NerdWallet's Smart Money Podcast
NerdWallet Personal Finance
NerdWallet’s trusted finance journalists answer real-world money questions to help you make smarter financial decisions with confidence.Each episode dives deep into topics like budgeting, saving, investing, home buying, and credit cards, cutting through misinformation to bring you clear, actionable advice backed by thorough research.By the end of every episode, you’ll have the latest financial insights and the tools you’ll need to manage your money wisely, build wealth, and plan for life’s milestones. And if you have questions for the Nerds, you can leave them a voicemail at 901-730-6373.Join hosts Sean Pyles, CFP®, Elizabeth Ayoola, and other expert Nerds as they answer your biggest money questions and share strategies to help you build wealth and reach your financial goals, including:– Investing: Advanced investment strategies, integrating ETFs and mutual funds into a diversified portfolio, tax-efficient retirement planning, understanding Roth IRA conversions, and navigating robo-advisors.– Credit Cards: Top credit cards for travel rewards and luxury perks, balance transfer strategies, maximizing credit card points, and optimizing credit card usage to boost your credit score.– Personal Finance: Advanced budgeting tips, building generational wealth, creating effective savings plans, managing high-income expenses, and developing a strong money growth mindset.– Home: Smart strategies for homebuying in competitive markets, leveraging home equity loans and HELOCs, refinancing for long-term savings, first-time homebuying tips, and budgeting for major home improvements.If you’re searching for the best personal finance podcasts or want practical knowledge to make smarter money decisions, then follow NerdWallet’s Smart Money Podcast.You’ll love NerdWallet’s Smart Money Podcast if you like podcasts like: Planet Money, The Personal Finance Podcast, DIY Money, Afford Anything, How to Money, The Ramsey Show, Money Rehab with Nicole Lapin, NPR’s Life Kit: Money, Popcorn Finance, Money Girl,Money Guy Show, Everyone’s Talkin’ Money, So Money with Farnoosh Tarabi, The Money with Katie Show, All the Hacks with Chris Hutchins, The Stacking Benjamins Show, MoneyWatch with Jill Schlesinger, or Your Money, Your Wealth.NerdWallet Compare, Inc. NMLS ID# 1617539 NMLS Consumer Access: http://www.nmlsconsumeraccess.org/
Episodes
Mentioned books
Jan 29, 2026 • 43min
Are You Too Late for the Gold Rush? Plus: A Retirement Rule That Might Be Broken
James Bashall, COO and retirement planner who favors simulation-based strategies. Sam Taube, investing analyst who breaks down precious-metals markets. They discuss why gold and silver act as safe havens and what’s driving recent record highs. They compare physical metals versus ETFs and explore better ways to estimate retirement spending than the simple 80% rule.
Jan 26, 2026 • 42min
Tax Season Scams and Identity Theft Red Flags, Plus a 401(k) and IRA Rollover Lightning Round
Sam Taube, an investing expert on retirement accounts, joins to break down rollovers, target-date funds, and the mega backdoor Roth. They cover when consolidation makes sense and pitfalls to watch for. The conversation also highlights tax-season scams like phishing, smishing, fake sites, and practical steps to protect your identity.
Jan 22, 2026 • 39min
How to Balance Career Opportunity and Cost of Living (Plus: ChatGPT Ads Could Change How You Spend)
Join consumer finance news writer Anna Helhoski as she dives into the emerging world of AI shopping within chat platforms. She discusses how companies like Google are blurring the lines between ads and genuine recommendations, potentially leading to impulsive spending. The conversation also touches on the practical aspects of AI shopping, highlighting the importance of skepticism. Additionally, the hosts tackle a listener’s dilemma about choosing a medical residency, sharing insights on balancing career opportunities with living costs.
16 snips
Jan 19, 2026 • 34min
Banking in 2026: Best Banks to Consider and How to Avoid the Worst Fees
Chanelle Bessette, a banking reporter and expert at NerdWallet, discusses the shifting landscape of banking as we approach 2026. She shares insights on how to pick the best bank by comparing high-yield savings accounts, avoiding pesky fees, and weighing the pros and cons of digital-only versus traditional banks. The conversation also tackles how AI is transforming customer service and the implications of reduced consumer protections. Plus, Chanelle highlights the top banks recognized by NerdWallet for their outstanding offerings.
