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
Feb 10, 2023 • 27min
‘The Color of Wealth’: The Emotional Trade-Offs of Wealth Building
Sometimes anger is the best response to finding out you’ve been deprived of an opportunity. The steps you take from there may require research – and trade-offs.In this episode of our “Color of Wealth” series, personal finance Nerd Elizabeth Ayoola talks with Dasha Kennedy, founder of the financial advocacy group The Broke Black Girl, about how to balance emotions and building wealth.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
Feb 8, 2023 • 11min
Money News: Student Debt Cancellation at the Supreme Court
This month the Supreme Court will hear cases to decide the fate of those hoping for federal student debt cancelation. In this Money News episode of the podcast, hosts Sean Pyles and Anna Helhoski give you the rundown on those cases — including whether debt cancellation is likely to be upheld and when you might have to restart payment on your student loans.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
Feb 6, 2023 • 38min
ChatGPT vs. the Nerds, and Rental Properties
Artificial intelligence tools like ChatGPT are making headlines — but can they be trusted to give personal finance advice? To kick off this episode, Sean Pyles and Liz Weston have ChatGPT answer some common money questions. Then Liz and regular Smart Money host Sara Rathner answer a listener’s question about how to make money from investment properties.To send the Nerds your money questions, call or text the Nerd hotline at 901-730-6373 or email podcast@nerdwallet.com.Also, we are running a book sweepstakes ahead of our next Book Club episode! In February, we're talking with Axton Betz-Hamilton, author of "The Less People Know About Us: A Mystery of Betrayal, Family Secrets and Stolen Identity,” a book about what happens when the person who steals your identity is a family member. To enter for a chance to win our book giveaway, send an email to podcast@nerdwallet.com with the subject: "Book Sweepstakes" during the sweepstakes period. Entries must be received by 11:59 p.m. PST on Feb. 16, 2023. Include the following information: your first and last name, email address, ZIP code and phone number. For more information, please visit our official sweepstakes rules page.Timestamps:This Week in Your Money segment: 0:00 - 10:30 Money Question segment: 10:31 - 36:31 Like what you hear? Please leave us a review and tell a friend. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices
Feb 2, 2023 • 38min
‘The Color of Wealth’: Overcoming Structural Challenges
Black women face distinct challenges when building wealth. So what can they do about it? To kick off this new series, “The Color of Wealth,” NerdWallet writer Elizabeth Ayoola talks with Washington Post personal finance columnist Michelle Singletary about what Black women and mothers can do individually to grow their wealth.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
Jan 30, 2023 • 24min
No-Spend Month 2.0, and Recovering From Credit Damage
A no-spend month is a chance to retool your relationship with how you spend money — and tuck away some extra cash. To start this episode, Sean Pyles and Liz Weston talk about how they’re approaching the no-spend-month challenge this year.Then they answer a listener’s question about how to recover from damage to their credit, including how to land an apartment or get a car loan.To send the Nerds your money questions, call or text the Nerd hotline at 901-730-6373 or email podcast@nerdwallet.com.Also, we are running a book sweepstakes ahead of our next Book Club episode! In February, we're talking with Axton Betz-Hamilton, author of "The Less People Know About Us: A Mystery of Betrayal, Family Secrets and Stolen Identity,” a book about what happens when the person who steals your identity is your own family member.To enter for a chance to win our book giveaway, send an email to podcast@nerdwallet.com with the subject "Book Sweepstakes" during the sweepstakes period. Entries must be received by 11:59 p.m. PST on Feb. 16. Include the following information: your first and last name, email address, ZIP code and phone number. For more information, please visit our official sweepstakes rules page.Timestamps:This Week in Your Money segment: 0:00 - 10:59 Money Question segment: 11:00 - 22:53 Like what you hear? Please leave us a review and tell a friend. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices
Jan 26, 2023 • 21min
Your Money in 2023: Managing Uncertainty
Uncertainty is the new normal. So, what can you do about it? In this episode, hosts Sean Pyles, Liz Weston and Sara Rathner talk about how to improve your financial resilience, including savings strategies, setting your mindset and leaning on your community.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
Jan 23, 2023 • 29min
Data Breaches, and Catching Up on Retirement Savings
A number of high-profile companies have reported data breaches recently. That means we have to be extra vigilant to secure our information. To start this episode, Sean Pyles and Liz Weston talk about the breaches and how you can protect yourself. Then they answer a listener’s question about how to catch up on retirement contributions — including whether you can open an LLC to contribute with no limits. To send the Nerds your money questions, call or text the Nerd hotline at 901-730-6373 or email podcast@nerdwallet.com.Also, we are running a book sweepstakes ahead of our next Book Club episode! In February, we're talking with Axton Betz-Hamilton, author of "The Less People Know About Us: A Mystery of Betrayal, Family Secrets and Stolen Identity,” a book about what happens when the person who steals your identity is your own family member. To enter for a chance to win our book giveaway, send an email to podcast@nerdwallet.com with the subject: "Book Sweepstakes" during the sweepstakes period. Entries must be received by 11:59 p.m. PST on Feb. 16. Include the following information: your first and last name, email address, ZIP code and phone number. For more information, please visit our official sweepstakes rules page.Timestamps:This Week in Your Money segment: 0:00 - 10:08 Money Question segment: 10:09 - 28:14 Like what you hear? Please leave us a review and tell a friend. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices
Jan 19, 2023 • 24min
Your Money in 2023: Homebuying and Selling
What can the housing market of 1981 teach us about 2023? A lot, apparently. In this episode, Sean Pyles and Liz Weston talk about what would-be home buyers and sellers should think about this year — including how the past can inform the present, whether a housing crash is imminent and how to navigate the new twists of the market in 2023.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
Jan 16, 2023 • 30min
The Art of Complaining, and Saving for Your Kids’ Future
Getting a hold of customer service representatives can be a nightmare. Working with them to actually solve your problems can be even less fun. To start this episode, Liz Weston and Sara Rathner talk about the art of complaining.Then Liz and regular Smart Money co-host Sean Pyles answer a listener’s question about how to save for your kids’ future — whether they go to college or not.To send the Nerds your money questions, call or text the Nerd hotline at 901-730-6373 or email podcast@nerdwallet.com.Timestamps:This Week in Your Money segment: 0:00 - 10:58 Money Question segment: 10:59 - 28:11 Like what you hear? Please leave us a review and tell a friend. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices
Jan 13, 2023 • 19min
Your Money in 2023: Investing in the Stock Market
The stock market had a rough year in 2022. But for the savvy investor, the market downturn meant a big opportunity. And that good fortune could continue in 2023. In this episode, Sean Pyles and Liz Weston talk about investing in 2023, including the lessons of the past year, ideas for investing in a recession, and how to find the right investment tools for your financial goals.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
