Welcome to NerdWallet’s Smart Money podcast, where we answer your real-world money questions. In this episode: Learn how to balance risk and reward in your investments, rebalance your portfolio, and avoid common investing pitfalls. How can you manage risk and reward when investing? What are the best strategies for rebalancing your portfolio for 2025? Host Sean Pyles and Investing Nerd Sam Taube discuss how to set yourself up for long-term financial success by evaluating your investment strategy ...
Jan 09, 2025•21 min
Learn how to budget irregular income, set sustainable financial goals, and curb mindless spending for a better 2025. How do you create a budget when you're paid in large, irregular chunks of income? What are practical ways to curb unnecessary spending and stick to financial goals? Hosts Sean Pyles and Sara Rathner discuss how to break down irregular income into manageable monthly budgets and how to cut out habits that hurt your finances, like mindless phone scrolling. They begin with a discussio...
Jan 06, 2025•25 min
Learn how to tackle financial regrets, set achievable money goals, and make 2025 your best year financially. How can you avoid repeating your biggest financial regrets this year? What are simple steps to improve your savings and spending habits? Hosts Sean Pyles and Sara Rathner discuss financial regrets and practical resolutions to help you take control of your money in 2025, beginning with a discussion of top financial regrets from 2024. Then, Sara talks to NerdWallet Senior Economist Elizabet...
Jan 02, 2025•24 min
Hear an actual financial planning session where a CFP advises a listener on transforming her budget and spending habits. Magda Doemeny, a certified financial planner from the NerdWallet Advisors platform, gives a listener specific advice to improve their finances (advice given on behalf of Nerdwallet Advisors, not NerdWallet). Brinker, the listener, is struggling with spending habits that she calls “irresponsible” and how to manage some of her debt. She discusses her upbringing, financial challe...
Dec 30, 2024•35 min
Learn how to assess your net worth, compare it wisely, and build a financial strategy to meet your long-term goals. What is net worth, and how do you calculate it? How can you use it as a tool to set realistic financial goals? Hosts Sean Pyles and Sara Rathner discuss how to define and calculate net worth, why it’s normal to have a low or negative net worth in your 20s, and how it evolves over time. They begin with a discussion of why net worth matters, with tips and tricks on assessing your cur...
Dec 26, 2024•34 min
Learn how to avoid holiday shopping pitfalls and quickly improve your credit, with ideas for restoring your credit. How can you avoid overspending during the holidays? How can you can help your credit score recover after missed payments? Can rental payments be reflected on your credit reports? Hosts Sean Pyles and Sara Rathner discuss optimizing your financial habits during the holiday season and overcoming credit mishaps that could show up on your credit report. They begin with a discussion of ...
Dec 23, 2024•31 min
Learn how to tackle credit card debt, build savings, and decide between debt payoff and investing for financial growth. How can you pay off credit card debt faster and smarter? When should you prioritize paying off debt over investing your money? Hosts Sean Pyles and Sara Rathner discuss credit card payoff strategies and building an emergency fund to help you strengthen your financial security. They begin by talking to Adam, a Smart Money listener, who has questions about what to do with a windf...
Dec 19, 2024•26 min
Learn how financial scammers exploit emotions and how you can protect your finances from their latest tactics. How can you protect your money from online scams? What steps can you take to safeguard yourself from financial deception? Hosts Sean Pyles and Anna Helhoski delve into the harrowing tale of Judith, a 79-year-old who fell victim to a sophisticated scam that led to the loss of nearly $600,000. Joined by Michelle Singletary, a personal finance columnist for the Washington Post, they unrave...
Dec 18, 2024•23 min
Discover how to embrace “lazy” money management, maximize Roth IRA contributions and fix over-contribution mistakes. How can you passively grow your money? What should you do if you over-contribute to a Roth IRA? Hosts Sean Pyles and Sara Rathner discuss lazy money-management strategies and Roth IRA over-contribution fixes to help you stay on top of your finances with minimal effort. They begin with a discussion of "lazy" personal finance tips, with actionable advice on automating investments, l...
Dec 16, 2024•24 min
Learn how to think about major homebuying decisions like shopping for title agencies, managing home equity, and when to buy a house with cash. How do you choose the right title agency for your home purchase? Should you buy a house outright with your savings or take on a mortgage? Hosts Sean Pyles and Sara Rathner discuss the pros and cons of these key housing decisions to help you make smarter choices. They’re joined by housing Nerd Kate Wood to demystify title agencies, offering tips on what th...
