NerdWallet's Smart Money Podcast

Hosted by NerdWallet Personal Finance

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Episodes

626

Latest episode

Jun 2026

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About the show

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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60 recent

June 15, 202629 min

Umbrella Insurance, Coverage Gaps, and What a $483 Bar Tab Taught Us About Money

Learn when umbrella insurance is worth buying and what a $483 bar tab can teach you about being an informed consumer. When does umbrella insurance actually make sense for your finances? What happens if a lawsuit leaves you on the hook for more than your home or auto policy could cover? Hosts Sean Pyles, CFP®, and Elizabeth Ayoola are joined by insurance nerd Caitlin Constantine to tackle a listener’s question about umbrella coverage: what it actually is, how it layers on top of your existing home, auto, and renters policies, what umbrella insurance won't cover, and how to figure out whether your current assets and policy limits leave you exposed. Then, Elizabeth shares money lessons she took away after she and a friend accidentally racked up a $483 bar tab, including handling financial mistakes with grace and the secret power of forgiving yourself. Subscribe to our podcast’s free email newsletter for bonus content and more from our hosts at https://smartmoney-nerdwallet.beehiiv.com/ Want us to review your budget? Fill out this form — completely anonymously if you want — and we might feature your budget in a future segment! https://docs.google.com/forms/d/e/1FAIpQLScK53yAufsc4v5UpghhVfxtk2MoyooHzlSIRBnRxUPl3hKBig/viewform?usp=header To send the Nerds your money questions, call or text the Nerd hotline at 901-730-6373 or email podcast@nerdwallet.com. Like what you hear? Please leave us a review and tell a friend. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

June 11, 202638 min

SpaceX’s Biggest IPO in History and Funding a $117K Life Change

Learn what the AI IPO boom could do to reshape your index funds and how to fund years of grad school with no income. With SpaceX set to debut as the biggest IPO in history — and OpenAI and Anthropic filing to follow — what does this landmark moment in the markets actually mean for your portfolio? Senior news editor Rick VanderKnyff and investing writer Sam Taub join hosts Sean Pyles, CFP®, and Elizabeth Ayoola to break down the latest AI IPO news. They discuss what makes SpaceX's offering the largest public offering ever, what the historical track record of IPOs says about buying in at the opening price, and a quietly consequential change to index fund inclusion rules that could leave passive investors with a far bigger stake in mega-cap AI companies than they anticipated. They also explain what direct indexing is and how it could give you more control over what lands in your portfolio. How do you manage your money when you're leaving a career to spend up to three years in graduate school with no income? Sean and Elizabeth tackle a listener's detailed, multi-part question about funding a $117,000 occupational therapy doctorate. They explore whether a Roth IRA conversion could be a smart way to capitalize on low-tax years before graduation, what the new federal student loan borrowing caps under the One Big Beautiful Bill Act mean for graduate students' funding plans, how deferring an existing $17,000 in student debt could play out over time, and what to weigh before earning money on the side while in school. Subscribe to our podcast’s free email newsletter for bonus content and more from our hosts at https://smartmoney-nerdwallet.beehiiv.com/ Sign up for MoneyNerd, NerdWallet's free weekly newsletter, for tips on watching the 2026 World Cup for free: https://moneynerd-nerdwallet.beehiiv.com/ What Is the New Repayment Assistance Plan (RAP) for Student Loans? https://www.nerdwallet.com/student-loans/learn/what-is-the-new-repayment-assistance-plan-rap-for-student-loans Direct Indexing: What It Is, How It Works https://www.nerdwallet.com/investing/learn/direct-indexing Want us to review your budget? Fill out this form — completely anonymously if you want — and we might feature your budget in a future segment! https://docs.google.com/forms/d/e/1FAIpQLScK53yAufsc4v5UpghhVfxtk2MoyooHzlSIRBnRxUPl3hKBig/viewform?usp=header To send the Nerds your money questions, call or text the Nerd hotline at 901-730-6373 or email podcast@nerdwallet.com. Like what you hear? Please leave us a review and tell a friend. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

