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Artwork for Personal Finance for PhDs

Personal Finance for PhDs

Emily Roberts
Personal Finance
Budgeting
Financial Literacy
Financial Independence
Graduate Education
Financial Education
Salary Negotiation
Financial Stability
Investment Strategies
Financial Wellness
Phd Education
Career Development
Entrepreneurship
Entrepreneurial Scholarship
Graduate Student Attrition
Investing
Side Hustles
Personal Finance Education
Phd Funding Resources
Academia

As a PhD (in training), you face unique money challenges that stem from your low stipend/salary during your years of graduate school and postdoc training. Listen here for the hard-won financial wisdom of your fellow graduate students, postdocs, and PhDs with Real Jobs. From budgeting and frugality to investing and debt repayment, this podcast is your higher education in personal finance.

PublishesTwice monthlyEpisodes100Founded8 years ago
Number of ListenersCategories
Self-ImprovementBusinessEducationInvesting

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Artwork for Personal Finance for PhDs

Latest Episodes

In this episode, Emily interviews Madeline Hebert, a 5th-year PhD candidate at the University of Connecticut and married mother of a toddler and newborn. Madeline shares how her money mindset has changed over the last several years, from poring over ... more

In this episode, Emily interviews Quinn Nguyen, a 4th-year PhD student in chemistry at UC Irvine. Quinn has been highly intentional with her finances during graduate school. She maintains a zero-based budget, uses targeted savings accounts for her ca... more

In this episode, Emily shares the microinterviews she recorded at two conferences this year and solicited from subscribers to her mailing list. The prompt she gave to everyone was "What is your best financial advice for a funded graduate student matr... more

In this episode, Emily interviews Janna McKay, a Certified Student Loan Professional (CSLP) who works as a consultant for Student Loan Planner. They discuss the changes to the federal student loan program brought about by the One Big Beautiful Bill A... more

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Recent Guests

Quinn Nguyen
A fourth-year PhD student in chemistry at UC Irvine
UC Irvine, Chemistry
Episode: This Graduate Student Keeps a Zero-Based Budget in a High Cost-of-Living Area
Janna McKay
Certified student loan professional; consultant for Student Loan Planner
Student Loan Planner
Episode: Even More Reasons Not to Fund Your PhD with Federal Student Loans
Richard Coca
PhD student in Neuroscience at Boston University
Boston University
Episode: This Grad Student's Social Spending in Boston Pays Dividends
Leslie Wang
Professor turned solopreneur behind Your Words Unleashed
Your Words Unleashed
Episode: How This PhD Solopreneur Manages Her Time and Money
Jed Kim
PhD in chemistry, recent graduate from UW–Madison
UW–Madison
Episode: Sacrificing for a Lofty Financial Goal on a Grad Student Stipend
Dr. Dillon Pruett
Assistant professor in the School of Communication Science and Disorders at Florida State University
Florida State University
Episode: Holding a Financial Standard While on the Faculty Job Market
Dillon Pruett
Assistant Professor at Florida State University; research on stuttering
Florida State University
Episode: Financial Chaos Exacerbates a Low Graduate Student Stipend
Trevor Hedberg
Assistant Professor of Practice at the University of Arizona; teaches personal finance to undergraduates
University of Arizona
Episode: Teaching Personal Finance Illuminates the Opportunity Cost of a PhD
Mrunal Zambre
Fourth year PhD student at the University of Pittsburgh
University of Pittsburgh
Episode: This International Grad Student's Low Fixed Expenses Enable Her to Invest and Travel

Host

Dr. Emily Roberts
Host of Personal Finance for PhDs, financial educator specializing in graduate student finances and early-career academic transitions

Reviews

5.0 out of 5 stars from 80 ratings
  • Great mission

    I think it’s great that focus is being given to phd students who are pursuing this level of education to better oneself but who face tougher finances through lower stipends compared to many of our peers. Personal finance should be taught to everyone no matter their circumstances and this goes a long way in helping a vital demographic 🙏🏻

    Apple Podcasts
    5
    3737228833828
    United Kingdom2 years ago
  • So helpful!!