Dec 12, 2024•33 min
Learn the pros and cons of layaway and Buy Now, Pay Later (BNPL) and how to choose the best option for holiday shopping. What is the difference between layaway and Buy Now, Pay Later (BNPL)? Which payment option is better for holiday shopping? Hosts Sean Pyles and Anna Helhoski discuss these two financing tools, how they work, and which might be the smarter choice for holiday shopping. Lauren Schwahn, a writer at NerdWallet who covers credit, debt, budgeting and money, joins Sean and Anna to bre...
Dec 11, 2024•16 min
Learn how to refinance your mortgage, manage credit card debt, and navigate home equity with practical tips and strategies. When is the right time to refinance a mortgage? How can you use a HELOC or home equity to your advantage? Hosts Sean Pyles, freshly returned from time off to focus on the CFP exam, and Sara Rathner discuss mortgage refinancing, home equity, and credit card debt management to help you make smarter financial decisions. But first, they share an update on Sean’s CFP journey and...
Dec 09, 2024•34 min
Learn how to diversify investments, leverage tax-advantaged accounts, and set realistic goals for long-term financial growth. How can you diversify your investment portfolio and reduce risk? What are the best ways to save and grow $44,000 in seven years? Hosts Sean Pyles and Sara Rathner discuss investment strategies and realistic goal setting to help you make smarter financial decisions. They begin by sharing a discussion of tax-advantaged accounts featuring Investing Nerd Alana Benson, with ti...
Dec 05, 2024•30 min
Learn how tariffs affect prices, inflation, and manufacturing, plus tips to prepare for potential new economic changes. What are tariffs, and how do they affect your wallet? What would President-elect Donald Trump’s proposed tariffs mean for consumers, the economy, and inflation? Hosts Sean Pyles and Anna Helhoski dive into the complexities of tariffs, unpacking their potential impact on prices, supply chains, and domestic manufacturing. They begin with a breakdown of what tariffs are, why they ...
Dec 04, 2024•14 min
Learn how to maximize Southwest Companion Pass benefits and how to plan effective charitable giving to make your donations count. How can you get and use the Southwest Companion Pass? What’s the best way to plan charitable giving to make the most impact? Hosts Sean Pyles and Sara Rathner discuss travel savings and effective philanthropy to help you understand how to maximize rewards and make thoughtful donations. Sean begins by talking to travel Nerds Meghan Coyle and Sally French to discuss the...
Dec 02, 2024•33 min
Celebrate 2024’s Financial Turkeys as we spotlight the year's biggest money blunders and share tips to avoid them yourself. Why are grocery prices so high in 2024? What are ghost jobs and how do they affect job seekers? Hosts Sean Pyles and Sara Rathner roast the year’s “Financial Turkeys” (pun intended), spotlighting the biggest money misfortunes of 2024 and offering listeners a chance to commiserate over shared financial frustrations. They share their own takes on this year’s financial flops a...
Nov 28, 2024•15 min
Learn how AI tools can help you brainstorm personalized gift ideas, compare options, and simplify your holiday shopping. How can AI help you save time and money? Should you trust AI for gift-giving advice? Hosts Tess Vigeland and Anna Helhoski explore how artificial intelligence tools like ChatGPT can streamline holiday shopping. Joined by NerdWallet experts Amanda Barroso and Kurt Woock, they offer actionable tips for integrating AI into your shopping routine while staying cautious about its li...
Nov 27, 2024•19 min
Discover career growth strategies to boost your income, including negotiating raises, and navigating career growth 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 how to maximize your earnings and achieve financial stability. They begin with a discussion of the im...
Nov 25, 2024•30 min
Understand employer-provided benefits, from dental and vision coverage to more unique perks like legal assistance. In the third and final episode of our special series on open enrollment, hosts Sean Pyles and Liz Weston discuss the various benefits that employers offer during open enrollment season aside from health insurance. Liz speaks with Amber Clayton (Society for Human Resource Management) about dental and vision coverage, long-term care insurance, pet insurance, legal assistance, adoption...
Nov 21, 2024•30 min
Learn how prediction markets work, the legal gray areas in which they operate, and how they could be regulated in the future. What are prediction markets like PredictIt, Polymarket and Kalshi, and how do they work? Is it legal to bet on elections in the United States? Hosts Tess Vigeland and Anna Helhoski welcome Sam Taube, the writer of the Nerdy Investor email newsletter, to break down how event contracts operate, explore the legal gray areas of election betting, and discuss whether prediction...