June 8, 202633 min

Feel Organized and Less Anxious About Money: The Sinking Fund System Explained

Learn how to set up a sinking fund system that puts your savings on autopilot and helps you reach your goals. What if the key to hitting your financial goals isn't just saving more, but saving smarter? Hosts Sean Pyles, CFP®, and Elizabeth Ayoola dig into the sinking fund system, a strategy of separate, named savings accounts each tied to a specific purpose. They explore the psychology behind why earmarking money for a specific goal feels different from keeping one lump sum, how to choose between high-yield savings accounts, money market accounts, and CDs, and the common pitfalls that can stall your progress before the system even gets off the ground. Best High-Yield Savings Accounts of June 2026: Up to 4.03% https://www.nerdwallet.com/banking/best/high-yield-online-savings-accounts Subscribe to our podcast’s free email newsletter for bonus content and more from our hosts at https://smartmoney-nerdwallet.beehiiv.com/ Want us to review your budget? Fill out this form — completely anonymously if you want — and we might feature your budget in a future segment! https://docs.google.com/forms/d/e/1FAIpQLScK53yAufsc4v5UpghhVfxtk2MoyooHzlSIRBnRxUPl3hKBig/viewform?usp=header To send the Nerds your money questions, call or text the Nerd hotline at 901-730-6373 or email podcast@nerdwallet.com. Like what you hear? Please leave us a review and tell a friend. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

June 4, 202636 min

The Affordable Home You Overlooked and the Investment Tax Trap You Need to Prepare For

Learn whether manufactured homes could be your path to homeownership and how to get ahead of a tax bill from your investments. Could a decades-old federal rule be standing between you and an affordable home? Hosts Sean Pyles, CFP®, and Elizabeth Ayoola are joined by senior news editor Rick VanderKnyff, along with mortgage writers Abby Badach Doyle and Kate Wood, to explore whether manufactured homes could offer a real path to homeownership for buyers priced out of the traditional market. They dig into how modern manufactured homes have changed, why the 21st Century ROAD to Housing Act is drawing renewed attention to an obscure chassis rule from 1976, and what you need to know about financing, appreciation, and whether these homes are finally having their rebrand moment. Then, investing and taxes editor Bella Avila helps answer a listener's question about how to handle a growing tax bill from investment income. They discuss how taxable accounts can trigger unexpected tax bills, how to decide between adjusting your W-4 and making estimated tax payments, and why strategies like stashing money in a HYSA or CD might not work out the way you'd hope. During this episode, data cited about manufactured home relocation rates was attributed to the Pew Research Center. The correct attribution is The Pew Charitable Trusts. Locked Out: 3 Outdated Myths About Manufactured Homes https://www.nerdwallet.com/mortgages/news/locked-out-manufactured-homes-affordable-housing-crisis Subscribe to MoneyNerd, our podcast’s weekly email newsletter, at https://moneynerd-nerdwallet.beehiiv.com/ Want us to review your budget? Fill out this form — completely anonymously if you want — and we might feature your budget in a future segment! https://docs.google.com/forms/d/e/1FAIpQLScK53yAufsc4v5UpghhVfxtk2MoyooHzlSIRBnRxUPl3hKBig/viewform?usp=header To send the Nerds your money questions, call or text the Nerd hotline at 901-730-6373 or email podcast@nerdwallet.com. Like what you hear? Please leave us a review and tell a friend. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

June 1, 202628 min

Robinhood Gold Card: Is 3% Cash Back Worth the Waitlist and Membership Fee?

Learn whether Robinhood Gold Card's 3% cash back and investing perks are worth the waitlist and membership cost. Is the Robinhood Gold Card the rare credit card that could put your rewards directly to work in a brokerage account? Sean Pyles, CFP®, and Elizabeth Ayoola are joined by NerdWallet credit card writer Melissa Lambarena to examine what makes this card stand apart: an uncapped 3% flat-rate cash back on all purchases, 5% back through Robinhood's travel portal, and the ability to redeem rewards as a deposit into a Robinhood brokerage account. They dig into who the card could work for (and who it definitely isn't right for), how the required Robinhood Gold membership factors into the value equation, what the card's high APR could mean for your rewards if you carry a balance, and how the ongoing waitlist came to exist and how long it could last. They also walk through how to weigh this card against alternatives like the Chase Freedom Flex, Capital One Savor, Wells Fargo Active Cash, and Chase Sapphire Preferred, to help you figure out which card might deliver the most value for your spending habits and financial goals. Card benefits, terms and fees can change. For the most up-to-date information about cards mentioned in this episode, read our reviews: 5 Things to Know About the Robinhood Gold Card Atmos Rewards Ascent Review: Well Worth $95 a Year Chase Sapphire Preferred Review: Strong Option for Travel Rewards American Express Platinum Review: Top-Notch Lounge Access, Big Credits Chase Freedom Flex: Multiple Bonus Rewards in One Card Capital One Savor Review: Foodie-Focused Rewards, for No Annual Fee Wells Fargo Active Cash Card Review: 2% Cash Back With a Bonus Fidelity Rewards Visa Review: 2% Back for Your Nest Egg Citi AAdvantage Executive Review: Your Key to the Club 5 Things to Know About BMW Credit Cards 5 Things to Know About the T.J. Maxx Credit Card Subscribe to Smart Money, our podcast’s weekly email newsletter, at https://smartmoney-nerdwallet.beehiiv.com/ And you can find other NerdWallet newsletters at https://www.nerdwallet.com/finance/news/newsletter-signup Want us to review your budget? Fill out this form — completely anonymously if you want — and we might feature your budget in a future segment! https://docs.google.com/forms/d/e/1FAIpQLScK53yAufsc4v5UpghhVfxtk2MoyooHzlSIRBnRxUPl3hKBig/viewform?usp=header To send the Nerds your money questions, call or text the Nerd hotline at 901-730-6373 or email podcast@nerdwallet.com. Like what you hear? Please leave us a review and tell a friend. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

