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 begin with a discussion of the critical importance of having a will, with tips and tricks on keeping upd...
Jun 27, 2024•33 min•Transcript available on Metacast 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 Americans. They explore the results of a recent survey that highlight the financial strain these expenses ...
Jun 26, 2024•12 min•Transcript available on Metacast 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 activities, offering tips and tricks on utilizing public facilities like pools and tennis courts, at...
Jun 24, 2024•36 min•Transcript available on Metacast 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 for overcoming them to help you understand how to thrive financially while pursuing your passion. Th...
Jun 20, 2024•32 min•Transcript available on Metacast 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 this means for consumers. Chief Financial Correspondent at Axios and host of the Slate Money podcast...
Jun 19, 2024•17 min•Transcript available on Metacast 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 wisely, shaping your future while making informed decisions today. Every Monday, wide-ranging panel d...
Jun 17, 2024•51 min•Transcript available on Metacast 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 complex challenges faced by individuals seeking safer environments, particularly in the LGBTQ+ community. A...
Jun 13, 2024•33 min•Transcript available on Metacast 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 Index of Consumer Sentiment and The Conference Board's Consumer Confidence Index. They explain how ...
Jun 12, 2024•12 min•Transcript available on Metacast 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 reinforcement. They also provide practical advice for responsible gambling, including how you can set and stick ...
Jun 10, 2024•26 min•Transcript available on Metacast 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 drive your online purchases. Amanda interviews Jillian Knight, a licensed marriage and family therapist...
Jun 06, 2024•37 min•Transcript available on Metacast Discover how many people lie on insurance applications and the potential consequences you face when you do so. Is it okay to lie on your insurance application? What are the consequences if you do? Hosts Sean Pyles and Anna Helhoski discuss the findings from a recent NerdWallet survey revealing how many Americans admit to intentionally providing inaccurate information on their insurance applications and delve into the generational and gender differences in attitudes toward this behavior. Learn wh...
Jun 05, 2024•9 min•Transcript available on Metacast Learn handy tips you probably didn’t know about credit cards and why paying off loans could actually lower your credit score. 00:35 Credit Card Tips: What are some helpful credit card tips? Can paying off your student debt negatively affect your credit score? Hosts Sean Pyles and Sara Rathner discuss insider credit card tips to help you understand our options when shopping for and using credit cards. They begin with tips and tricks on navigating interest rate changes, maximizing reward points, l...
Jun 03, 2024•26 min•Transcript available on Metacast Author Jake Cousineau explains why it’s important to teach interest and budgeting to students — and how to learn as an adult. How can you understand complex personal finance topics as an adult? What strategies can young people use to achieve financial independence? Personal Finance Nerd Kim Palmer talks to Jake Cousineau, author of How to Adult: Personal Finance in the Real World, about the significance of personal finance education and the intricacies of interest rates to help you understand th...
May 30, 2024•23 min•Transcript available on Metacast Learn why randomly choosing individual stocks can beat expert investing strategies — and what that means for your portfolio. Can random stock picks outperform Wall Street professionals? What kind of portfolio returns can low-cost index investing drive? Hosts Sean Pyles and Anna Helhoski delve into the astonishing results of a dart-throwing experiment by Wall Street Journal columnist Spencer Jakab and his team, which pitted random stock selections against high-profile hedge fund picks. The hosts ...
May 29, 2024•18 min•Transcript available on Metacast Are credit card rewards points more valuable than cash back? This special presentation of All the Hacks with Chris Hutchins features deep dive into credit cards, with a focus on cash back versus points. Chris goes deep on strategies for every spending category and shares his analysis of how to optimize points vs. cash back for the best return on investment. All the Hacks with Chris Hutchins is a podcast about optimizing all aspects of your life, from travel to money to health to work and more. C...
May 27, 2024•44 min•Transcript available on Metacast Brittney Reynolds explains how sharing her finances publicly on social media helped her get out of debt and develop a new community. What are the benefits of sharing your finances publicly? How is social media changing the way people talk about money? Hosts Sean Pyles and Elizabeth Ayoola discuss the rise of financial transparency on social media and its impact on community building to help you understand the power of vulnerability in achieving financial freedom. Sean speaks with Brittney Reynol...
May 23, 2024•27 min•Transcript available on Metacast Writer, producer, and actor Felicia Day shares her financial journey working in Hollywood, with tips for managing your budget when gigs are inconsistent. What Is Your Time Worth? How do you value your time outside of work? How can you manage finances in an unpredictable career like acting? Hosts Sean Pyles and Sara Rathner discuss the concept of time valuation to help you understand how to balance personal worth against income. They begin with a discussion of time valuation, offering insights on...
May 22, 2024•32 min•Transcript available on Metacast Learn how the recent Supreme Court ruling on the Consumer Financial Protection Bureau (CFPB) affects your finances. How does the CFPB protect consumers? Why does the recent CFPB court decision matter? Hosts Sean Pyles and Anna Helhoski discuss the recent Supreme Court decision that upheld the CFPB’s funding structure, explaining its significance and what it means for consumer protections. They also explain the history and function of the CFPB, including its role in consumer finances, and provide...
May 22, 2024•11 min•Transcript available on Metacast “Krazy Coupon Lady” Joanie Demer shares couponing tactics and how coupons work to help you outsmart rising costs even in today’s digital marketplaces. How can you use coupons to help you afford everyday essentials? Are digital deals and loyalty programs the same as using coupons? Hosts Sean Pyles and Elizabeth Ayoola discuss the thrill of couponing and the evolution of coupon strategies to help you understand how to combat rising living costs effectively. Joanie Demer, one half of the duo known ...
