Suze Orman's Women & Money (And Everyone Smart Enough To Listen)

Episode: Is Your Adult Child Financially Clueless?
Date: November 27, 2025

Overview

This Thanksgiving-themed episode centers on listener Q&A, with Suze Orman and co-host KT addressing a mix of practical personal finance questions—many relating to adult children’s financial struggles, retirement savings strategy, real estate, marriage and prenups, and more. The episode’s highlight is a deep dive into enabling versus helping adult children who lack basic financial skills, wrapped in Suze’s signature candid, sometimes tough-love style. Throughout, both Suze and KT balance lighthearted holiday banter with their no-nonsense approach to money management.

Key Discussion Points

1. Taking Advantage of High-Yield Savings Options

• (00:07) Suze recommends listeners look into current Alliant credit union certificates of deposit:
  • Six month or one year terms at 4.10% to 4.15% (for balances $75,000 and up).
  • Quote: "If you have money at a bank, at a brokerage firm, anywhere that you want a great rate, go to myalliant.com now before it disappears." — Suze (00:08)
• She notes rates are likely to drop soon.

2. Roth 401(k) at Any Tax Bracket

• (03:31) Listener Annie asks if a Roth 401(k) makes sense at higher tax brackets.
  • Suze insists Roths are beneficial for nearly everyone, even those near retirement.
  • Quote: “I find it very difficult to find any situation where a Roth doesn’t make sense, even if you are two years away from retirement.” — Suze (03:39)
  • Exceptions may exist for those on Medicare due to income-based premiums, but generally: “If you’re still working, do a Roth 401(k).”

3. Setting Up a Revocable Trust

• (04:44) Query about whether the trustor should also be the trustee.
  • Suze explains it is standard for the creator of the trust to also serve as trustee.
  • Lists “must have documents” as a will, living revocable trust, advance directive, and powers of attorney.
  • Resource: Listeners can get document kits from musthavedocs.com.

4. Lending Out Securities: Not Recommended

• (07:31) Donna received an offer from Fidelity to earn extra income by lending her securities.
  • Suze’s emphatic answer is no: risks include losing SIPC protection, voting rights, and facing minimal extra income for the risk assumed.
  • Quote: "You are lending out your stocks, your ETFs, whatever it may be. And therefore they are no longer...protected." — Suze (08:02)
  • Criticizes brokerages for not fully explaining risks.

5. Preparing for Reduction from Two Incomes to One

• (09:03) Sharon asks how to prepare for possible income reduction.
  • Suze urges practicing living on one income now, even if both partners are working.
  • Distinguishes between income loss from job loss vs. death.
  • Suggests disability policies as a partial safeguard.
  • Quote: "Practice now what happens if it were death and practice now what it would be if it was just simply retirement or one of you lost a job." — Suze (10:49)

6. Real Estate: Suze Is Cautious

• (11:59) Gwen questions current real estate prospects.
  • Suze’s view: Owning a home is now much less advantageous due to high mortgage rates, insurance premiums, taxes, inflation, and climate-related risks.
  • Warns that in some places, homeowners insurance exceeds mortgage payments.
  • Quote: "Mother Nature is seriously concerning me…rains, floods, all these things happening..." — Suze (13:44)
  • Suggests renting is often the wiser option; reminds listeners not to feel like a failure for renting.

7. Roth Conversions for Federal Employees

• (16:05) Kelly asks about converting traditional TSP funds to Roth post-2026.
  • Suze: Now is the ideal time for Roth conversions when portfolio values are down, to minimize taxes.
  • Recommends making conversions before retirement to avoid higher Medicare premiums.
  • Quote: "If you are retired and you are converting, you will then be making one of the biggest mistakes out there." — Suze (18:31)

Feature Topic: Is Your Adult Child Financially Clueless?

(19:02–26:11)

Case Study: 42-Year-Old Daughter With No Money Skills

• A stepmother writes in: Her husband's daughter, age 42, has no budgeting skills, can't understand bank statements, blew through a $100,000 inheritance, and required her father to cosign on her apartment lease.
• Problems escalated when bounced checks and late rental payments jeopardized the father's credit.

Suze’s Analysis:

• The issue won’t be solved by superficial tools like spreadsheets or apps.
• Enabling behavior—cosigning, bailing out, or rescuing—prevents growth and accountability.
• Quote: “The biggest mistake you will ever make in life when it comes to your children is when you cosign for them. You think you’re helping them. If a bank won’t give them a loan, you are not going to be the bank. Do you hear me?” — Suze (22:33)
• Real change requires letting the adult child face consequences (“rock bottom”), even if it’s harsh.
• Memorable Exchange:
  • KT: “Wow, Suze, that’s a little harsh…It’s Thanksgiving.” (25:01)
  • Suze: “No. Bonus mom should be thankful that this is harsh because if she really wants to help her stepdaughter, let her stepdaughter hear what I just said.” (25:06)
• Emphasizes the importance of letting people learn by experience, not perpetual rescue.

Marriage & Money—Should You Get a Prenup?

(26:11–33:27)

Listener Kim, age 68, asks about the financial benefits of marriage and prenups.

• Suze details marriage's significant financial perks: spousal Social Security, survivor benefits, simplified inheritance, tax advantages, health care, and legal rights.
• Relays a personal experience about hospital access and legal partners.
• Quote: “If we were not married, I’d have to wipe that account clean in 10 years. Can you imagine what that would do to your tax bracket?” — Suze (29:19)
• Recommends a prenup for all, especially older couples with existing assets.
• Emotional Touch: Suze and KT reflect on their own marriage and the sense of trust, security, and gratitude it brings.
  • Quote: “The thing that I am absolutely most thankful for in my life, more than anything, more than my health, anything, is you.” — Suze (33:54)

Memorable Moments & Notable Quotes

• “Do turkeys turn red?”
  • [08:00] Lighthearted banter about Thanksgiving.
• “This is going to be a gobble, gobble, gobble podcast.”
  • [07:05] Holiday playfulness.
• “You have to be a warrior here and not turn your back on this battlefield.”
  • Suze’s tough love on parenting financially clueless adults. (24:20)
• “People first, then money, then things.”
  • [34:41] Suze’s enduring mantra to close the episode.

Timestamps of Key Segments

• [00:07]—Alliant CD rates recommendation
• [03:31]—Roth 401(k) tax bracket advice
• [04:44]—Setting up a trust: trustor = trustee
• [07:31]—Dangers of securities lending
• [09:03]—Preparing for income reduction
• [11:59]—Real estate market/insurance concerns
• [16:05]—Roth TSP conversions for federal employees
• [19:02 – 26:11]—Adult child financial dependency; tough love advice
• [26:11]—Marriage, financial benefits & prenup necessity
• [33:54]—Suze’s gratitude for KT (emotional close)

Conclusion

Suze and KT blend practical financial wisdom with holiday warmth and no-nonsense advice in this episode, emphasizing tough love for enabling relationships and smart strategies for Roth accounts, real estate, and marriage finances. The message: True help means sometimes letting loved ones face hard realities—and that gratitude, during Thanksgiving or anytime, should center on people before money or things.