

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 21, 2022 • 34min
Lifestyle Creep, and Booking Cheap Travel
Lifestyle creep — where your growing expenses outpace salary increases — can deflate your budget and prevent you from building wealth. To start this episode, Nerds Sean Pyles and Sara Rathner talk about how to determine if you’re succumbing to lifestyle creep and how to be more intentional about your money, while still enjoying the finer things in life. Then Sean and Liz Weston answer a listener’s three-part question about whether to pay off student loans while they’re paused, what to do with their savings and how to find the best deals when booking travel.To send the Nerds your money questions, call or text the Nerd hotline at 901-730-6373 or email podcast@nerdwallet.com. If you like what you hear, please leave a review and tell a friend. We appreciate it. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Feb 17, 2022 • 29min
Nerdy Book Club: Building Your Financial Smarts With Bola Sokunbi
Taking charge of your own financial education can help you get ahead and avoid classic money mistakes. In this episode, personal finance Nerd Kim Palmer talks with money author and educator Bola Sokunbi about her book, “Clever Girl Finance: Ditch Debt, Save Money and Build Real Wealth.” Sokunbi discusses how her mom taught her about money growing up, financial mistakes she made and learned from, and why she says it’s so important to have a side hustle.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 14, 2022 • 26min
Credit Union Perks, and Getting Into the Housing Market
Where you bank can have a big impact on your community. To start off this episode, Sean and Liz talk about the benefits of credit unions, including how they can offer lower rates on loans and higher rates on savings accounts — while keeping your money local. Then Sean and occasional co-host Sara Rathner answer a listener’s money question about how to get into the housing market.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 - 3:46 Money Question segment: 7:08 - 24:30 Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Feb 7, 2022 • 29min
Stock Market Shakiness, and Car Buying in 2022
Has the recent stock market shakiness left you feeling jittery? To start off this episode, Sean and Liz talk about how you can manage your anxiety — and your portfolio — in moments of volatility. Turns out, sometimes doing nothing is the best thing you can do.Then they answer a listener’s money question about buying a car in 2022, including when the market might calm down a little.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 - 10:36 Money Question segment: 10:37 - 27:44 Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Jan 31, 2022 • 30min
No-Spend Month, and Making Money While Raising Kids
A no-spend month can help you reset your money habits and save cash. To start this episode, Sean and Liz kick off their no-spend month challenge and talk about how you can craft a plan that works for your lifestyle and budget.Then they answer a listener’s question about how to earn more money while raising kids. 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 - 9:07 Money Question segment: 9:08 - 28:41Also, we are running a sweepstakes ahead of our new Nerdy Book Club series. You can enter for a chance to win Bola Sokunbi's book "Clever Girl Finance: Ditch Debt, Save Money and Build Real Wealth" 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

Jan 27, 2022 • 17min
Make a Plan to Achieve Your Dreams
Knowing what you want from your life and your money is one thing. Actually knowing how to make it happen is another. In this episode, Sean and Liz interview Andrew DaCosta, a pilot who has sky-high ambitions, but needs some help to get them off the ground. To send the Nerds your money questions, call or text the Nerd hotline at 901-730-6373 or email podcast@nerdwallet.com.Enjoying the podcast? Please take a minute to rate and review. We appreciate it. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Jan 24, 2022 • 26min
COVID Tests, and Reversing a Credit Score Drop
Finding (and paying for) COVID tests is overly complicated. This episode, Sean and occasional co-host Sara Rathner start off by talking about how you can navigate getting COVID tests right now. They also talk about avoiding COVID testing scams.Then Sean and Sara answer a listener’s question about how to reverse a credit score drop. 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 - 8:49 Money Question segment: 8:50 - 24:40Also, we are running a sweepstakes ahead of our new Nerdy Book Club series. You can enter for a chance to win Bola Sokunbi's book "Clever Girl Finance: Ditch Debt, Save Money and Build Real Wealth" 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

Jan 20, 2022 • 20min
Making Your Dream Life
Living in a van, traveling the country and working wherever you want might sound like an odd dream, but that’s the life NerdWallet travel writer Sam Kemmis designed for himself. To continue our series about financial dreams, Sean and Liz talk with Sam about his experience and his tips for making your dream life.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 17, 2022 • 23min
How Nerds Choose the Best, and Paying for College
Sifting through financial products can be a pain. That’s where NerdWallet comes in. Our Nerds just released the 2022 Best-Of Awards so you can find the best products for your money goals. To kick off this episode, Sean and Liz talk with the head of the NerdWallet Content team, Hanah Cho, about how you can make the most of the Best-Of Awards and how NerdWallet maintains editorial independence. Then they answer a listener’s question about how to pay for college.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 13, 2022 • 18min
Saving for Your Dream Retirement
Vacations across the world, spending quality time with your friends and family and — most importantly — not being obligated to work a 9-to-5 job: Your retirement is supposed to be about freedom. Getting to that point takes time, money and focus. To continue our series about financial dreams, Sean and Liz talk with personal finance YouTuber Marissa Lyda about how she plans to save in 2022 for her dream retirement. They also discuss how she’s made a full-time job out of YouTubing.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