NerdWallet's Smart Money Podcast cover art
Podcast · 131 episodes

NerdWallet's Smart Money Podcast, page 2

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/

All episodes, page 2

Building Wealth Without Betraying Your Values: Tips for Mission-Driven CareersHow to build wealth while staying aligned with social-justice values in mission-driven careers; includes effective altruism, pricing strategies, retirement/investing, and ESG investing.6 Jul 2026 · 36 min · 19 chapters
Free Tools to Earn More Rewards Points on Online Shopping, Dining, and RidesharesHow to earn extra rewards points/miles using free shopping portals, airline dining programs, hotel portals, Capital One Shopping, and ride-share/brand partnerships; plus how to compare rates using…2 Jul 2026 · 43 min · 18 chapters
Beyond Willpower: Building Financial Systems That Work for Your BrainHow people with head injuries and other diagnoses that affect executive function can manage money using “good enough” systems, emotional regulation, and support resources; also how to avoid financial…29 Jun 2026 · 35 min · 19 chapters
Stop Worrying About Your Financial Advisor and Start Finding the Right OneThe episode tackles two themes: (1) identity theft/scams and (2) whether financial advisors are “evil,” arguing that the real issue is conflicts of interest and fee structures.25 Jun 2026 · 40 min · 24 chapters
$10,000 Lands in a Teen's Account — Here's What to Do FirstWhat to do first when a teen receives a $10,000–$15,000 windfall, including how to talk to parents/teens about money, what not to do, and what accounts/tools to use.22 Jun 2026 · 35 min · 18 chapters
Prime Day Tips and Reddit's Brutally Honest Money ConfessionsThe episode covers two main areas: (1) Prime Day shopping in a stressed economy, and (2) Reddit “money confessions” about spending, budgeting, FIRE dating, and comparison.18 Jun 2026 · 43 min · 23 chapters
Umbrella Insurance, Coverage Gaps, and What a $483 Bar Tab Taught Us About MoneyUmbrella insurance as extra liability coverage above home/auto/renters, how coverage gaps happen via underlying minimums, what it does/doesn’t cover, who should consider it, and how to shop for it.15 Jun 2026 · 29 min · 15 chapters
SpaceX’s Biggest IPO in History and Funding a $117K Life ChangeThe episode covers (1) what IPOs are and what SpaceX’s upcoming IPO could mean for investors, including retail access, risks of IPO hype, and how index-fund rules may increase concentration in…11 Jun 2026 · 38 min · 19 chapters
Feel Organized and Less Anxious About Money: The Sinking Fund System ExplainedThis NerdWallet Smart Money episode explains the “sinking fund system” for saving money in separate buckets to reduce anxiety and prevent overspending.8 Jun 2026 · 34 min · 17 chapters
The Affordable Home You Overlooked and the Investment Tax Trap You Need to Prepare ForWhether manufactured homes could help solve the housing affordability crisis, focusing on the 1976 HUD Code and a proposed change to the “permanent steel chassis” rule; plus how to avoid IRS…4 Jun 2026 · 36 min · 22 chapters
Robinhood Gold Card: Is 3% Cash Back Worth the Waitlist and Membership Fee?The episode answers listener Eddie’s question about whether the Robinhood Gold Card is worth its waitlist and membership fee.1 Jun 2026 · 28 min · 6 chapters
How to Put $200K to Work and The Truth About Generational SpendingTwo-part NerdWallet Smart Money episode. First, “How to Put $200K to Work and The Truth About Generational Spending” uses BLS consumer-expenditure data to challenge generational spending stereotypes.28 May 2026 · 42 min · 17 chapters
Renting vs Buying A Home (When You're A High Earner)Buy vs rent for high earners, arguing emotion/gut feelings can mislead; use “total cost of ownership” (TCO) and a rent-vs-buy comparison over your holding period.25 May 2026 · 26 min · 16 chapters
Financial Resilience in a Shaky Economy and What a Perfect Credit Score Gets YouNerdWallet Smart Money discusses Americans’ financial resilience amid a “shaky” economy, using Federal Reserve data and NerdWallet’s new Financial Resilience Index; later it answers a listener…21 May 2026 · 40 min · 19 chapters
Introducing Your Next Dollar: Money Management for High EarnersMoney management for high earners—trade-offs in spending and investing, equity compensation decisions, taxes, when to buy a house, and how to use benefits effectively.20 May 2026 · 3 min · 2 chapters
Budget Rehab: How to Stop Paying Only Interest and Make Real Progress on Credit Card DebtJessica, a Bay Area single mom with ~$25,000 credit card debt plus a car payment, asks how to stop paying mostly interest and make real progress.18 May 2026 · 29 min · 12 chapters
Why Middle Class Budgets Are Cracking and How to Use Travel Points Before They DevalueMiddle-class financial strain is shifting the economy from a “K” shape to an “E” shape, with many middle-income households struggling to afford basics, living paycheck to paycheck, and carrying…14 May 2026 · 40 min · 15 chapters
Money Lessons From Our Moms and How to Budget With an HSA on a High-Deductible PlanThe episode mixes Mother’s Day “money lessons from moms” with a listener Q&A about budgeting after switching to a high-deductible health plan (HDHP) paired with a health savings account (HSA).11 May 2026 · 43 min · 22 chapters
Is College Worth It in 2026? Plus, How to Split Solo 401(k) Contributions to Save MoreWhether college is worth it for 2026 high school grads, using NerdWallet’s 2026 high school grad analysis; plus a listener question on how to split solo 401(k) contributions (employee vs employer)…7 May 2026 · 39 min · 23 chapters
Mrs. Dow Jones's New Rules for Getting Rich, Plus How to Combine Finances After MarriageWealth-building rules from Haley Sachs (“Mrs. Dow Jones”) and how to find a financial planner; plus combining finances when getting married.4 May 2026 · 46 min · 26 chapters
Spring Homebuying in 2026 and the Case for Never Paying Off Your MortgageWhether spring 2026 homebuying is still a good idea amid mortgage rates above 6% and shifting market conditions; plus a “forever mortgage” debate about not paying off a 30-year loan early and instead…30 Apr 2026 · 36 min · 32 chapters
Pet Insurance vs Savings Account and the APR vs APY Rules That Could Save You CashThe episode is a NerdWallet Smart Money debate about pet insurance versus saving for pet care, plus a finance fundamentals segment explaining APR vs APY.27 Apr 2026 · 42 min · 20 chapters
USPS’ Cash Crisis Hits More Than Your Mailbox, Plus The Debt Settlement Trap to AvoidThe episode covers two topics: (1) the USPS cash crisis and what it could mean for Americans, including higher prices, slower delivery, and election-mail logistics; (2) a listener’s question about…23 Apr 2026 · 37 min · 14 chapters
AI in the Home Buying Process: What Works, What Doesn't, and When to Call an ExpertUsing generative AI (especially Claude) alongside human professionals during buying and selling a home—what it helps with, what it can get wrong, and when to rely on experts.20 Apr 2026 · 46 min · 20 chapters