The Prof G Pod with Scott Galloway – Office Hours: The Future of 401(k)s, Choosing Single Parenthood, and Caring for Aging Parents

Episode Date: September 29, 2025
Host: Scott Galloway
Network: Vox Media Podcast Network

Episode Overview

In this Office Hours edition, Scott Galloway dives into listeners’ pressing life and career questions, providing his trademark mix of business analysis, personal anecdotes, and unvarnished career and life advice. This week, Scott addresses the effectiveness of 401(k)s for retirement, the decision to pursue single parenthood, and the challenge of balancing career goals with caring for aging parents from a distance.

1. The Future of 401(k)s: Effectiveness & Alternatives

Main Question:
Are 401(k)s a successful retirement vehicle, and what are the drawbacks or alternatives, particularly for workers without steady employment or employer access?
[02:01-08:40]

Key Discussion Points:

• Rising Access/Participation:

  • 70% of private sector workers now have some form of 401(k)-style plan, up from 60% a decade ago.
  • Average savings rates have improved to about 14% of income, near recommended 12-15%.
  • Average balance (2025): $127,000; number of “401(k) millionaires” hits a record, thanks to bull markets and compounding.

• Structural Inequities:

  • 30-60 million workers—mostly low-wage, part-time, and gig workers—lack access to employer retirement plans.
  • Roughly 30% of gig workers have no retirement savings.
  • “About 40% of the working population isn’t saving enough to maintain their lifestyle throughout retirement.” (04:40)

• Risks in the System:

  • 401(k) portfolios are more “stock heavy” than ever—workers in their late 30s have 90% of 401(k) assets in equities.
  • Heavy concentration in a few megap-cap stocks such as Nvidia leads to increased risk.
  • “There kind of is a ‘no alternative’ mentality, [and that] reliance on a few mega stocks…raises concentration risk.” (06:50)

• Behavioral Insights:

  • Most people will spend what comes in unless forced to save.
  • “The smartest people on the planet…are trying to figure out a way to use technology to…grab you by the ankles, turn you upside down, and shake you [for your money]. So forced savings are a great way to build wealth.” (07:53)

• Home Ownership as Forced Saving:

  • Real estate may not outperform stocks after adjustments, but its ‘forced commitment’ results in wealth accretion.

• Practical Advice & Alternatives:

  • Max out tax-advantaged accounts and employer matching.
  • Use apps like Acorns to automate savings (“You want saving mechanisms that keep the dollar out of your hand.” (08:10))
  • Start early: “If you save $100 a month from the age of 22, you’re gonna be a millionaire by the time you’re 65. $100 bucks, start now.” (08:36)

Notable Quote:

“You want to have $100,000, $800,000, $2 million in a forced savings [plan]—IRA, 401(k) or not. If the answer is ‘yeah, maybe I’d like that,’ start now.” (09:20)

2. Choosing Single Parenthood: Considerations & Realities

Main Question:
What does Scott advise for someone considering becoming a single parent via IVF, especially when a romantic partner isn’t in the picture?
[09:22-14:42]

Key Discussion Points:

• Personal & Financial Realities:

  • “Do you have the money? If you don’t, I’d take it off the table. I just don’t think you want to create that kind of stress in your household.” (09:46)
  • “Do you have a support system in place? Doesn’t have to be a man… friends, family, good friends.” (09:55)

• Scott’s Family Background:

  • Raised by a single mother—while it “worked out,” he recalls the stress from lack of financial security.

• The Joy & Challenge of Parenthood:

  • “One of the wonderful things about having kids is…for the first time in my life, I began to think about something other than me. And I found that quite liberating.” (11:08)

• Evolving Norms:

  • “I like that women are having kids without necessarily having a romantic partner. I think it’s a sign of progress, but there’s just some reality.” (11:44)
  • Acknowledges the unique time pressure women face regarding fertility.

• Making the Choice:

  • Urges listener to examine if the desire for children is genuine or societal pressure.
  • “If you really want kids, then I would say put yourself on some sort of financial plan and put in place the infrastructure such that you can do that.” (12:46)

• Sense of Purpose:

  • “Having a kid has given me purpose…My only goal right now, as I barrel towards the end and ask myself, ‘What’s this all about?’ It’s simple: I’m here to raise good men, full stop.” (13:52)

Memorable Moment:

“There is never the right time to have a kid, and it’s especially tough on women…The world forces [some tough realities] on us.” (12:15)

3. Caring for Aging Parents from Afar: Managing Guilt & Responsibility

Main Question:
How can young professionals living far from aging parents—who may need more support—balance personal ambitions and family responsibility?
[14:44-19:40]

Key Discussion Points:

• Personal Backstory:

  • Scott shares his experience caring for his mother during illness; he moved in with her, managed her healthcare, and fulfilled her wish to die at home, an experience that shaped his understanding of family responsibility. (15:40-17:20)

• Career vs. Family Tension:

  • “Some people, their reason for being, their center of gravity is family…and if that’s the case, okay, make those sacrifices. But if you’re doing well…in a city…two-thirds of all economic growth is going to be in one of 20 super cities.” (18:20)
  • Emphasizes the unique opportunities for personal and economic growth that only exist in major cities.

• Future Responsibility Planning:

  • Advises that as parents age, more hands-on involvement may be required, but the listener’s current city life and career pursuit is “accreting” economic and mental wellness that will later ease the burden of those responsibilities.

• Practical Perspective:

  • “Sticking where you are, knowing that at some point you’re going to have to be more involved in their lives, and that…wellness that you will accrete by that point will help you do a better job with a reduction in the amount of stress that is naturally part of the process when they get really old.” (19:06)

• Final Advice:

  • Keep an open dialogue with siblings and trusted advisors.
  • “The fact that you’re even thinking this way means you’re a good son, and means your parents did a good job with you.” (19:30)

Notable Quote:

“That I had made enough money, had enough flexibility to give my mom, like, a fraction of the love back she had given me…That was—I will treasure that for the rest of my life.” (17:16)

Key Quotes & Memorable Moments

• On Saving for Retirement:
  “You want saving mechanisms that keep the dollar out of your hand.” (08:18)

• On Becoming a Single Parent:
  “These are difficult questions and they require really open, honest conversations around money and around the support system.” (10:30)

• On Family vs. Ambition:
  “If you want to be economically secure, you got to get to a city.” (18:35)

• On Legacy:
  “I’m here to raise good men, full stop. That’s why I’m here. And it’s been very rewarding.” (13:59)

Timestamps for Key Segments

• [02:01] – Office Hours & 401(k)s as a Retirement Tool
• [09:22] – Decision-Making Around Single Parenthood
• [14:44] – Balancing Career with Caring for Aging Parents

Tone & Takeaways

Scott maintains a candid, empathetic, and conversational tone, peppering his advice with humor, personal stories, and the occasional dose of tough love. Major takeaways include the critical importance of early and forced saving; carefully considering the practicalities of single parenthood beyond social ideals; and intentionally balancing personal growth with filial duty, knowing that both are parts of a meaningful life journey.

For future questions: Submit voice recordings to officehours@profgmedia.com or post on the Scott Galloway subreddit.