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NerdWallet's Smart Money Podcast

NerdWallet Personal Finance
Budgeting
Personal Finance
Financial Planning
Investing
Tariffs
Retirement Planning
Inflation
Life Insurance
Debt Management
Open Enrollment
Credit Card Debt
Credit Cards
Housing Market
Interest Rates
Artificial Intelligence
Nerdwallet
Credit Scores
Emergency Fund
Student Loans
Stock Market

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 i... more

PublishesTwice weeklyEpisodes625Founded9 years ago
Number of ListenersCategories
InvestingBusinessEducationHow To

Listen to this Podcast

Artwork for NerdWallet's Smart Money Podcast

Latest Episodes

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 ... more

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 di... more

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 Ayo... more

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®, a... more

Key Facts

Accepts Guests
Accepts Sponsors
Contact Information
Podcast Host
Number of Listeners
Find out how many people listen to this podcast per episode and each month.

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Recent Guests

Ander Jinkola
Host of Your Next Dollar; guest on this episode discussing wealth-building for high earners
Your Next Dollar
Episode: Introducing Your Next Dollar: Money Management for High Earners
Meghan Coyle
Travel expert, co-host of Smart Travel (NerdWallet sister podcast)
NerdWallet
Episode: Why Middle Class Budgets Are Cracking and How to Use Travel Points Before They Devalue
Haley Sachs
Author, Mrs. Dow Jones, and personal finance influencer
Author, Future Rich Person
Episode: Mrs. Dow Jones's New Rules for Getting Rich, Plus How to Combine Finances After Marriage
Taylor Mitchell
Social media content creator
Self-employed / Social media creator
Episode: Pet Insurance vs Savings Account and the APR vs APY Rules That Could Save You Cash
Elena Patel
Co-director of the Urban-Brookings Tax Policy Center
Urban-Brookings Tax Policy Center
Episode: USPS’ Cash Crisis Hits More Than Your Mailbox, Plus The Debt Settlement Trap to Avoid
Cody Goff
Data expert on Smart Money
NerdWallet
Episode: AI in the Home Buying Process: What Works, What Doesn't, and When to Call an Expert
Ryan Sterling
Wealth advisor with NerdWallet Wealth Partners
NerdWallet Wealth Partners
Episode: What AI Gets Wrong About Your Money and What a New Study Reveals About Credit Card Debt
Kurt Woock
Study author, NerdWallet contributor
NerdWallet
Episode: What AI Gets Wrong About Your Money and What a New Study Reveals About Credit Card Debt
Tom O'Saben
Director of Tax Content for the National Association of Tax Professionals
National Association of Tax Professionals
Episode: Talking Taxes With a Tax Professional: What's New in 2026 and How to Navigate Filing Season

Hosts

Sean Pyles
Host of NerdWallet's Smart Money Podcast; CFP practitioner; focuses on budgeting, personal finance, and consumer guidance.
Elizabeth Ayoola
Co-host and facilitator; provides money-management perspectives and hosts segments with experts.

Reviews

4.3 out of 5 stars from 1.6k ratings
  • Surprisingly enjoyable

    I’ve become a recent listener, and really enjoy this podcast! I would categorize myself as someone who makes a very modest income, and has generally been pretty careful in what I choose to spend it on. I don’t necessarily feel like I was educated in how to optimize my earnings, plan, and really have my money work for me. In what I’ve listened to, this podcast does a great job of giving me small doses of financial knowledge to set myself up a little more clearly on my financial path. I’m surpris... more

    Apple Podcasts
    5
    H00sier10
    United Statesa month ago
  • Don't count on 8% returns

    Working can indeed be boring, but without compounding and growth you might not be able to save enough to retire.

    Apple Podcasts
    5
    Interested bystander
    United States3 months ago
  • Unrelated Filler

    Why are you analyzing dating trends and giving relationship advice for (at least, I had to stop listening) the first 5 minutes of a podcast that’s supposedly about comparing Medicaid vs private pay for long term care?

    Apple Podcasts
    1
    E. chandelier
    United States4 months ago
  • One of my favorite podcasts

    NerdWallet’s Smart Money podcast is informative, engaging, and genuinely fun to listen to. Elizabeth and Sean are funny, relatable, and clearly know their stuff, making complex finance topics easy to understand.

    I love how they break down current events in money and explain what actually matters for everyday people. The way they thoughtfully connect finance to social issues and values-based spending really sets this podcast apart. A smart, approachable listen for anyone looking to make better m... more

    Apple Podcasts
    5
    Robyn JD25
    United States5 months ago
  • Just for rewards

    Great listen

    Apple Podcasts
    4
    Gsjxicjsbbsd
    United States6 months ago

Listeners Say

Key themes from listener reviews, highlighting what works and what could be improved about the show.