May 28, 202641 min

How to Put $200K to Work and The Truth About Generational Spending

Learn what generational spending data reveals and what to do when fear is keeping $200K in savings from growing. What do the stereotypes about each generation's finances actually get wrong? Sean Pyles, CFP®, and Elizabeth Ayoola kick off the episode with senior news writer Anna Helhoski and NerdWallet data writer Kurt Woock, who breaks down a new study analyzing federal Consumer Expenditure Survey data spanning decades of American spending. They explore why housing costs follow a U-shaped curve that could hit hardest in retirement — not just in young adulthood — why the real expense of owning a car isn't the car payment, and how healthcare spending could triple as a share of your income in your later years, just as earnings begin to decline. When is having $200,000 in savings actually working against you? Sean and Elizabeth welcome Kat from Virginia, who has maxed out her 401(k), opened 529 accounts for her kids, and accumulated $200,000 in cash — but is too anxious to touch any of that cash. Joined by Ryan Sterling, CEO of NerdWallet Wealth Partners, they dig into how financial anxiety develops, how to determine the right size for your emergency fund, and what steps could help you move from hoarding cash to building real long-term wealth. NerdWallet Wealth Partners, LLC is an affiliate of NerdWallet Inc. NerdWallet Wealth Partners is a fiduciary online financial advisor, offering low-cost, comprehensive financial advice and investment management. Learn more at nerdwalletwealthpartners.com/smart Data: Massive Survey Shows How Generations Spend Money https://www.nerdwallet.com/finance/studies/generational-spending-CES Want us to review your budget? Fill out this form — completely anonymously if you want — and we might feature your budget in a future segment! https://docs.google.com/forms/d/e/1FAIpQLScK53yAufsc4v5UpghhVfxtk2MoyooHzlSIRBnRxUPl3hKBig/viewform?usp=header To send the Nerds your money questions, call or text the Nerd hotline at 901-730-6373 or email podcast@nerdwallet.com. Like what you hear? Please leave us a review and tell a friend. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

May 25, 202626 min

Renting vs Buying A Home (When You're A High Earner)

Learn what really goes into the rent versus buy decision beyond comparing your mortgage to a rent check. In this special episode, Your Next Dollar host Andrew Giancola walks through a step-by-step total cost of ownership framework to help you weigh the real numbers behind renting versus buying a home. Then, he reacts to two videos that take very different sides of the rent versus buy debate. Follow Your Next Dollar on your favorite podcast app: https://play.megaphone.fm/mzdq8dj_trg1b0mlqpvhsq Reaction video 1: https://www.youtube.com/shorts/yv3twR9m_Tg Reaction video 2: https://www.tiktok.com/@steven/video/7601133303608921366 Interested in working with a financial advisor? Visit nerdwalletwealthpartners.com NerdWallet Wealth Partners LLC (NWWP) is a SEC registered investment adviser. Registration does not imply a certain level of skill or training, nor does it constitute an endorsement by any securities regulator. The content presented by NWWP on its Your Next Dollar podcast is for informational and educational purposes only and is not intended as personalized investment, tax, or legal advice to any person. The views, strategies, examples, and figures discussed are intended to be general in nature, subject to change at any time based upon market or other conditions and may not be suitable for every individual. Any hypothetical illustrations used are for educational purposes only and do not represent a guarantee or prediction of future results. All investments carry risk, including the potential loss of principal, and past performance is not a guarantee of future results. NWWP's investment advisory services are only offered where NWWP and its representatives are registered. Before making any financial decision, seek advice from a qualified investment, tax, or legal professional. Want us to review your budget on Smart Money? Fill out this form — completely anonymously if you want — and we might feature your budget in a future segment! https://docs.google.com/forms/d/e/1FAIpQLScK53yAufsc4v5UpghhVfxtk2MoyooHzlSIRBnRxUPl3hKBig/viewform?usp=header To send the Nerds 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

