NerdWallet's Smart Money Podcast

NerdWallet’s objective finance journalists answer real-world questions empowering you to make smarter decisions with your money and help your finances thrive.


The Nerds are your resource to make the most of your personal finances, while cutting through the clutter and misinformation of today’s economic news and advice. You’ll get clarity on strategies to help you build your wealth, invest wisely, shop for financial products, and plan for major life events.


By the end of each episode, you’ll feel smarter and more informed to make the most of your finances. Future You will thank you.


Join hosts Sean Pyles, Sara Rathner, and other expert Nerds as they discuss everything personal finance, including:


- Credit cards: credit card rewards, different types of credit cards, credit card annual fees


- Investing and retirement: investment strategies, retirement planning, financial independence, investing in the stock market, money market accounts, financial strategies, mutual funds, short-term bonds, exchange-traded funds (ETFs), Roth IRA investing, robo-advisors, retirement savings


- Personal finance: budgeting methods, emergency funds, paying off debt, frugal living, money management tips, wealth accumulation, money habits, cultivating a money growth mindset, debt-free living, financial resources, budgeting apps and browser extensions, avoiding scams, tax bills, financial success and financial stability


- Banking: high-yield saving accounts, online banking, credit unions


- Loans: student loans, home equity loans, HELOC, student loan forgiveness


- Home: mortgage interest rates, homebuying, home improvement projects, homeowners insurance


- Insurance: travel insurance, pet insurance, auto insurance, home insurance


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, 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.


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Business
Investing
Education
301
Pandemic Savings Goals, and Taxes on Inheritance
25 min
302
Spring Cleaning, and COVID Taxes
23 min
303
Redlining, and the Credit Impact of Paying Off ...
22 min
304
Procrastination, and Paying Student Loans vs. I...
23 min
305
Pandemic Debt, and Moving Costs
29 min
306
Saving at the Pump, and 401(k) Limits
25 min
307
Why to File Your Taxes Early, and Tapping Your ...
30 min
308
Money News You Missed, and the 50/30/20 Budget
23 min
309
Stock Market Shenanigans, and Talking About Mon...
33 min
310
Jackpot Windfall, and Extra COVID Cash
23 min
311
How to Buy a House in 2021
27 min
312
Buying Crypto, and Dealing with Debt
22 min
313
New COVID Scams, and Easy Money Moves
25 min
314
How You Can Achieve Money Goals in 2021
26 min
315
Spot fake reviews, and see if you're saving too...
We're off for the holiday break, so here's an episode from our archives. Learning how to spot fake online reviews can save you money. Speaking of saving, you shouldn’t avoid retirement accounts from a fear that you won’t be “liquid” enough....
21 min
316
What our listeners learned from the pandemic
2020 was a year of challenges — and opportunities. In this episode, listeners share the money lessons they learned over the past year, including why savings is more important than ever and the benefits of debt payoff. You know you have money...
24 min
317
Charitable giving, and using savings to pay stu...
Feeling charitable this holiday season? Use discretion as you choose where to give. Also, Sean and Liz answer a listener's question about whether to use savings to pay off student loans. You know you have money questions — so send them to the Nerds!...
24 min
318
Pandemic money lessons, and balancing saving fo...
Sean and Liz share what they learned about managing money during the pandemic. Then they answer a listener's money question about how to save for retirement while saving for a down payment on a house.  You know you have money questions — so...
21 min
319
What Biden may do for your finances and how to ...
Consumer protection will see a revival in 2021, but student loan forgiveness and pandemic relief are still question marks. Plus, what to do if you need to get your hands on some money (relatively) fast. You know you have money questions — so send...
26 min
320
The holiday shopping episode
How are you planning to shop this holiday season? According to our shopping Nerds, we’ll shop differently, but we’ll still shop. Many stores will be closed on Thanksgiving, but the Black Friday deals have already begun and many retailers are...
27 min
321
Holiday travel and giving money advice to family
The two things we should rethink this holiday season are travel and offering financial advice to family members. Either should be done cautiously, if at all. Want the Nerds to answer your money question? Email  or call or text the NerdHotline at...
26 min
322
Open Enrollment and HSA vs. FSA
Picking health insurance is a pain, but the right choice can save you serious cash. Also, a health savings account can be a great option if you can handle a high deductible health insurance plan, but it’s not for everyone. A traditional plan with a...
19 min
323
Finding financial stability and protecting your...
With the election, the pandemic and everything else that's happened in 2020, finding stability can be a challenge. Sean and Liz discuss how to make your money a source of security right now. Then, they answer a listener's money question about how to...
26 min
324
Beating burnout and the best college savings plans
Feel like you working longer and more draining hours during the pandemic? You're not alone. Liz and Sean share their tips to beat burnout. Then they answer a listener's question about how to choose the best college savings plan for their child with...
27 min
325
Retiring early and finding lost money
More Americans are retiring early, but not all of them are doing it the right way. And you may have long-forgotten money waiting to be claimed — here's how to find it.  To have your money question answered on a future episode, email  or...
24 min