NerdWallet's Smart Money Podcast

Find a bank that pays more, charges less, and keeps your money safe as rates adjust in 2026. How do you choose the best bank when savings rates are falling and fees won’t quit? Hosts Sean Pyles and Elizabeth Ayoola discuss wealth inequality and retirement security to help you think bigger about what’s “normal” in personal finance. They begin with a rapid-fire hot takes segment, with their perspect...

Learn how to shop for cheaper insurance and escape rising credit card debt before it snowballs. Is credit card debt becoming the new normal? How can you get the insurance coverage you need in 2026 without overpaying? Hosts Sean Pyles and Elizabeth Ayoola discuss insurance shopping to help you understand how to protect yourself at a price you can live with. But first, senior news writer Anna Helhos...

Find out  which credit cards shine in 2026 and how to avoid rising fees, APR surprises, and buy now, pay later (BNPL) traps. How can you change your spending to better match your values? How do you choose the right credit card in 2026 as perks shift, fees rise, and “buy now, pay later” spreads? Hosts Sean Pyles and Elizabeth Ayoola discuss values-based spending and the credit card landscape to hel...

Learn what 2026 might bring for mortgage rates, home prices, and affordability, plus smart steps to buy or refinance. Will mortgage rates drop in 2026, and is it finally a good time to buy a home? How can you get your finances ready to buy or refinance, even if prices still feel out of reach? Hosts Sean Pyles and Elizabeth Ayoola discuss mortgages and the housing market to help you understand what...

Start your 2026 investing strategy with smarter moves, fewer fees, and less stress when markets get rocky. How should you invest in 2026 if tech stocks keep dominating the market? What’s a smart checklist for leveling up your investing this year? Hosts Sean Pyles and Elizabeth Ayoola discuss diversification and investing tools to help you grow your wealth with a plan you can stick to. Then investi...

Learn how to tie your 2026 money goals to your values so you can stick with them all year. How can you match your 2026 money goals to what you really care about? And how do you turn those goals into a plan you’ll actually follow? Hosts Sean Pyles and Elizabeth Ayoola discuss values-based money planning and goal-setting frameworks to help you build a realistic, meaningful financial plan for the new...

Learn how to explore your money beliefs and take real steps toward saving and investing, even on a tight income. What’s really behind your money habits? How can you build savings and invest if you’re not earning much? Hosts Sean Pyles and Elizabeth Ayoola discuss how your relationship with money shapes your financial behaviors and what you can do to change that narrative. Joined by Shannah Game, h...

Learn the truth behind myths about building wealth, plus hear from a couple looking to align on  financial goals and values. Can you build wealth without starting a business? How can couples figure out what to do with extra money in their budget? Hosts Sean Pyles and Elizabeth Ayoola share their “money hot takes” and then talk to a married couple about how they can better align on financial priori...

Learn how to navigate job loss and reshape your money mindset to feel more in control — emotionally and financially. What should you do with your money after losing a job? How can you feel better about money and stop stressing about finances? Hosts Sean Pyles and Elizabeth Ayoola discuss managing job loss and improving your relationship with money to help you understand both the practical and emot...

Learn how Wall Street has changed since the 2008 financial crisis in this Smart Money special presentation of Against the Rules: The Big Short Companion. Michael Lewis’ best-selling book The Big Short is now 15 years old, and the Oscar-winning movie based on it was released a decade ago. To mark the occasion, Lewis has narrated a new audiobook of The Big Short, and on The Big Short Companion from...

Hear how 2025 money news hit your wallet and whether your travel cards are really pulling their weight. How did 2025’s biggest money stories actually affect your wallet? How can you decide if your pricey travel credit cards are still worth it? Hosts Sean Pyles and Elizabeth Ayoola recap the year in finance news to help you understand what the stories mean for your budget, savings, and plans for 20...

Learn how to prepare your money for 2026 and invest retirement savings you hope to leave to your family. How do Americans feel about their money heading into 2026? How should you invest retirement accounts you don’t plan to spend so your family can benefit later? The Nerds discuss how to invest a seven‑figure nest egg in workplace retirement plans to help you understand how to balance risk, taxes...