May 16, 2024•30 min•Transcript available on Metacast Learn how the strength of the US dollar impacts your finances, as well as its ramifications on the US and global economies. What does it mean to have a strong dollar? Who benefits the most from a strong US dollar? Hosts Sean Pyles and Anna Helhoski delve into the implications of a strong dollar on both domestic and global economies. They interview Cris deRitis, deputy chief economist at Moody’s Analytics, to demystify what a strong dollar means beyond its impact on travelers, along with what wil...
May 15, 2024•15 min•Transcript available on Metacast Learn how to build a financial safety net to conserve your wealth and the ins and outs of investing in index funds. How can you build financial resilience to protect yourself from life's economic curveballs? How do index funds work, and what should you consider when choosing one? Hosts Sean Pyles and Sara Rathner discuss how you can use elements of financial planning to minimize risk exposure. They offer tips and tricks for financial risk mitigation, including the importance of establishing an e...
May 13, 2024•23 min•Transcript available on Metacast Discover how you could turn your collectibles and passions into an actual business and stay ahead of market trends. How hard is it to make money from collectibles? What kinds of things typically become collectible? Hosts Sean Pyles and Elizabeth Ayoola discuss the unconventional method of selling collectibles to earn income to help you understand how your passions could yield financial gain. Sean speaks with Tyler Feldman, the Founder and CEO of Inscriptagraphs, a sports and entertainment memora...
May 09, 2024•29 min•Transcript available on Metacast Explore key insights into the current real estate market as the Nerds unpack the results of the 2024 Home Buyer Report. Should you rent or own your home? Hosts Sean Pyles and Anna Helhoski explore the financial and lifestyle implications of each choice, drawing insights from a recent NerdWallet survey and a firsthand account from fellow Nerd Elizabeth Renter, who transitioned from homeownership to renting. From rising home prices and mortgage rates to the hidden costs of homeownership, this epis...
May 08, 2024•14 min•Transcript available on Metacast Welcome to NerdWallet’s Smart Money podcast, where we answer your real-world money questions. In this episode: Explore car buying in 2024, from Carvana's process to the electric vehicle surge and how to maximize your car's sale value. Budgets Beyond the Numbers: How do you manage the emotional aspects of budgeting? What’s the car buying market like in 2024? Hosts Sean Pyles and Elizabeth Ayoola discuss personal budgeting and the future of car buying to help you understand how to navigate financi...
May 06, 2024•29 min•Transcript available on Metacast A personal finance enthusiast with 37 active credit cards shares tips to strategically open and maintain multiple cards to travel cheaply and answers common questions around maximizing rewards. How many credit cards can you have at the same time? What can credit card points and miles help you afford? Hosts Sean Pyles and Elizabeth Ayoola discuss quirky money management techniques and the mastery of credit card rewards to help you understand how to make your money go farther. They begin with a di...
May 02, 2024•28 min•Transcript available on Metacast Enjoy this special presentation of Everyone’s Talkin’ Money, a podcast from our friend Shannah Game, a money wellness expert, financial therapist and Certified Financial Planner. Shannah brings you honest, relevant, and forward-thinking conversations about money. This special episode explores how a simple question can unlock secrets to a wealthier life and transform your relationship with money. Say goodbye to complexity and hello to financial mastery as we break down the seven critical areas wh...
May 01, 2024•42 min•Transcript available on Metacast Learn about fundamentals to consider before buying an individual stock and what to do if you over-contribute to a Roth IRA. 00:58 This Week in Your Money: What fundamentals should you consider before buying an individual stock? What should you do if you accidentally over-contribute to a Roth IRA? Hosts Sean Pyles and Elizabeth Ayoola discuss cautionary tales from the stock market to help you understand how to safeguard your investments. They begin with a discussion of Trump Media & Technology Gr...
Apr 29, 2024•21 min•Transcript available on Metacast Learn how scammers deceive victims by using AI for voice cloning and learn how you can protect yourself from other AI-related fraud. How can you protect yourself from AI-driven scams that target your finances? What new scams are happening as technology advances? Hosts Sean Pyles and Sara Rathner discuss the alarming use of AI in scams and the future of fraud to help you understand how to safeguard your personal security. They begin with a discussion of AI-driven voice scams, with tips and tricks...
Apr 25, 2024•31 min•Transcript available on Metacast Learn how investors use artificial intelligence to make decisions. Plus: AI’s current capabilities and limitations in finance. How does AI affect investment decisions? What are AI’s limitations in finance? Hosts Sean Pyles and Anna Helhoski explore these questions and more with Sam Taube, an investing writer at NerdWallet, who shares insights on AI's role in investment research and stock selection. They break down the potential of AI-powered ETFs and mutual funds, including their performance tre...
Apr 24, 2024•8 min•Transcript available on Metacast Discover methods to achieve financial harmony in relationships and learn why fiduciary advisors are often considered trustworthy. 0:52 Sara’s Corner: How can couples equitably share the mental load of managing finances? Can you trust fiduciary financial advisors? Hosts Sean Pyles and Sara Rathner begin with a discussion about the division of financial responsibilities among couples to help you understand how to create financial harmony in your relationship. 12:18 Today’s Money Question: Elizabet...
Apr 22, 2024•28 min•Transcript available on Metacast 
