NerdWallet's Smart Money Podcast

Discover strategies for achieving early retirement with the FIRE movement and learn how to maximize your credit card rewards. How much do you have to save if you want to retire early? Can you double your credit card rewards by paying off one card with another? Hosts Sean Pyles and Elizabeth Ayoola discuss the FIRE movement and maximizing credit card rewards to help you understand how to achieve fi...

Learn how you can balance the joy and financial responsibility of having a pet without having to compromise either of them. How much does it cost to own a pet? How can you make pet care affordable without compromising quality? Hosts Sean Pyles and Ronita Choudhuri-Wade share personal stories about their pets and discuss the rising costs of veterinary care to help you understand how to manage pet e...

Learn how a recent Supreme Court decision impacts financial regulations and crypto, plus the latest money news and travel tips. Is the end of the Chevron deference really going to shake up the world of financial regulations? What does this mean for the future of crypto investments? Hosts Tess Vigeland and Anna Helhoski and NerdWallet investing writer Sam Taube discuss the Supreme Court’s recent de...

Explore life insurance as an investment tool, understand variable and infinite banking, and navigate complex insurance choices. What’s the right life insurance policy for you? What is “infinite banking” and how hard is it to set up? Hosts Sean Pyles and Sara Rathner discuss the intricacies of life insurance as both a protective measure and a financial instrument to help you understand its potentia...

Learn how to negotiate for a higher salary and better benefits when you get a job offer. Plus: Tips for boosting your earning potential. What are the best ways to negotiate for a higher salary?  How can you elevate your earnings and overall compensation package?  Hosts Sean Pyles and Alana Benson discuss strategies for increasing your income and negotiating for a raise to help you understand how t...

Hear different perspectives on how to pay off debt — and when to stop paying off debt to focus on investing your money. When should you prioritize investing over paying off debt? What are different debt payoff methods to help you become debt-free? Hosts Sean Pyles and Elizabeth Ayoola and NerdWallet debt writer Tiffany Curtis answer a listener’s question about balancing debt payoff and investing....

Learn how to optimize your LinkedIn profile to enhance your job and income prospects with tips from LinkedIn’s Andrew McCaskill. What are recruiters looking for on LinkedIn? What’s the best way to optimize your LinkedIn profile? Hosts Sean Pyles and Alana Benson discuss LinkedIn optimization and professional growth to help you understand how to leverage the platform for career success. They begin...

Learn to navigate Amazon Prime Day deals, track prices, and avoid overspending with expert shopping strategies and tools. Are Amazon Prime Day deals truly worth it, or are they just savvy marketing tactics? Hosts Anna Helhoski and Sara Rathner explain how consumers can identify genuine bargains amidst the sea of discounts. NerdWallet writer Tommy Tindall joins them to discuss the evolution of Prim...

Learn about salary negotiation and investing strategies and how they can be especially helpful for women facing unique personal finance challenges. What financial challenges do women uniquely face? How can people find financial peace in a stressful world? Hosts Sean Pyles and Sara Rathner share some “money hot takes” before turning the conversation towards addressing the unique financial hurdles w...

Discover career growth strategies to boost your income, including negotiating raises, and navigating promotions and mentorship. What are some of the best ways to increase your income?  What are strategies for negotiating a higher salary and excelling in your current role?  Hosts Sean Pyles and Alana Benson discuss career growth techniques and salary negotiation strategies to help you understand ho...

Discover how to align education with job market demands, tackling underemployment and economic stagnation in “middle skills” jobs. What are “middle skills” and why are they in high demand? What are the economic implications of misalignment between middle skills credentials and job market demands? Hosts Sean Pyles and Anna Helhoski discuss the misalignment in the labor market concerning middle skil...

Understand how much extra income you could get from a side hustle like DoorDash and get a budgeting and investing basics refresh. 00:40 This Week in Your Money: How much extra money can you really make from side hustles? What are budgeting and early investment strategies for young professionals? Hosts Sean Pyles and Sara Rathner discuss the realities of gig economy jobs with Tommy Tindall, a NerdW...

