So Money with Farnoosh Torabi

Episode 1942: How to Use Your Money to Redefine Wealth Around Time, Choice and Happiness
Date: February 9, 2026
Guest: Andy Hill, Award-Winning Family Finance Coach and Author of Own Your Time

Episode Overview

In this episode, Farnoosh Torabi and guest Andy Hill challenge traditional views of wealth, arguing it isn't just about building a bigger net worth, but about using financial resources to reclaim time, create choice, and cultivate happiness—for yourself and your family. Hill shares his family's journey from financial stress to time freedom, outlines steps toward "coast financial independence," and offers strategies for making time, not money, the centerpiece of a life well-lived.

Key Discussion Points & Insights

Redefining Wealth: From Money to Time and Happiness

• Thesis of the Episode:
  • Money is a tool, not the goal; the ultimate aim is to use money to buy back your time, exercise choice, and intentionally design a joyful life for you and your family.
  • "True wealth isn't just about building a bigger net worth. It's about using your money intentionally to design a life with more freedom, flexibility and family time." (Farnoosh Torabi, 04:40)
• Breaking Free from the Wealth Trap:
  • The “more money equals more happiness” trap can limit us from considering what we truly want out of life.
  • Taking a step back and asking: "What do I want to do with this wealth? What do I want to do with my time?" (Andy Hill, 07:00)

Personal Journey: Andy Hill’s Path to Time Freedom

• Hill describes moving from a negative net worth in his late twenties (after overspending on lifestyle upgrades) to eventually prioritizing time with family over career and status.
  • "Just because we were making six figures did not mean we were rich. We actually had a negative net worth. And this was a light bulb moment for me." (Andy Hill, 10:40)
• The catalyst was the birth of Hill's daughter, motivating him and his wife to set clear goals around spending more time as a family.

The Family Factor: Coordinating Values and Goals

• Families present unique complexities & opportunities; aligning your goals with loved ones enhances happiness and increases the likelihood of success.
  • "It's great to support your goals... but if there are other people in your life that you care about, it is equally, if not more, fun to help them achieve their goals as well." (Andy Hill, 12:43)
• Communication and joint goal-setting with a partner (even compromise) are essential, as is intentionally making space in your life for what matters.

What Does "Owning Your Time" Look Like?

• Less about filling your calendar, more about creating margin, space and meaningful freedom.
• Hill explores the "coast FIRE" (Financial Independence, Retire Early) concept: Get investments to a point where they can grow on their own, allowing for part-time work and flexibility long before traditional retirement.
  • "Three day work week is really what we're shooting for... and try to have this four day weekend as something that I hold sacred." (Andy Hill, 17:56)

Coast FIRE: A Practical Path for Families

• Coast FIRE: Invest enough early that you can ease up later and let compounding work, without continually maxing out retirement accounts.
• This allowed Andy and his wife to both downshift to part-time work and reclaim joy, health, and connection.
• Recognizes "the only constant in life is change" and the importance of regular check-ins as family needs shift. (Andy Hill, 20:26)

Reclaiming Fun and Joy

• Farnoosh and Andy lament how “fun” is often deprioritized as something only earned after all the “work” is done.
  • "You can have fun once you do all your work—but, like, when is the work ever done?" (Farnoosh Torabi, 21:02)
• Story: Andy and his wife take a hip-hop dance class for laughs and connection—evidence that “opening up your calendar” leads to more meaningful enjoyment. (21:15 to 22:08)

Financial Backbone: The Tactical Steps

• Hill details ten financial steps in his book, which include mindset shifts and practical strategies:
  • Eliminating debt
  • Growing the gap between income and expenses
  • Investing early and consistently
  • Building an emergency fund and insurance safety net
  • Exploring Coast FIRE
• "This is a process... This took us from that negative $50,000... all the way to where we are today. That was about 15 years... We've been experimenting with part time work for four or five years now." (Andy Hill, 27:21 - 30:18)

Time Value within Relationships

• Societal roles can make us undervalue non-monetary contributions; Andy offers a strong challenge:
  • "I would challenge the high income earner to say, if you really love your spouse and you want to have a fair and equitable relationship, I challenge you to look at all of the other non-numeric things that your spouse is doing to contribute to your relationship." (Andy Hill, 32:10)
• Stay-at-home parents provide incredible (albeit often invisible) value that should be respected when leveling decisions about time.

