NerdWallet's Smart Money Podcast

Join Lisa Green, an insurance professional specializing in life insurance as an investment tool, as she reveals the secrets of variable policies and infinite banking. Discover how term and permanent life insurance differ and when each is most beneficial. Lisa dives into the complexities of investing within cash value policies, discussing guaranteed interest and market risks. Learn about the financial discipline needed for infinite banking and its potential pitfalls. This engaging conversation will transform how you view life insurance and your financial growth.

Negotiation expert Catherine Tinsley talks about strategies for salary negotiation, including making the first offer, leveraging market data, and overcoming emotional hurdles. They discuss increasing income, job offer components, power dynamics, and tips for successful negotiations.

Debt payoff strategies like snowball vs. avalanche methods, when to prioritize investing over debt, RoboAdvisor accounts, emergency savings importance, analyzing interest rates, personal debt repayment experiences

LinkedIn expert Andrew McCaskill shares tips on optimizing your profile for job success. Topics include job alerts, networking, salary transparency, and avoiding scams. Hosts discuss key aspects of career growth and leveraging LinkedIn features.

Tommy Tindall from NerdWallet discusses Amazon Prime Day evolution, price tracking tools, and making informed purchasing decisions. Hosts Anna and Sara share tips on identifying genuine bargains, avoiding overspending, and maximizing savings during retail competitions. The Nerds talk about Prime Day strategy, skepticism in online deals, and hunting for bargains on Amazon for items like convection oven air fryer toaster ovens and magnetiles.

Financial expert Jean Chatzky shares insights on women's unique financial challenges, including the gender pay gap and caregiving responsibilities. Topics include investing strategies, salary negotiation, financial empowerment, and overcoming systemic barriers. The podcast offers practical advice on financial wellness, budgeting tips, and achieving financial peace in a stressful world.

Learn how to increase your income with practical tips for career growth and salary negotiations. Understand the importance of advocating for yourself to boost income and secure financial stability. Discover strategies for excelling in your current role, negotiating raises, and advancing your career through mentorship and skill development.

Discover how to align education with job market demands, tackling underemployment and economic stagnation in “middle skills” jobs.What are “middle skills” and why are they in high demand? What are the economic implications of misalignment between middle skills credentials and job market demands? Hosts Sean Pyles and Anna Helhoski discuss the misalignment in the labor market concerning middle skills credentials and the impact of place-based policies on local economies to help you understand the complexities and challenges in securing middle skills jobs. They begin with a discussion of the misalignment between middle skills credentials and local job markets, with tips and tricks on recognizing high-demand fields, avoiding oversaturated programs, and the importance of aligning education with job market needs.Then, Anna speaks with Zach Mabel, one of the co-authors of “The Great Misalignment,” a new report from Georgetown University Center on Education and the Workforce. He discusses the challenges of place-based policies and their impact on middle skills training disparities. They discuss the racial and ethnic disparities in accessing middle skills programs, the funding challenges faced by public community colleges, and the importance of strategic alignment between educational programs and labor market demands to improve job placement and economic outcomes. Sean and Anna then break down the latest money headlines, including monthly job figures, a federal judge temporarily stopping the Federal Trade Commission’s ban on corporate non-compete agreements, and a new report from the Federal Trade Commission on pharmacy benefit managers.In their conversation, the Nerds discuss: future-proofing, middle skills jobs, job market demands, economic challenges, workforce insights, local economies, middle skills training, labor market alignment, education and job market, underemployment, economic stagnation, blue-collar jobs, business degrees, general studies degrees, place-based policies, racial disparities, ethnic disparities, community colleges, funding obstacles, job placement, economic outcomes, employment figures, corporate non-compete agreements, labor market, job credentials, associate degrees, trade schools, technical colleges, underproduction, credential overproduction, job openings, low-paying jobs, economic mobility, urban-rural divide, institutional employer partnerships, post-college movement patterns, free tuition programs, non-compete clauses, PBMs, the FTC, and middle skills providers.To send the Nerds your money questions, call or text the Nerd hotline at 901-730-6373 or email podcast@nerdwallet.com.Like what you hear? Please leave us a review and tell a friend. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Tommy Tindall from NerdWallet shares insights on the income potential of working for DoorDash as a side hustle. The hosts discuss budgeting, early investing strategies, and the benefits of starting investments early. They cover topics such as gig economy jobs, saving strategies, passive vs active investing, and financial planning for young professionals.

Join hosts Ronald Young Jr. and June Thomas as they share tips on how freelancers can ensure timely payments. They discuss challenges like complex invoicing procedures, delays in payments, and the importance of clear payment terms in contracts. Tune in to learn how to navigate payment challenges and secure steady income as a freelancer.