As a freelancer or gig worker, how can you make sure you get paid on time? In this special presentation of Working from Slate Podcasts, hosts Ronald Young Jr. and June Thomas talk money, finances, and getting paid as a freelancer in a tough economy. They recount their own frustrating experiences with not getting paid on time and offer tips on how avoid those situations. Listen to Working wherever...

Understand why the current housing market is so challenging, how people can afford to buy a home, and what’s next for interest rates. How are people able to afford to buy a home in the current housing market? When will houses be affordable again? Hosts Anna Helhoski and Tess Vigeland (filling in for Sean) discuss the current state of the housing market with NerdWallet home and mortgages expert Hol...

Get a breakdown of the hottest tips from Smart Money this year, including wealth-building strategies and managing money in relationships.  How can you make your money work for you?  What’s the best way to save on group travel?  Host Sean Pyles presents some of the most impactful conversations we’ve had on Smart Money in order to help you make better decisions about your finances. 00:54 30-Day Mone...

Learn why estate planning is important even if you don’t own a lot of assets, along with when to ask for professional help. Why is estate planning important?  What happens to your assets when you die without an estate plan?  Hosts Sean Pyles and Dalia Ramirez discuss the essential aspects of estate planning and the common misconceptions that often deter people from creating an estate plan. They be...

Learn about the financial impact of beauty expenses, societal pressures behind them, and tips for managing beauty-related costs. Are beauty purchases worth the financial stress? How do beauty-related expenses impact our budgets? Hosts Sean Pyles and Anna Helhoski discuss the rising costs of beauty products, services, and procedures and how they are leading to financial stress and debt among Americ...

Beat the financial heat with fun summer savings tips and get mid-year financial check-up strategies for a stress-free season. Summer Activity Guide: What free things can you do to have a fun summer? Hosts Sean Pyles and Sara Rathner discuss summer money-saving tips to help you understand how to balance fun and finances during the warm months. They begin with a discussion of budget-friendly summer...

Discover how to navigate financial uncertainty in a creative career with insights from a jazz saxophonist's personal journey. How can creative professionals manage financial uncertainty in their careers?  What are the essential financial strategies for artists dealing with fluctuating income? Hosts Sean Pyles and Abby Badach Doyle discuss the financial challenges in creative careers and strategies...

Understand the evolving definition of inflation, potential changes to medical debt reporting and their impact on your finances. Why does the consumer’s perception of inflation differ from the economist’s perspective? How does this shift in understanding impact our economy? Hosts Sean Pyles and Anna Helhoski talk about the gap between how regular people and economists talk about inflation and what...

What drives Mathew Knowles, respected record executive, entrepreneur, author, public speaker, and father to Beyonce and Solange? This special presentation of the podcast Earn & Invest delves into what drove him to succeed and how drive has been both a positive and a negative in his life. The Earn & Invest podcast features thought-provoking conversations intended to empower you to earn and invest w...

Learn how moving could benefit you if you feel compelled to relocate due to safety concerns — and how to budget for a sudden move. How do you financially and emotionally prepare for relocating due to safety concerns?  What are the financial impacts of such a forced move?  Hosts Sean Pyles and Alieza Durana discuss their experiences planning finances for relocations to help you understand the compl...

Learn how consumer sentiment affects the economy and your finances, plus insights on job market trends and inflation impact. How do consumer sentiment indexes work and why should you care about them? What impact do these indexes have on the economy and your personal finances? Hosts Sean Pyles and Anna Helhoski discuss the intricacies of consumer sentiment, highlighting the University of Michigan's...

Learn about the psychology of gambling and smart tips for making home buying decisions amid undesirable interest rates. How can you gamble responsibly?  Should you use all your savings to buy a house outright or take on a high-interest mortgage? 00:48 Gambling Responsibly: Hosts Sean Pyles and Sara Rathner discuss the psychology behind gambling, particularly the concept of intermittent reinforceme...

Understand the urge to spend money while scrolling on social media and learn strategies to control impulsive purchases. How does social media influence spending habits? What are practical strategies to spend less money while scrolling?  Hosts Sean Pyles and Amanda Barroso discuss the psychological tricks of social media and emotional spending to help you understand the subconscious factors that dr...