NerdWallet’s objective finance journalists answer real-world questions empowering you to make smarter decisions with your money and help your finances thrive. The Nerds are your resource to make the most of your personal finances, while cutting through the clutter and misinformation of today’s economic news and advice. You’ll get clarity on strategies to help you build your wealth, invest wisely, shop for financial products, and plan for major life events. By the end of each episode, you’ll ...
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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 …
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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 yo…
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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 …
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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 sophis…
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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 o…
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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 …
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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 th…
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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…
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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 h…
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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 tari…
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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…
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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 …
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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 NerdWall…
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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 sala…
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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…
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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 …
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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 neoban…
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Preparing for Worst-Case Scenarios: Choosing the Right Insurance Policy to Protect Your Income
37:04
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 type…
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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 financ…
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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…
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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 Dec…
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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 circulati…
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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 Sa…
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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 i…
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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 …
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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 decorat…
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Learn how the presidential candidates' policies on health care and student loans differ in how they could impact your finances. What impact could presidential policies have on health care and student loans? How might these policies affect your personal finances? Hosts Sean Pyles and Anna Helhoski discuss health care costs and student loan forgivene…
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Learn the key differences between sports betting and investing, plus tips for managing the financial risks of gambling. How is sports betting different from investing in the stock market? What are the financial risks and benefits of sports betting versus stock market investing? Hosts Tess Vigeland and Anna Helhoski dive into the booming sports bett…
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Learn how to navigate job changes, maximize retirement benefits, and celebrate personal and financial accomplishments. How should you navigate job changes when it affects your retirement benefits? What options do military spouses have for saving for retirement? Hosts Sean Pyles and Sara Rathner discuss managing unvested retirement funds to help you…
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Explore how the 2024 presidential candidates' tax plans could impact your finances and what to know before voting. What tax proposals are the 2024 presidential candidates making, and how might these policies affect your finances? What should you know before voting on tax issues? Hosts Sean Pyles and Anna Helhoski discuss the key differences in the …
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Learn how to protect your Social Security number and stay safe from identity theft, plus the latest news on inflation and health insurance rates. How can you protect your Social Security number from identity theft and data breaches? How can you freeze your credit? What should you do if your Social Security number is compromised? Hosts Sean Pyles an…
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Learn about the Chase Sapphire Preferred card’s limited time sign-up bonus and understand the impact of Federal Reserve interest rate changes. What is the economic impact of lowering interest rates? Does lowering interest rates increase people’s spending power? Host Sean Pyles leads discussions around the Chase Sapphire Preferred card and the Feder…
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Learn how presidential policies on tariffs, immigration, and prices can impact your everyday expenses like groceries and gas. What can a president actually do to lower prices and fight inflation? Can campaign promises really impact your wallet, or are they just political hot air? Hosts Sean Pyles and Anna Helhoski discuss presidential policies and …
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Learn how the gig economy impacts workers' finances and get tips for managing taxes, savings, and benefits. How does the gig economy affect people financially? How can gig workers save for taxes and retirement without employer benefits? Hosts Tess Vigeland and Sara Rathner are joined by Rick VanderKnyff, NerdWallet’s senior news editor, to explore …
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Learn what it truly means to work with a certified financial planner (CFP) and how personalized advice can help you set and achieve your financial goals. NerdWallet Advisors is no longer accepting new clients, and will be closing its financial planning business as of December 20th, 2024. What should you know before working with a certified financia…
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Learn what powers the president does and does not have to influence the economy and your wallet. Does the president really have power over the economy? How do presidential promises impact your wallet? Hosts Sean Pyles and Anna Helhoski discuss the grand economic promises made by presidential candidates and the intricate realities of presidential in…
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Learn to spot risky social media money “hacks” and discover safe, effective financial strategies to follow instead. Are social media money hacks reliable? Are financial influencers trustworthy? Hosts Sean Pyles and Anna Helhoski dive into the world of viral social media money hacks. They break down a recent TikTok trend that encouraged risky and il…
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Booking travel using points and miles can be complicated — but you don't have to do it alone. In this special presentation of the podcast Unpacked by AFAR, host Aislyn Greene discusses a service that does all the hard work of booking using points and miles for you, so you can focus focus on your best travel life. Listen to Unpacked by AFAR wherever…
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Learn how to optimize debit and credit cards abroad, avoid fees, and maximize rewards for stress-free international travel. What are the best ways to use debit and credit cards while traveling internationally? What are best practices for avoiding fees and maximizing card benefits abroad? Hosts Sean Pyles and Meghan Coyle discuss strategic card usag…
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Learn how to reassess Medicare coverage during open enrollment and get the latest on interest rates, home sales, and stock prices. How can you know if you have the right amount of Medicare coverage? How can you change your Medicare coverage? Hosts Sean Pyles and Anna Helhoski dive into the latest findings on Medicare coverage from a new NerdWallet …
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Join a financial planning session with a listener who receives guidance on achieving multiple goals, including debt payoff and maximizing savings. NerdWallet Advisors is no longer accepting new clients, and will be closing its financial planning business as of December 20th, 2024. How can you balance multiple financial goals like debt repayment, re…
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Pack Smarter, Save More: Expert Tips for Efficient Travel Packing to Overcome Luggage Hassles
23:34
Get expert tips on how to pack for travel efficiently and effectively, including clever ways to save on baggage fees. How can you keep luggage costs down during holiday travel? What are the best strategies for managing carry-on luggage, especially for international trips? Hosts Sean Pyles and Meghan Coyle discuss efficient luggage management to hel…
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Learn how the Fed’s interest rate cuts may affect your loans, savings, and investments, as well as what to do about refinancing. How could interest rate cuts affect credit card debt? Will it be easier or cheaper to get a mortgage or auto loan with interest rates going down? Is now a good time to refinance? Hosts Sean Pyles and Anna Helhoski break d…
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Get fall-ready with budgeting tips and strategies for diversifying your investment portfolio to achieve financial goals. How can you reset your finances for fall and prepare for the holiday season? Can you grow an undiversified investment portfolio by $28,000 over seven years without additional contributions? Hosts Sean Pyles and Sara Rathner discu…
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Learn expert tips and tricks for saving money on holiday travel booking, from the best time to book to when you should use rewards points. When should you book your holiday travel? How can you save money on travel during the busiest travel season? Hosts Sean Pyles and Meghan Coyle talk to travel rewards Nerd Sam Kemmis about how to save money when …
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Learn why the economy feels worse than the data suggests, and what the latest jobs report means for interest rates. Why do people feel negative about the economy even when the data says it’s doing well? How could upcoming changes to interest rates affect your personal finances? Hosts Sean Pyles and Anna Helhoski dive into the latest job market data…
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Financial Fitness for Big Moves: Achieving Your Goals Without Sacrificing Security (Video Episode)
38:05
A certified financial planner offers a listener actionable advice to help him save for a big move while maintaining financial stability. NerdWallet Advisors is no longer accepting new clients, and will be closing its financial planning business as of December 20th, 2024. How much should you save before you move to a new city? How can you reach your…
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Get insider tips for stress-free holiday travel, from booking strategies to maximizing credit card points and more. What’s the best way to avoid stress when traveling during the holidays? Is it better to book with points when you’re traveling for the holidays? Hosts Sean Pyles and Meghan Coyle discuss the challenges of holiday travel and share effe…
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Learn about new real estate commission rules and how they impact home buyers, sellers, and the future of agent fees. How will real estate commissions work following the National Association of Realtors settlement? What do post-NAR rules mean for home buyers and sellers? Hosts Sean Pyles and Anna Helhoski break down the new real estate commission ru…
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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 ti…
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