18 snips
Jan 15, 2026 • 34min
Insurance in 2026: Best Auto, Home, Life, and Pet Insurance Picks—Plus a Wake-Up Call on Credit Card Debt
Kaz Weida, an insurance expert at NerdWallet, shares insights on the evolving insurance landscape in 2026. He discusses the factors driving rising insurance rates, like inflation and severe weather. Kaz advises on how to lower auto and homeowners premiums without compromising coverage. He highlights the importance of life insurance for those with dependents and explains when renters and pet insurance are worth considering. Plus, he reveals NerdWallet’s top picks for budget-friendly insurance options to help listeners save smartly.
Jan 12, 2026 • 35min
Credit Cards in 2026: Big Card Changes Are Rolling Out — Here’s What to Re-evaluate Now
Caitlin Mims, a credit card reporter, joins the discussion to unpack the shifting landscape of credit cards in 2026. She highlights the risks of rising fees and the growing prevalence of buy now, pay later options. Valuable tips for aligning spending with personal values are shared, along with strategies to manage credit card debt. Caitlin also reveals the winners of NerdWallet's Best-of Awards, offering insights on the most effective cards available as 2026 approaches. Her concluding advice encourages consumers to select cards that truly fit their financial habits.
18 snips
Jan 8, 2026 • 36min
Housing in 2026: Home Prices and Rates Are in Flux. Time to Make Your Move?
Join Elizabeth Renter, a NerdWallet senior economist, and Abby Badach Doyle, NerdWallet's mortgage expert, as they dive into what 2026 could mean for home prices and mortgage rates. They discuss the impact of tariffs on inflation, the cooling labor market, and rising household debt. Abby offers practical strategies for homebuyers, emphasizing the importance of budgeting, understanding local market variations, and taking advantage of assistance programs. Whether you're looking to buy or refinance, they provide valuable insights on navigating the housing landscape!
9 snips
Jan 5, 2026 • 19min
Investing in 2026: Fix Your Allocation Before the Next Market Swing
Start your 2026 investing strategy with smarter moves, fewer fees, and less stress when markets get rocky.
How should you invest in 2026 if tech stocks keep dominating the market? What’s a smart checklist for leveling up your investing this year? Hosts Sean Pyles and Elizabeth Ayoola discuss diversification and investing tools to help you grow your wealth with a plan you can stick to. Then investing writer Alana Benson joins them to unpack what 2025’s market swings can teach you, how to diversify beyond mega-cap tech stocks (including options like equal-weight funds), and how to choose the right account and platform while keeping fees and taxes in mind.
Check out NerdWallet’s Best-Of Awards: https://nerdwallet.com/awards
Want us to review your budget? Fill out this form — completely anonymously if you want — and we might feature your budget in a future segment! https://docs.google.com/forms/d/e/1FAIpQLScK53yAufsc4v5UpghhVfxtk2MoyooHzlSIRBnRxUPl3hKBig/viewform?usp=header
In their conversation, the Nerds discuss: stock market 2026, how to start investing, passive investing, index funds, S&P 500, Magnificent 7, AI stock bubble, rebalancing portfolio, asset allocation, stocks vs bonds allocation, long-term investing, market volatility, timing the market, brokerage account, best brokerage for beginners, best investing app, best robo-advisor, Fidelity investing, Interactive Brokers, Wealthfront robo advisor, ETFs, target date fund, robo-advisor, IRA contribution limit 2026, Roth IRA, traditional IRA, SEP IRA, 401k match, 529 plan, college savings plan, and retirement investing.
To send the Nerds your money questions, call or text the Nerd hotline at 901-730-6373 or email podcast@nerdwallet.com.
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9 snips
Jan 1, 2026 • 24min
How to Build Better Money Habits in 2026
Discover how to align your financial goals for 2026 with your core values, from freedom to adventure. Get practical tips on transforming big dreams into actionable plans using the SMART framework. The hosts share personal goals like boosting savings and managing crypto hype. Learn how to create realistic targets for monthly contributions, add personal rewards for motivation, and prepare for financial curveballs. This engaging discussion helps you create a meaningful roadmap for your financial future!
Dec 29, 2025 • 38min
Ditch Your Money Trauma So You Can Live an Abundant Life (with Shannah Game)
Shannah Game, author and host of Everyone's Talkin' Money, dives into the emotional roots of money beliefs shaped in childhood. She shares insights on identifying financial stress through physical cues and encourages weekly 'money dates' to align spending with goals. The discussion also addresses budgeting tactics for those with lower incomes, emphasizing the value of small contributions to retirement. Listener Katie navigates a career change while receiving practical advice on emergency savings and using the 50/30/20 budgeting framework.
