow, we call it leverage and put them on the covers of magazines.” — Vivian (44:03)
• “Crypto is like sprinkles on a sundae.” — Vivian (45:01)

Timestamps for Important Segments

• Vivian’s Launch Day Reality – 02:00
• Why Health Insurance is So Confusing – 03:16
• Marketing Tricks/Social Media Advertising – 05:55
• “F-You Number” Retirement Explainer – 22:43
• Billionaires & Taxes – 26:37
• Desensitization to Scandal – 33:17
• International Diversification (VXUS) – 35:01
• Do You Need a Financial Advisor? – 37:36
• Women Outperform in Investing – 40:01
• Debt: Demonized vs. Leveraged – 44:03
• Crypto in Your Portfolio – 44:54
• It’s Never Too Late to Start Investing – 49:22

Tone & Conclusion

The episode balances sharp humor, real talk, and straightforward advice. Vivian delivers actionable steps with empathy and zero judgment, while Heather ensures accessibility and laughs throughout. The core message: everyone, regardless of background or confidence, can (and should) be smarter with their money—and it’s never too late to start.

Find Vivian Tu online as "Your Rich BFF." Her new book "Well Endowed" is now available wherever books are sold.