Nov 20, 2024•16 min
Welcome to NerdWallet’s Smart Money podcast, where we answer your real-world money questions. In this episode: Learn how to distinguish neobanks from traditional banks, understand FDIC insurance, and get tips for affordable holiday hosting. What is the difference between a neobank and a traditional bank? Is my money safe in an online bank or neobank? Hosts Sean Pyles and Sara Rathner discuss how to distinguish a neobank from a traditional bank and ways to safeguard your savings, helping you unde...
Nov 18, 2024•27 min
It's open enrollment season, and a great time to explore coverage options to protect your income, such as life insurance and disability insurance. Hosts Sean Pyles and Liz Weston discuss the importance of insurance coverage, highlighting statistics around how many people are underinsured or lack adequate coverage. To dive deeper into different types of coverage, Liz welcomes Insurance Nerd Ryan Brady and John Ryan, founder and CEO of Ryan Insurance Strategy Consultants, to explain various types ...
Nov 14, 2024•37 min
Explore life insurance as an investment tool, understand variable and infinite banking, and consider 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 potential for investment and financial growth. NerdWallet insurance pro Lisa Green joins Sean and Sara to ex...
Nov 13, 2024•26 min
Learn how Donald Trump's economic plans could influence inflation, taxes, and your finances as he prepares to enter a second term in office. How will Donald Trump's economic policies affect inflation and prices? What impact could Trump's tax plans have on Americans’ finances? In a special edition of Money News, hosts Tess Vigeland and Anna Helhoski dive into the financial implications of President-elect Donald Trump's return to the White House. They unpack Trump's proposed economic agenda, cover...
Nov 11, 2024•16 min
Expert Nerds talk through the complexities of open enrollment, starting with ways to assess healthcare plans and costs. This episode takes a deep dive into specific terminology and scenarios relevant to choosing health insurance coverage. Hosts Sean Pyles and Liz Weston start with an overview of open enrollment period timelines for November and December 2023 before welcoming guest Nerd Kate Ashford to explain deductibles, premiums, HMOs, PPOs and HDHPs. Then, NerdWallet’s Tina Orem joins the sho...
Nov 07, 2024•33 min
Learn why life insurance isn't a substitute for a 401(k) and how to spot reliable financial advice on social media. Is life insurance a better investment than a 401(k) for retirement? How can I tell if financial advice from TikTok influencers is reliable? Hosts Tess Vigeland and Anna Helhoski dive deep into the latest viral finance advice circulating on TikTok. With influencers claiming that life insurance is a better investment than a 401(k), investing Nerd Alana Benson joins the show to break ...
Nov 06, 2024•13 min
Learn the pros, cons, and methods of rolling over retirement accounts to simplify your finances so you can avoid costly mistakes. How can you budget smarter for the holidays? Does it make sense to combine retirement accounts from previous jobs into one? What are the benefits and drawbacks of different rollover options? Hosts Elizabeth Ayoola and Sara Rathner begin the episode with a discussion of holiday budgeting, offering tips and tricks on avoiding impulsive spending, setting clear financial ...
Nov 04, 2024•31 min
Learn how women can excel at investing, overcome financial challenges, and build wealth with practical strategies. What does it mean to invest like a girl? How can women start investing and overcome financial challenges? Hosts Sean Pyles and Kim Palmer discuss gender differences in investing and practical strategies for women to build wealth. Kim interviews Jessica Spangler, author of Invest Like a Girl: Jump into the Stock Market, Reach Your Money Goals and Build Wealth, about the ways women te...
Oct 31, 2024•30 min
Learn how your spending compares to others in your generation using insights from the Bureau of Labor Statistics’ annual Consumer Expenditure Survey. How does your spending compare to other people your age? Are you saving enough compared to others in your generation? Hosts Tess Vigeland and Anna Helhoski are joined by NerdWallet’s Senior Economist Elizabeth Renter to break down the latest Bureau of Labor Statistics Consumer Expenditure Survey. They dive into how income and spending patterns shif...
Oct 30, 2024•15 min
Get tips for saving money on Halloween costumes and decorations, plus how to leverage credit cards when making big purchases. How can you use credit cards to maximize rewards when making big purchases? What are some ways to save money on Halloween costumes? Hosts Sean Pyles and Elizabeth Ayoola discuss saving money on Halloween costumes and decorations to help you understand how to be festive without breaking the bank. They begin with a discussion of Halloween budgeting, with tips and tricks on ...
Oct 28, 2024•30 min
