This ‘Wall Street Girly’ wants to make wealth more accessible

Vivian Tu is the latest in a long tradition of women talking to women about economics, business and personal finance – and with TikTok she can reach millions.

Vivian Tu has mastered a candy-coated version of financial advice. NYT

Jeanna Smialek

Jan 6, 2025 – 5.00am

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In August, when it looked like the Federal Reserve was about to cut interest rates for the first time in more than four years, Vivian Tu took to TikTok to explain to her roughly 2.6 million followers what that move by the central bank would mean for them.

“Fed Daddy has all but guaranteed to lower interest rates in September,” she announced, trotting out her frequent nickname for Jerome Powell, the institution’s chair. “Pros: When the Fed lowers interest rates, we’ll see mortgages, car loans, personal and business loans, those rates will come down too.”