May 21, 202639 min

Financial Resilience in a Shaky Economy and What a Perfect Credit Score Gets You

Learn what new Fed data says about Americans' finances and whether a perfect 850 credit score is worth chasing. What does the latest Federal Reserve data actually reveal about how Americans are holding up financially — and why do feelings and facts so often diverge? Sean Pyles, CFP®, and Elizabeth Ayoola are joined by senior news writer Anna Helhoski and NerdWallet economist Elizabeth Renter to dig into a new Fed analysis of U.S. household financial wellbeing. They discuss why wellbeing has declined for young adults, low-income families, and Black adults even as headline economic data stays relatively stable, what a shifting labor market means for workers' confidence, and what NerdWallet's new Financial Resilience Index could reveal about the gap between feeling in control of your money and actually being prepared for a financial shock. What does a perfect 850 credit score actually get you — and is it even worth chasing? Sean and Elizabeth are joined by NerdWallet personal finance writer Amanda Barroso to answer a question about reaching the credit score mountaintop. They discuss where the real "good enough" threshold sits, how to build a healthier relationship with your score, and what habits could help you reach — and maintain — a score that actually works in your favor. Want us to review your budget? Fill out this form — completely anonymously if you want — and we might feature your budget in a future segment! https://docs.google.com/forms/d/e/1FAIpQLScK53yAufsc4v5UpghhVfxtk2MoyooHzlSIRBnRxUPl3hKBig/viewform?usp=header To send the Nerds your money questions, call or text the Nerd hotline at 901-730-6373 or email podcast@nerdwallet.com. Like what you hear? Please leave us a review and tell a friend. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

May 20, 20262 min

Introducing Your Next Dollar: Money Management for High Earners

Meet Your Next Dollar, a new podcast from NerdWallet Wealth Partners. This is the podcast for you if you are a high earner learning how to build wealth, navigate money trade-offs, and spend on what you actually value. Follow Your Next Dollar on your favorite podcast app: https://play.megaphone.fm/jl7ehvemqcmp-1_fkrov6a Interested in working with a financial advisor? Visit nerdwalletwealthpartners.com NerdWallet Wealth Partners LLC (NWWP) is a SEC registered investment adviser. Registration does not imply a certain level of skill or training, nor does it constitute an endorsement by any securities regulator. The content presented by NWWP on its Your Next Dollar podcast is for informational and educational purposes only and is not intended as personalized investment, tax, or legal advice to any person. The views, strategies, examples, and figures discussed are intended to be general in nature, subject to change at any time based upon market or other conditions and may not be suitable for every individual. Any hypothetical illustrations used are for educational purposes only and do not represent a guarantee or prediction of future results. All investments carry risk, including the potential loss of principal, and past performance is not a guarantee of future results. NWWP's investment advisory services are only offered where NWWP and its representatives are registered. Before making any financial decision, seek advice from a qualified investment, tax, or legal professional. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

May 18, 202628 min

Budget Rehab: How to Stop Paying Only Interest and Make Real Progress on Credit Card Debt

Learn how to tackle $25,000 in credit card debt and which payoff strategy could work best for your situation. How do you get out of $25,000 in credit card debt when minimum payments aren't making a dent? In this episode, hosts Sean Pyles, CFP®, and Elizabeth Ayoola sit down with listener Jessica, a Bay Area mom carrying three maxed-out credit cards with interest rates ranging from 11% to 24%. They walk through her real budget, including nearly $2,000 in rent, close to $1,200 in monthly transportation costs, and significant childcare expenses, to understand why her spending outpaces her income. They also explore what options could realistically help her make progress, from nonprofit credit counseling and debt management plans to whether a free bankruptcy consultation might be worth her time before committing to any path. Read our roundup of best Debt Settlement Companies: https://www.nerdwallet.com/personal-loans/learn/best-debt-settlement-companies Learn more about National Debt Relief: https://www.nationaldebtrelief.com/ Read through NerdWallet's guide to the best strategies for whittling down what you owe, depending on how much debt you have: https://www.nerdwallet.com/personal-loans/learn/pay-off-debt Want us to review your budget? Fill out this form — completely anonymously if you want — and we might feature your budget in a future segment! https://docs.google.com/forms/d/e/1FAIpQLScK53yAufsc4v5UpghhVfxtk2MoyooHzlSIRBnRxUPl3hKBig/viewform?usp=header To send the Nerds your money questions, call or text the Nerd hotline at 901-730-6373 or email podcast@nerdwallet.com. Like what you hear? Please leave us a review and tell a friend. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices