

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

Mar 26, 2020 • 13min
Coronavirus Special Edition, Part I: Mortgages and the Market
Mortgage rates dropped and then soared, making life difficult for people who wanted to refinance and buy homes. Mortgage and real estate Nerd Holden Lewis explains why that happened and what the future may bring.
As always, send us your money questions! Email podcast@nerdwallet.com or call or text the NerdHotline at 901-730-6373. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Mar 23, 2020 • 15min
How can I brace financially for coronavirus?
The economic impact of the novel coronavirus and the COVD-19 disease it causes is likely to be profound. Sean and Liz discuss how to cope with the potential financial fallout.
As always, send us your money questions! Email podcast@nerdwallet.com or call or text the NerdHotline at 901-730-6373. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Mar 16, 2020 • 15min
My credit score randomly dropped — a lot. What happened?
Unexpected credit scores drops are the worst -- especially when you’re trying to do everything right. Sean and Liz dig into the details of how credit scores work to help a reader whose scores dived seemingly without reason.
As always, send us your money questions! Email podcast@nerdwallet.com or call or text the NerdHotline at 901-730-6373. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Mar 9, 2020 • 15min
What's the best way to save for a down payment on a house?
Many first-time home buyers wonder how to save for a down payment and where to put the money while they’re saving. Sean and Liz talk to mortgage and real estate authority Holden Lewis about the options.
As always, send us your money questions! Email podcast@nerdwallet.com or call or text the NerdHotline at 901-730-6373. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Mar 2, 2020 • 16min
How can I get into the travel credit card points game?
Want to get the most points from your travel credit card, but don't know where to start? We've got you covered. In this episode, Sean and Liz talk with travel Nerd Sara Rathner, who offers up her insider tips about how to get the most points from your travel. And if you want to become a savvy traveler but don't care about travel credit cards, we've got tips for you, too.
As always, send us your money questions! Email podcast@nerdwallet.com or call or text the NerdHotline at 901-730-6373. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Feb 24, 2020 • 12min
Are Roth conversions a good idea?
Roth conversions can give you a big tax advantage in retirement, but they're not right for everyone. Sean and Liz talk with retirement Nerd Andrea Coombes to help you figure out if you could come out ahead with a Roth conversion.
As always, send us your money questions! Email podcast@nerdwallet.com or call or text the NerdHotline at 901-730-6373. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Feb 17, 2020 • 16min
What's the best way to do a spending fast?
A spending fast can help you save money — fast! The idea is to hit the pause button on non-essential spending for a set period, usually a month. Sean and Liz are veterans of spending fasts and have some tips for how they work, what to watch out for and staying motivated.
As always, send us your money questions!
As always, send us your money questions! Email podcast@nerdwallet.com or call or text the NerdHotline at 901-730-6373. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Feb 10, 2020 • 13min
Should I invest or pay off my student loans?
Should you invest or pay off debt? This question can get especially tricky when you’re talking about investing in your company’s stock versus paying down your student loans. Sean and Liz help a listener who wants to know if she should exercise her stock options or focus on paying her $90,000 student loan debt.
As always, send us your money questions! Email podcast@nerdwallet.com or call or text the NerdHotline at 901-730-6373. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Feb 3, 2020 • 14min
How do we manage money as a couple?
Yours? Mine? Ours? Managing your money as a couple can be stressful, and there’s no one right way to do it. Sean and Liz offer some strategies for figuring out what will work best for both of you.
As always, send us your money questions! Email podcast@nerdwallet.com or call or text the NerdHotline at 901-730-6373. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Jan 20, 2020 • 12min
From the archive: "What's the best way to rack up travel rewards quickly?"
We'll be back in a couple weeks. In the meantime, here's how you can use these winter months to rack up the credit card points to fund your summer travel. And be sure to send us 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