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Podcast · 131 episodes

NerdWallet's Smart Money Podcast

by NerdWallet Personal Finance · English

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/

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Renting vs. Buying a Home: Can HOA Fees Be Worth the Money?Renting vs buying a home when the purchase includes condo/HOA fees, especially in high-cost areas like New York City; how to evaluate break-even timelines, frictional costs, and HOA fee risk.28 Sep 2026 · 39 min · 16 chapters
Get Out of a Timeshare and Find Down Payment Help to Buy a HomeHow to get rid of a timeshare (especially when it’s no longer financially beneficial) and an additional segment on down payment/closing-cost assistance for buying a home.24 Sep 2026 · 37 min · 17 chapters
Real Estate Syndication 101: What to Know Before You InvestReal estate syndication basics for diversifying without managing rentals; how it works, costs/minimums, time horizon, risks, accreditation rules, and how it compares to REITs and ETFs.21 Sep 2026 · 30 min · 20 chapters
Drained Retirement, Maxed Credit Cards. How Scam Victims Start RebuildingA listener asks how a parent can rebuild finances after being drained by an online “girlfriend” on OnlyFans/overseas, leaving depleted retirement savings and large credit card debt; the hosts also…17 Sep 2026 · 40 min · 22 chapters
IUL Insurance: Recession-Proof or a Risky Bet for Your Retirement?Indexed universal life (IUL) insurance for retirement—whether it’s “recession-proof” or too risky compared with a 401(k).14 Sep 2026 · 31 min · 19 chapters
Budget Rehab: A Debt-Free Couple Plans for a Wedding, House and Baby (Plus: Inside Disaster Betting Markets)Budget Rehab for Jack and Lauren, a debt-free Navy couple planning a wedding, house, and baby; plus Money News on “inside” disaster/weather prediction betting markets.10 Sep 2026 · 38 min · 20 chapters
Seven Steps for Prioritizing Money as a High Earner (from Your Next Dollar)A step-by-step “Your Next Dollar Blueprint” for high earners (30s–40s, not yet rich) to prioritize money decisions and reduce surprises like bigger tax bills.7 Sep 2026 · 44 min · 11 chapters
How Get Rich Slowly's Founder Retired at 40. Plus, What Higher Bond Yields Mean for SaversJ.D. Roth, founder of Get Rich Slowly, explains how he paid off about $35,000 in consumer debt and achieved financial independence at age 40, emphasizing “money scripts,” psychology, and aligning…3 Sep 2026 · 40 min · 24 chapters
Does a Pension Mean You're Set for Retirement? How to Know If You're Really on TrackWhether a defined-benefit pension is enough for retirement, and how to decide additional savings in a 401(k)/defined contribution plan when job income and retirement timing are uncertain.31 Aug 2026 · 36 min · 12 chapters
Putting the "7% Rule" to the Test on a Real Mortgage. Plus, an Economist on Stubborn Food PricesA real-life test of the “7% rule” (pay off debt vs invest) for a homeowner with 7.2% mortgage debt, plus Money News on why food prices remain high.27 Aug 2026 · 38 min · 23 chapters
How Homebuying Differs for LGBTQ+ People — and Tips for Any Buyer in a Tough MarketLGBTQ+ homebuying “through a queer lens,” plus practical strategies for affording homes in a high-price, high-rate market (Portland context).24 Aug 2026 · 45 min · 28 chapters
CFP vs. CPA vs. CFA: The Only One Most People NeedHow to choose the right financial professional (CFP vs CPA vs CFA) and the risks of choosing the wrong one, using a listener starting a veterinary practice as the case study; plus how to consolidate…20 Aug 2026 · 49 min · 19 chapters
How to Balance Competing Financial Priorities When Everything Feels UrgentBalancing urgent competing financial priorities—saving for a house (down payment and closing costs), retirement/early retirement (401k, Roth IRA, coastFIRE), and enjoying life despite financial…17 Aug 2026 · 40 min · 20 chapters
Going Back to Work Later in Life and Why the Housing Market Feels So StuckClaire, age 69 in Portland, discusses going back to work later in life and how to adjust her conservative retirement investing; the episode also includes a housing-market “stuck” segment explaining…13 Aug 2026 · 41 min · 29 chapters
Where Are They Now? Five Smart Money Listeners on Job Loss, Debt, FIRE, and Life Moves“Where Are They Now?” updates from five Smart Money listeners on job loss, debt payoff, FIRE/Coast FIRE, and major life moves (including moving to Spain and a cross-country relocation).10 Aug 2026 · 29 min · 14 chapters
What You Need to Know About Starting a Business Before You Quit Your JobFinancial planning for starting a business before quitting a job, plus a money-news segment on prediction markets.6 Aug 2026 · 45 min · 23 chapters
When Marriage Ends: How to Protect Your Assets, Update Your Estate Plan, and Survive the CostsWhat to do financially during divorce—review finances, update estate plans/beneficiaries, handle asset division (prenups/postnups, state law), estimate and manage divorce costs, adjust budgets…3 Aug 2026 · 23 min · 15 chapters
Sinking Fund Methods That Actually Work, Plus The Hidden Cost of AI Data CentersThe episode has two parts: (1) why Americans are increasingly opposing new AI data centers, and (2) follow-up “sinking fund” (savings bucket) methods for paying bills from those accounts.30 Jul 2026 · 32 min · 19 chapters
Is an Annual Fee Travel Card Worth It? A Guide for Occasional FlyersWhether an annual-fee travel credit card is worth it for occasional flyers, using Lacey’s situation (flies a few times/year) to compare Chase Sapphire Preferred vs Delta-branded cards, plus how to…27 Jul 2026 · 39 min · 17 chapters
What Couples Miss When Going Down to One IncomeTwo-part episode. (1) What older Americans (50+) miss when trying to reenter the workforce: demand exists, but age discrimination and underfunded training block opportunities amid AI-driven…23 Jul 2026 · 35 min · 26 chapters
Don't Let Inconsistent Income Derail Your Finances — or Your RelationshipHow to budget and manage a relationship when one partner’s income is small and inconsistent, including financial planning, emergency savings, and “money script” equity.20 Jul 2026 · 33 min · 14 chapters
It's Not Too Late: How to Reset Your Money Habits at 50Resetting money habits at age 50 and rebuilding retirement savings, using buckets, automation, catch-up contributions, emergency cash, Social Security planning, and risk-appropriate investing.16 Jul 2026 · 36 min · 19 chapters
Stop Guessing and Start Comparing: Is One Bank Enough for Everything?This Smart Money episode answers a listener’s question about whether to use one “one-stop shop” bank for both partners, including joint accounts and “hybrid” checking/savings buckets, plus how to…13 Jul 2026 · 34 min · 14 chapters
Stop Assuming Payment Plans Are a Debt Trap and Start Doing the MathThe episode has two parts. First, it covers the 21st Century Road to Housing Act, a nearly 400-page bill passed June 23 with overwhelming bipartisan support to reduce housing costs by increasing home…9 Jul 2026 · 42 min · 24 chapters