Putting It Into Practice: Negotiating and Creating Flexibility at Work

• Strategies for employees (not just entrepreneurs) include:
  • Having open conversations with employers about reduced hours, especially if you're a high performer and valued team member.
  • Networking internally to find models of flexible work.
  • Exploring freelancing or consulting as a next step if a current employer won’t flex.
  • "Start with the easiest opportunity where they're already paying you money... maybe go to a three day workweek there. If that doesn't work, jump to another place or freelance." (Andy Hill, 35:03 - 37:51)

Optionality & Agency: Laying the Groundwork Early

• Plant seeds for more control: diversify income streams (i.e., side hustles), build a cash reserve (“FU money”) for true flexibility, and choose supportive partners.
• "Owning your time… you want to be able to own choice and to feel like you can create your own options as well. And that takes money." (Farnoosh Torabi, 41:08)

Teaching the Next Generation

• Instill autonomy, responsibility, and generosity in kids early by putting money in their hands for them to experiment, make mistakes, and learn.
  • Hill family’s model: 60% smart spending, 20% investing, 10% saving, 10% giving.
  • "Giving and service to others is a pathway to true happiness." (Andy Hill, 45:47)

Notable Quotes & Memorable Moments

• On Money as a Resource for Life Design:

  "Unless we break free from the more wealth will provide happiness trap, I don't think we can actually take that inflection point to say, what do I want to do with this wealth? What do I want to do with my time?"
  (Andy Hill, 07:00)

• On Owning Your Time:

  "We derive a sense of self-worth from busyness, and that can be a trap... What is owning your time? How does that look?"
  (Farnoosh Torabi, 15:02)

• On Approaching Employers:

  "I've spoken to many families who've approached their employer... 'I love what I'm doing here, but I have obligations. Is there a world where I could do this four days a week?'"
  (Andy Hill, 35:03)

• On Parenting and Teaching About Money:

  "We'd much rather them make mistakes with $20 at 5 years old, than $20,000 at 25 years old."
  (Andy Hill, 43:10)

• On Giving Yourself Permission for Joy:

  "Fun has never been sold to me as a permission. Oh, you can have fun once you do all your work. But, like, when is the work ever done?"
  (Farnoosh Torabi, 21:02)

Important Timestamps

• 03:08-04:40 – Farnoosh introduces Andy Hill, his new book, and lays out the premise: redefining wealth around time, choice, and happiness
• 07:00 – Andy summarizes the “use money to build your ideal life” thesis
• 10:40-11:57 – Andy’s personal “aha” moment of realizing a six-figure salary did not bring true wealth
• 12:43-14:43 – The unique challenge and reward of applying these ideas within families
• 15:23-18:35 – "Owning your time" and finding a "middle way" (the coast FIRE approach)
• 20:00-22:08 – Adapting time use as kids grow and making space for joy and fun
• 27:21-30:18 – The ten steps, the realistic time frames, and income transparency
• 32:10-34:29 – Time value in relationships; the challenge to appreciate non-monetary contributions
• 35:03-37:51 – Practical ways to negotiate or arrange part-time or flexible work
• 43:10-46:18 – Teaching kids about money through hands-on autonomy and the 60/20/10/10 approach

Takeaways and Actionable Strategies

• Define What Matters: Get clear on values, desired experiences, and family priorities before optimizing money.
• Collaborate With Family: Don’t go it alone or take goals for granted—make intentional plans together.
• Experiment to Find Your Middle Ground: Extremes are unsustainable. A hybrid or “coast FIRE” approach provides balance.
• Audit and Respect Time for All Members: Time is valuable for all partners, regardless of income contribution.
• Advocate for Yourself at Work: High performers can and should ask for flexibility; look for models and allies.
• Start Early with Kids: Let children manage real money to learn and build positive lifelong habits.
• Make Time for Fun: Don’t wait for permission; joy is a key part of a wealthy life.

Resources Mentioned

• Book: Andy Hill, Own Your Time: 10 Financial Steps to Put Your Family First and Escape the Corporate Grind
• Podcast: Marriage, Kids and Money