Learn how to shift savings between retirement and a home down payment without derailing your future. How do you balance big life experiences with long-term financial goals? Is it smart to scale back retirement savings to buy a home sooner? Hosts Sean Pyles and Elizabeth Ayoola discuss wedding budgeting, honeymoon spending, and saving trade-offs to help you think through your own big-ticket plans....

See what 2026’s housing costs and mortgage rates might mean for your homebuying plans and learn when you can safely coast on retirement savings. How is the housing market reshaping homebuying going into 2026? When can you stop saving for retirement and still feel confident about your future? Hosts Sean Pyles and Elizabeth Ayoola discuss Coast FI and long-term retirement planning to help you unders...

Learn how to donate effectively for Giving Tuesday and juggle multiple credit cards without hurting your credit score. How can you donate more intentionally on Giving Tuesday without blowing your budget? Does having multiple credit cards hurt your credit score? Hosts Elizabeth Ayoola and Sean Pyles discuss charitable giving and credit card management to help you support causes you care about while...

Learn how to navigate job loss and reshape your money mindset to feel more in control — emotionally and financially. What should you do with your money after losing a job? How can you feel better about money and stop stressing about finances? Hosts Sean Pyles and Elizabeth Ayoola discuss managing job loss and improving your relationship with money to help you understand both the practical and emot...

Learn how to spot real Black Friday deals and reshape your budget with a step-by-step money makeover. What should you watch for on Black Friday to avoid fake discounts? How can you reset your budget when debt and housing costs squeeze you? Hosts Sean Pyles and Elizabeth Ayoola discuss holiday shopping and budgeting to help you spend smarter without regrets. First, Amanda Barroso joins Elizabeth to...

Learn how to save on Thanksgiving dinner and decide if filing taxes jointly makes sense for common law couples. How can you trim your Thanksgiving costs without skimping on the feast? Should common law spouses file taxes jointly or separately? Hosts Sean Pyles and Elizabeth Ayoola dig into tax choices for couples to help you understand which filing status may fit your situation and what to weigh b...

Learn how first-generation earners build wealth and how to grow an emergency fund before a possible job loss. How do first-generation earners start and protect generational wealth? How can you bulk up an emergency fund fast if layoffs are looming? Hosts Sean Pyles and Elizabeth Ayoola discuss first-generation wealth building and how to build an emergency fund. Elizabeth first welcomes Grace Vandec...

Discover how current economic data affect you and decide if a Roth or Traditional IRA is the most appropriate option for your retirement savings. What’s happening with layoffs and the economy right now? How should you be thinking about the data used to determine the economy's health, and what does it mean for your personal finances? Hosts Elizabeth Ayoola and Sean Pyles discuss non-traditional fin...

Learn how first-generation wealth builders create financial freedom and what stablecoins could mean for your savings. How do you build wealth when you’re the first in your family to be able to do so? And can stablecoins really out-earn your savings account? Host Elizabeth Ayoola and Sean Pyles explore generational wealth-building and the myths and realities of stablecoins in a rapidly changing cry...

Learn how to pick dental, vision, life, and disability coverage with confidence, and when refinancing a home can actually save you money. Is now a good time to refinance your mortgage? Which open enrollment benefits are worth it this year? Hosts Sean Pyles and Elizabeth Ayoola talk to an expert about the ins and outs of open enrollment in 2026. But first, news Nerd Anna Helhoski joins them to shar...

Learn how to pick the right health plan for your situation and build a stronger retirement even if you feel behind. How do you choose the best health plan during open enrollment? What can you do to secure retirement if savings feel like they’re falling short? In the first of a two-part series, hosts Sean Pyles and Elizabeth Ayoola break down open enrollment decisions so you can protect your health...

Learn how to spot shutdown-era scams and build a budget that works even when you and your partner disagree. How can you protect yourself from shutdown-era scams? How do you build a household budget when you and your partner see money differently? Hosts Sean Pyles and Elizabeth Ayoola share strategies to figure out a household budget when you and your partner are not on the same page about how to m...

Learn how to get and read your free credit reports and spot red flags so you can protect your score and money. How do you set a realistic budget for a big life event without guilt? What’s the foolproof way to get and read your free credit reports? In this episode, hosts Sean Pyles and Elizabeth Ayoola discuss wedding budgeting and credit monitoring to help you protect your finances. They open by d...