Balanced discussions that connect personal finance to current events.
Appreciated for data-driven, accessible explanations of complex topics.
Ads and sponsor reads can feel heavy to some listeners; content remains useful.
Relatable hosts with clear finance insights.

Chart Rankings

How this podcast ranks in the Apple Podcasts, Spotify and YouTube charts.

Apple Podcasts
#22
United States/Business/Investing
Apple Podcasts
#89
United States/Business
Apple Podcasts
#38
Israel/Business/Investing
Apple Podcasts
#91
New Zealand/Business/Investing
Apple Podcasts
#101
China/Business/Investing
Apple Podcasts
#104
Israel/Business

Talking Points

Recent interactions between the hosts and their guests.

Budget Rehab: How to Stop Paying Only Interest and Make Real Progress on Credit Card Debt
Q: What is your current income situation and housing costs, and how does that affect what debt strategies you can realistically pursue?
After a raise to $37/hour and anticipated changes in afterschool care, there should be a bit more cushion, but housing remains a large fixed expense, making it hard to save or accelerate debt payoff without some form of structured help.
Budget Rehab: How to Stop Paying Only Interest and Make Real Progress on Credit Card Debt
Q: Are you currently using any payoff strategy or have you tried any debt repayment approaches so far?
I'm mostly paying interest through payment plans and not reducing principal significantly; only one card reduces principal slowly while others are effectively paused until I can pay minimums.
Budget Rehab: How to Stop Paying Only Interest and Make Real Progress on Credit Card Debt
Q: Jessica, how long would you say in terms of the timeline, did it take you to accumulate that debt? Or when did you notice it start snowballing?
It started accumulating when I couldn't pay six months or so after job loss, and I began using savings for major expenses while continuing to rely on credit cards for daily needs, which slowed down once income dropped and unemployment ran out.
Is College Worth It in 2026? Plus, How to Split Solo 401(k) Contributions to Save More
Q: Should I contribute equally as employee and employer to a solo 401(k) to maximize benefits?
You generally should prioritize the $24,500 employee contribution first; beyond that, the employer contribution depends on your business profits and whether you're an S-Corp or otherwise, but it's common to target the employee portion first and then assess the remaining capacity based on profits and structure.
Why Middle Class Budgets Are Cracking and How to Use Travel Points Before They Devalue
Q: How should Sean evaluate whether to use points or cash for a flight?
Calculate the cent-per-point value by dividing the cash price by the number of points required; aim for at least one cent per point, and consult NerdWallet's valuation tools to compare your specific programs.

Audience Metrics

Listeners, social reach, demographics and more for this podcast.

Listeners per Episode
Gender Skew
Location
Interests
Professions
Age Range
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Frequently Asked Questions About NerdWallet's Smart Money Podcast

What is NerdWallet's Smart Money Podcast about and what kind of topics does it cover?

Listeners tune in for practical, data-driven personal finance guidance across a broad range of topics—from budgeting and saving to investing, homebuying, and credit card strategies. Episodes frequently pair macroeconomic context with hands-on, actionable tips, host Q&As, and guest experts to illustrate real-world decisions—whether maximizing travel rewards, weighing the forever mortgage, or evaluating college value in a changing landscape. A notable strength is the consistent use of research-backed insights and accessible explanations, with episodes often featuring guests from NerdWallet and independent experts to ground discussions in data and practical planning. A distinguishing trait is the blend of thoughtful budgeting mindset discussio... more

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Which podcasts are similar to NerdWallet's Smart Money Podcast?

These podcasts share a similar audience with NerdWallet's Smart Money Podcast:

1. Smart Travel: Upgrade Your Getaways
2. The Triple Option
3. The Personal Finance Podcast
4. Money Girl
5. Money Guy Show

How many episodes of NerdWallet's Smart Money Podcast are there?

NerdWallet's Smart Money Podcast launched 9 years ago and published 625 episodes to date. You can find more information about this podcast including rankings, audience demographics and engagement in our podcast database.

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What guests have appeared on NerdWallet's Smart Money Podcast?

Recent guests on NerdWallet's Smart Money Podcast include:

1. Ander Jinkola
2. Meghan Coyle
3. Haley Sachs
4. Taylor Mitchell
5. Elena Patel
6. Cody Goff
7. Ryan Sterling
8. Kurt Woock

To view more recent guests and their details, simply upgrade your Rephonic account. You'll also get access to a typical guest profile to help you decide if the show is worth pitching.

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