NerdWallet's Smart Money Podcast

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. Future You will thank you.


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.


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Business
Investing
How To
426
Procrastination, and Paying Student Loans vs. I...
23 min
427
Pandemic Debt, and Moving Costs
29 min
428
Saving at the Pump, and 401(k) Limits
25 min
429
Why to File Your Taxes Early, and Tapping Your ...
30 min
430
Money News You Missed, and the 50/30/20 Budget
23 min
431
Stock Market Shenanigans, and Talking About Mon...
33 min
432
Jackpot Windfall, and Extra COVID Cash
23 min
433
How to Buy a House in 2021
27 min
434
Buying Crypto, and Dealing with Debt
22 min
435
New COVID Scams, and Easy Money Moves
25 min
436
How You Can Achieve Money Goals in 2021
26 min
437
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
438
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
439
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
440
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
441
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
442
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
443
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
444
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
445
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
446
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
447
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
448
Cut your tax bill, and how to choose the best i...
Looking to cut your tax bill? You have a few go-to strategies, but only a few months left to reduce what you'll owe next year. Also, the right investment platform depends on how you want to invest and how much help you need.  Want your money...
25 min
449
Unequal unemployment recovery, and whether to b...
Sean and Liz dig into what unequal unemployment recovery trends mean for our economy. Then they answer a listener's money question about whether it's best to buy a new or a used car.
34 min
450
The psychology of debt and when to refinance
On this episode, Sean and Liz discuss the psychology of credit card debt — why some people see it as useful and others call it "evil." Then they answer a listener's question about whether now is a good time to refinance their home, even if they just...
26 min