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
Apr 18, 2022 • 32min
Save Money at Weddings, and Vetting Mortgage Lenders
Wedding season is picking up steam. Are you — and your budget — ready? To kick off this episode, Sean and Liz talk about how you can save money attending weddings this year.Then Sean and Liz answer a listener’s question about the risks of going with the mortgage lender your real estate agent recommends. 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 - 10:57 Money Question segment: 10:58 - 30:35 Like what you hear? Please leave us a review and tell a friend.Also, we are running a sweepstakes ahead of our new Nerdy Book Club series. You can enter for a chance to win Paco de Leon’s book “Finance for the People: Getting a Grip on Your Finances” by emailing podcast@nerdwallet.com with the subject "Book Sweepstakes” during the Sweepstakes Period, which ends at midnight PST on April 20, 2022. Include the following information: your first and last name, email address, ZIP code and phone number. Check out our book club page for more info. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices
Apr 14, 2022 • 25min
Student Loans and the Cancellation Debate, Part 1
Student loans are a tool, as well as a dreaded financial reality, for most Americans who attend college.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 1, we trace the origins of student loan debt and how college got so expensive.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
Apr 11, 2022 • 27min
3 Money Tasks for Spring, and Alternative Debt Payoff Options
With spring in the air, money tasks might be the last thing on your mind. To kick off this episode, Sean and Liz talk about three easy tasks to knock out so you can have your money on track while you go enjoy the warmer weather. Then they answer a listener’s question about different ways to take care of their debt. Some routes can save you time and money — others can make a difficult situation worse. 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 - 9:14 Money Question segment: 9:15 - 25:54Like what you hear? Please leave us a review and tell a friend.Also, we are running a sweepstakes ahead of our new Nerdy Book Club series. You can enter for a chance to win Paco de Leon’s book “Finance for the People: Getting a Grip on Your Finances.” by emailing podcast@nerdwallet.com with the subject "Book Sweepstakes” during the Sweepstakes Period, which ends at midnight PST on April 20, 2022. Include the following information: your first and last name, email address, ZIP code and phone number. Check out our book club page for more info. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices
Apr 4, 2022 • 32min
Using Your Tax Refund, and Is Pet Insurance Worth the Cost?
The windfall of a tax refund can be a boon to your savings, help fund a vacation — and more. To kick off this episode, Sean and Liz talk about different ways to use your tax refund and why you might have to wait awhile for yours. Then they answer a listener’s money question about whether pet insurance is worth the cost. 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 - 10:27 Money Question segment: 10:28 - 30:25 Like what you hear? Please leave us a review and tell a friend.Also, we are running a sweepstakes ahead of our new Nerdy Book Club series. You can enter for a chance to win Paco de Leon’s book “Finance for the People: Getting a Grip on Your Finances.” by emailing podcast@nerdwallet.com with the subject "Book Sweepstakes” during the Sweepstakes Period. Include the following information: your first and last name, email address, ZIP code and phone number. Check out our book club page for more info. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices
Mar 28, 2022 • 28min
The Fed Interest Rate Hike, and What’s a Credit Card Authorized User?
The Federal Reserve is raising interest rates. To explore what it means for you, Sean kicks off this episode with a roundtable discussion about how the rate hike could affect mortgages, day-to-day finances and credit cards.Then Sean and Liz answer a listener’s question about how making family members (or friends, for that matter) authorized users on your credit cards can help them boost their credit. 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 - 13:49 Money Question segment: 13:50 - 26:30 Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices
Mar 21, 2022 • 22min
Single-Income Couples, and When to Use Your HSA and FSA
Going from a two-income household to a one-income household is not solely a financial challenge. But this change also creates opportunities to strengthen your relationship and set clear expectations. To start off this episode, Sean and Liz discuss how to manage finances in a one-income household.Then Sean and Liz answer a listener’s money question about using HSAs and FSAs. Both can cover health care expenses, but only one can be used as an investment vehicle. 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 - 10:09 Money Question segment: 10:10 - 20:39 Like what you hear? Please leave us a review and tell a friend.Also, we want to hear from you for an upcoming series about student loans. What would it mean for your life and your finances if your student loans were erased? Or if you’ve already had your debt forgiven, tell us what that did for you.To let us know, please leave a voicemail on the NerdHotline at 901-730-6373 or email a recorded voice memo to podcast@nerdwallet.com. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices
Mar 17, 2022 • 32min
How I Got Here: Tori Dunlap of Her First $100K
What does it take to save $100K by your mid-20s? Just ask Tori Dunlap, founder of the blog Her First $100K and the “Financial Feminist” podcast.In this episode, Sean interviews Tori about how she got to where she is today, the lessons she learned along the way and her advice for you to make the most of your finances. 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
Mar 14, 2022 • 29min
Combating Inflation, and Saving for Retirement Amid Climate Change
Gas, groceries and just about everything else are getting more expensive. Sean and Liz share tips for protecting your purchasing power, including cutting expenses and using a savings account that earns interest at the rate of inflation. Then they answer a listener’s question about whether saving for retirement is worthwhile in the face of the climate crisis and other calamities. 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 - 12:16 Money Question segment: 12:17 - 27:47Like what you hear? Please leave us a review and tell a friend.Also, we want to hear from you for an upcoming series about student loans. What would it mean for your life and your finances if your student loans were erased? Or if you’ve already had your debt forgiven, tell us what that did for you.To let us know, please leave a voicemail on the NerdHotline at 901-730-6373 or email a recorded voice memo to podcast@nerdwallet.com. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices
Mar 7, 2022 • 31min
Why to Sell Your House, and Managing Investment Fees
Selling your house right now might sound like a great way to inject unnecessary stress into your life. But it could also be very lucrative, if you do it right. To start this episode, Sean and Liz talk about how and why you might want to sell your house. Then they answer a listener’s money question about how to manage fees on investment accounts. 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 - 16:11 Money Question segment: 16:12 - 29:13 Like what you hear? Please leave us a review and tell a friend. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices
Feb 28, 2022 • 28min
The Tax Episode
Taxes: You’ve got questions about ‘em, and we’ve got answers. On this episode, Sean and Liz answer a number of listener money questions about filing taxes this year, including how to navigate capital gains, when to hire a tax pro and knowing what you owe. Sean and Liz also discuss how to reduce your tax obligation through credits and deductions. 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.Timestamps:This Week in Your Money segment: 0:00 - 9:45 Money Question segment: 9:46 - 26:49 Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices
