NerdWallet's Smart Money Podcast

NerdWallet Personal Finance

Budgeting

Personal Finance

Financial Planning

Investing

Tariffs

Retirement Planning

Inflation

Debt Management

Life Insurance

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Credit Cards

Housing Market

Interest Rates

Credit Card Debt

Artificial Intelligence

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Credit Scores

Emergency Fund

Stock Market

Investment Strategies

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

1.6k ratings

Publishes	Daily	Episodes	614	Founded	9 years ago
Number of Listeners		Categories	InvestingEducationBusinessHow To

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Latest Episodes

Is College Worth It in 2026? Plus, How to Split Solo 401(k) Contributions to Save More

Learn what 2026 grads could borrow for college and how solo 401(k) contributions can build retirement wealth.

How much could it cost to go to college in 2026, and is a four-year degree still a smart financial move? Hosts Sean Pyles, CFP®, and Elizab... more

7 May 2026 • 39 min

Mrs. Dow Jones's New Rules for Getting Rich, Plus How to Combine Finances After Marriage

Personal finance influencer Mrs. Dow Jones breaks down what it really takes to build wealth. Then, learn how to combine finances with your partner.

What would you do differently today to make yourself wealthy in the future? Haley Sacks, the personal... more

4 May 2026 • 45 min

Spring Homebuying in 2026 and the Case for Never Paying Off Your Mortgage

Is spring still the right time to buy a home, and does carrying a mortgage forever actually make more financial sense?

Before entering into the “forever mortgage” debate, hosts Sean Pyles, CFP®, and Elizabeth Ayoola are joined by senior news writer ... more

30 Apr 2026 • 36 min

Pet Insurance vs Savings Account and the APR vs APY Rules That Could Save You Cash

Learn when pet insurance is worth the cost and how APR and APY affect your loans and savings accounts.

Is pet insurance worth the monthly premium, or is a high-yield savings account the smarter play? Host Elizabeth Ayoola moderates an in-studio deba... more

27 Apr 2026 • 41 min

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Recent Guests

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

Joel Jacobs

Data reporter at ProPublica

ProPublica

Episode: Why Credit Report Errors Are Harder to Fix and How to Prepare for Involuntary Early Retirement

Sara Rathner

Writer at NerdWallet, guest expert on credit cards

NerdWallet

Episode: Points and Miles vs Cash Back: Pick a Credit Card That Matches Your Spending

Anthony Palomba

Media scholar and assistant professor at the University of Virginia Darden School of Business

University of Virginia Darden School of Business

Episode: Will Your Streaming Bill Jump? Plus, How to Pick a Budgeting App You’ll Actually Use

Hosts

Sean Pyles

Host of the podcast, providing insights on personal finance with a focus on practical advice for managing money and building wealth.

Elizabeth Ayoola

Co-host known for relatable discussions on financial topics aimed at helping listeners navigate their financial decisions effectively.

Reviews

4.3 out of 5 stars from 1.6k ratings

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 States2 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 States3 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 States4 months ago
Just for rewards
Great listen
Apple Podcasts
4
Gsjxicjsbbsd
United States5 months ago
Finance savvy
Good financial advice
Apple Podcasts
5
TAL34.
United States6 months ago

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Listeners Say

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

Hosts make complex topics relatable and easy to understand, helping listeners make informed financial decisions.

Valuable insights into personal finance and budgeting, particularly for younger audiences.

Listeners appreciate the practical advice and actionable recommendations provided in various episodes.

Chart Rankings

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

Apple Podcasts	#13	United States/Business/Investing
Apple Podcasts	#61	United States/Business
Apple Podcasts	#86	South Korea/Business/Investing
Apple Podcasts	#172	China/Business/Investing
Apple Podcasts	#199	Philippines/Business/Investing

Talking Points

Recent interactions between the hosts and their guests.

Spring Homebuying in 2026 and the Case for Never Paying Off Your Mortgage

Q: Can you explain what a forever mortgage is?

A forever mortgage is basically a standard mortgage with a 30‑year term that you don't rush to pay off; it isn't perpetual, you still have a fixed term, but you keep the loan rather than aggressively paying it down, and you manage it as part of a long‑term strategy including investing.

Pet Insurance vs Savings Account and the APR vs APY Rules That Could Save You Cash

Q: What is APY?

APY is the annual percentage yield, representing the rate of return on savings or investments, including the effects of compounding over a year.

Pet Insurance vs Savings Account and the APR vs APY Rules That Could Save You Cash

Q: What is APR?

APR is the annual cost of borrowing money, including interest and fees, and it can be fixed or variable depending on the loan type.

USPS’ Cash Crisis Hits More Than Your Mailbox, Plus The Debt Settlement Trap to Avoid

Q: I have a question regarding a program called National Debt Relief. How does debt settlement work and is it a good idea?

Debt settlement usually involves stopping payments to creditors and paying a relief company to negotiate settlements, which can lead to lawsuits, penalties, and a damaged credit score; the approach is risky and often ineffective, with low success rates documented by research.

What Warflation Costs You and Whether a Short-Term Rental Beats Investing Your Home Sale Proceeds

Q: Hi Sean and Elizabeth, my boyfriend and I are selling our condo in California to move to Texas. We're weighing renting vs investing the proceeds, and Becca asks if real estate and a short-term rental could diversify her portfolio or pose risk.

Lisa explains that diversification is possible with real estate, but the decision should be grounded in cash availability, risk tolerance, and lifestyle goals. Remote management adds risk, so use a local property manager, consider using some proceeds for liquidity, and evaluate whether partial real estate exposure combined with stock investments might balance returns with risk. New construction brings high costs and complexity, so a blended approach—buying a property partway and keeping some cash for stocks—can offer diversification without over-concentrating in one asset class.

Audience Metrics

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

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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?

Focused on practical personal finance, this podcast offers insightful answers to real-world money questions with a strong emphasis on budgeting, saving, investing, home buying, and credit card management. The hosts, experienced journalists in the field, simplify complex financial topics, providing listeners with actionable advice intended to help them manage their finances more effectively and build long-term wealth. Each episode features different aspects of personal finance and encourages audience interaction through listener questions, making it an approachable resource for anyone looking to enhance their financial literacy. Notably, the podcast aims to dispel common misinformation surrounding finance, reinforcing its commitment to evide... 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 Personal Finance Podcast
3. Money Guy Show
4. Post Moves with Candace Parker & Aliyah Boston
5. All the Hacks: Money, Points & Life

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

NerdWallet's Smart Money Podcast launched 9 years ago and published 614 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. Taylor Mitchell
2. Elena Patel
3. Cody Goff
4. Ryan Sterling
5. Kurt Woock
6. Tom O'Saben
7. Joel Jacobs
8. Sara Rathner

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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