    A five-star podcast that brilliantly addresses the unique financial challenges faced by PhD students and postdocs, providing invaluable insights and wisdom on budgeting and investing. This show is a must-listen! ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐

    Apple Podcasts
    5
    Gay&Sweaty
    United States3 years ago
  • Great and informative discussions

    I'm not a medical professional, but I found your podcast show to be extremely relatable and informative. The host and guests shared extremely relatable stories, as well as practical advice that I found both relatable and useful in my own financial decisions. Thank you for sharing great financial tips! Your podcast is very helpful to me and your listeners.

    Apple Podcasts
    5
    Zia Amazon
    Philippines4 years ago
  • Needed resource

    This is information that’s missing for so many grad students and academics.

    Apple Podcasts
    5
    KFusc
    United States4 years ago
  • Wonderful!

    The International Student investment episode with Hui-chi Chen was absolutely phenomenally informative!

    Apple Podcasts
    5
    Bilalduoooolingo
    United States5 years ago

Listeners Say

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

Listeners praise relatable guests and actionable budgeting insights.
Audience loves practical, doable tips tailored for stipends and fellowships.
High praise for coverage of international students and diverse funding scenarios.
Community-focused and encouraging for financial discipline.
Great resource for planning finances as a grad student.

Chart Rankings

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

Talking Points

Recent interactions between the hosts and their guests.

This Graduate Student Keeps a Zero-Based Budget in a High Cost-of-Living Area
Q: What is your income and stipend, and how does that influence your budgeting?
Her stipend starts around $35,000 per year, with after-tax take-home roughly $2,600 to $3,000 monthly, and she budgets tightly using subsidized housing to keep costs manageable.
Even More Reasons Not to Fund Your PhD with Federal Student Loans
Q: How do PSLF and income-driven plans interact under the new system?
PSLF still requires enrollment in an income-driven plan and qualifying employment; time spent in RAP or other plans counts toward PSLF, but specific plan rules (like on-time payments) determine eligibility and timing for forgiveness.
Even More Reasons Not to Fund Your PhD with Federal Student Loans
Q: If a continuing student had borrowed before July 2026, what options remain under the legacy system?
Continuing students who borrowed before July 1, 2026 have access to legacy plans like older IBR versions, Pay As You Earn, and other fixed plans until the end of their program, while new loans after July 1, 2026 use the RAP framework and new limits.
Even More Reasons Not to Fund Your PhD with Federal Student Loans
Q: What are the new borrowing limits for a graduate student matriculating July 2026 or later?
New borrowers face an annual limit of 20,500 and a lifetime limit of 100,000 for graduate studies, with loan proration if not enrolled full-time; prior borrowing is included in the lifetime total, which can affect eligibility for new loans.
This Grad Student's Social Spending in Boston Pays Dividends
Q: What is your best financial advice for another early career PhD?
Max out the Roth IRA if possible, but also allow for spending on meaningful experiences and community, since those expenditures contribute to memory dividends and overall wellbeing.

Audience Metrics

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

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Frequently Asked Questions About Personal Finance for PhDs

What is Personal Finance for PhDs about and what kind of topics does it cover?

This show targets graduate students, postdocs, and early-career PhDs navigating modest stipends and the financial realities of academia. Episodes frequently cover budgeting, saving, investing, debt management, and strategic funding decisions, often with guest voices who share practical, experience-backed tactics for living well on a limited income. Notable strengths include a strong emphasis on actionable steps, real-world budgeting examples, and guidance tailored to unique situations like international study, fellowship income, or faculty-market transitions. The format often blends micro-interviews, case studies, and expert perspectives to help listeners build long-term financial resilience while pursuing demanding academic paths.

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Which podcasts are similar to Personal Finance for PhDs?

These podcasts share a similar audience with Personal Finance for PhDs:

1. The VPZD Show
2. Normal Gossip
3. If Books Could Kill
4. Science Vs
5. Frugal Friends Podcast

How many episodes of Personal Finance for PhDs are there?

Personal Finance for PhDs launched 8 years ago and published 100 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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Our systems regularly scour the web to find email addresses and social media links for this podcast. We scanned the web and collated all of the contact information that we could find in our podcast database. But in the unlikely event that you can't find what you're looking for, our concierge service lets you request our research team to source better contacts for you.

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What guests have appeared on Personal Finance for PhDs?

Recent guests on Personal Finance for PhDs include:

1. Quinn Nguyen
2. Janna McKay
3. Richard Coca
4. Leslie Wang
5. Jed Kim
6. Dr. Dillon Pruett
7. Dillon Pruett
8. Trevor Hedberg

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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