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
May 26, 2022 • 19min
Nerdy Travel Diaries: Use Points to Fly in Luxury
You can fly abroad in business class on points alone — if you know how to play the points game. To wrap up our Nerdy Travel Diaries series, Liz talks with travel Nerd Elina Geller about her strategy for booking international business class flights. 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
May 23, 2022 • 31min
Fruitful Yard Sale, and When Not to Refinance
Want to get rid of your junk and earn a buck? To start off this episode, Sean and Liz give you tips for a successful yard sale, including how to make your wares look more appealing to buyers and how to price items. Then they answer a listener’s money question about when it doesn't make sense to refinance a mortgage. Send the Nerds your money questions by calling or texting the Nerd hotline at 901-730-6373. You can also email your voice memos to podcast@nerdwallet.com.Timestamps:This Week in Your Money segment: 0:00 - 13:00Money Question segment: 13:01 - 29:12 Like what you hear? Please leave us a review and tell a friend. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices
May 19, 2022 • 24min
Nerdy Travel Diaries: Getaway to Costa Rica
After two years of sitting on credit card points and staying at home, you might be in a great position to book some luxurious international travel. In this episode of our Nerdy Travel Diaries series, Sean talks with NerdWallet travel editor Kevin Berry about his recent trip to an all-inclusive luxury resort in Costa Rica that he booked with points. They also discuss how you can use points to book your own international vacation. To send 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
May 16, 2022 • 30min
New Student Debt, and a Couple's Money Baggage
Student debt cancellation may be on the horizon. But a new generation of graduates is set to take on another load of burdensome debt. To start off this episode, Sean and Liz talk with NerdWallet data writer Liz Renter about her new report on the debt high school graduates may face — and how they can mitigate it.Then Sean and Liz answer a listener’s question about how to get past the money baggage in their relationship and manifest an exceptional financial future together.To send the Nerds your money questions, email a voice memo to podcast@nerdwallet.com. You can also leave a voicemail or text us on Nerd hotline at 901-730-6373.Timestamps:This Week in Your Money segment: 0:00 - 8:20 Money Question segment: 8:21 - 28:08 Like what you hear? Please leave us a review and tell a friend. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices
May 12, 2022 • 22min
Nerdy Travel Diaries: Scrimping and Splurging in Japan
Traveling to Japan can be both expensive and intimidating — but it doesn’t have to be. In this episode of our Nerdy Travel Diaries series, NerdWallet travel writer Sam Kemmis shares how he crafted a vacation in Tokyo that included both luxury amenities and cost-saving travel hacks.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
May 9, 2022 • 24min
Bitcoin 401(k)s and Choosing the Best Crypto
Crypto is coming to 401(k) accounts. Should you add it to your portfolio? And which crypto is the best to invest in right now? In this episode, Liz and Sara discuss how to think about investing in crypto, including how to understand which type will help you reach 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.Timestamps:This Week in Your Money segment: 0:00 - 8:56 Money Question segment: 8:57 - 22:41Also, we have a callout for parents who listen to Smart Money. We are working on a new series about the cost of child care, and we want to know: How are you paying for child care? Where does it fit in your budget? And have you had to make sacrifices to make these costs work? Leave a voicemail on the Nerd hotline at 901-730-6373, or email a voice memo to podcast@nerdwallet.com. Tell us how you're making child care costs work for you and your family. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices
May 5, 2022 • 28min
Nerdy Travel Diaries: Weightlifting in New Mexico
The Travel Nerds know how to get the most from any trip — whether they’re staying in a luxury hotel on credit card points or finding the best airfare. To kick off this Nerdy Travel Diaries series, NerdWallet travel writer Sally French shares how she saved money on a trip to New Mexico for a weightlifting meet. One tip? Make sure you know where your credit card points have the most value. 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
May 2, 2022 • 33min
Small Business Benefits, and Buying a Hybrid
Shopping at small businesses may offer more benefits than you know, including access to exclusive deals and insider information. To start this episode, Sean and Liz talk about the benefits of shopping at small businesses. Then they answer a listener’s money question about whether switching to a hybrid vehicle is a smart financial move right now. 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 - 10:14 Money Question segment: 10:15 - 31:07 Also, we have a callout for parents who listen to Smart Money. We are working on a new series about the cost of child care, and we want to know: How are you paying for child care? Where does it fit in your budget? And have you had to make sacrifices to make these costs work? Leave a voicemail on the Nerd hotline at 901-730-6373, or email a voice memo to podcast@nerdwallet.com. Tell us how you're making child care costs work for you and your family. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices
Apr 25, 2022 • 23min
Protecting Your Privacy, and Front-Loading a 401(k)
Maxing out a 401(k) is a great step toward saving for retirement, but have you ever thought about front-loading your plan? In this episode, hosts Sean Pyles and Liz Weston talk with investing Nerd Alana Benson about the pros, cons and potential pitfalls of front-loading your employer-sponsored retirement plan. Sean and Liz also talk about how to protect your privacy from companies that want to (literally) track your every move. To send the Nerds your money questions, call or text the Nerd hotline at 901-730-6373, or email podcast@nerdwallet.com. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices
Apr 21, 2022 • 24min
Student Debt Cancellation Debate, Part 2
Is student loan cancellation the key to liberating those crushed under burdensome debt, or a potentially-ineffective political ploy? In this two-part Nerdy Deep Dive into student loans, Sean and student loans Nerd Anna Helhoski explore how taking on huge amounts of student debt has become the norm in America. They also discuss what’s shifting now in today’s student debt conversation. In Part 2, we speak with two experts — each falling on one side of the student debt cancellation debate.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
