NerdWallet's Smart Money Podcast

Learn how to pursue early retirement, grow savings, and weigh home buying after a major life change.

How do you rebuild your budget after going from two incomes to one? Hosts Sean Pyles, CFP®, and Elizabeth Ayoola review the budget of a 32-year-old Los Angeles nonprofit supervisor who is two years past a divorce, newly free of credit card debt and car payments, and unsure where her extra cash could go next. They discuss how a rent increase pushed her to downsize, why budgeting on vibes can swing between YOLO mode and stress, what her 50/30/20 breakdown reveals, and how to size an emergency fund when you’re a single-income household and your job depends on federal funding.

She also wonders about maybe retiring at 55. Sean and Elizabeth plug her numbers into NerdWallet’s retirement calculator live to see how big the gap could be and how much a higher contribution rate might close it. They also cover common retirement savings benchmarks, including the 80% rule, why most retirement accounts limit penalty-free withdrawals until age 59, how a 457(b) plan and a taxable brokerage account could offer more flexibility, where a pension fits into the picture, and how trimming spending on wants like workday lunches could free up money for future goals.

Run your own numbers with the NerdWallet tools used in this episode:

Retirement Calculator: https://www.nerdwallet.com/investing/calculators/retirement-calculator

50/30/20 Budget Calculator: https://www.nerdwallet.com/finance/learn/nerdwallet-budget-calculator

Want us to review your budget? Fill out this form — completely anonymously if you want — and we might feature your budget in a future segment! https://docs.google.com/forms/d/e/1FAIpQLScK53yAufsc4v5UpghhVfxtk2MoyooHzlSIRBnRxUPl3hKBig/viewform?usp=header

To send the Nerds your money questions, call or text the Nerd hotline at 901-730-6373 or email podcast@nerdwallet.com.

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Learn how to pick a budget that fits your life, where to save for a big goal and how identity theft has changed.

Does a budget work without sorting your spending into needs and wants? And where could you keep money you’re saving for a big expense that’s five years away? Hosts Sean Pyles, CFP®, and Elizabeth Ayoola answer two listener questions. The first comes from a listener who splits her budget into monthly and one-time expenses instead of using the 50/30/20 rule. The second comes from a parent saving $13,000 for her daughter’s quinceañera whose CD is about to mature.

Then, how has the identity theft playbook changed over 40 years, and what new risks could AI agents bring to your finances? Senior news writer Anna Helhoski talks with Eva Velasquez, CEO of the Identity Theft Resource Center. They discuss why there’s almost no barrier left to committing fraud, and why victims often feel ashamed even when they did nothing wrong. They also cover who pays when an AI agent makes a costly mistake for you, how freezing your credit has gotten easier, and why help for victims after the fact still falls short.

Run the numbers on your own savings goal with NerdWallet’s savings calculator: https://www.nerdwallet.com/banking/calculators/savings-calculator

Compare rates on accounts for short-term goals:Best High-Yield Savings Accounts of October 2026: Up to 5%: https://www.nerdwallet.com/banking/best/high-yield-online-savings-accountsBest CD Rates of October 2026: Up to 5.00%: https://www.nerdwallet.com/banking/best/cd-rates5 Best Money Market Accounts for October 2026: Up to 4.05%: https://www.nerdwallet.com/banking/best/money-market-accounts

Please help us improve the show by taking our listener survey! Your responses directly impact what you hear on the show: https://docs.google.com/forms/d/e/1FAIpQLSettbeI0yDf8tLt_Q772StVJoWs_Gm-pWa-gSn2fdWEc0XcOw/viewform

Subscribe to our podcast’s free email newsletter for bonus content and more from our hosts at https://smartmoney-nerdwallet.beehiiv.com/

Want us to review your budget? Fill out this form — completely anonymously if you want — and we might feature your budget in a future segment! https://docs.google.com/forms/d/e/1FAIpQLScK53yAufsc4v5UpghhVfxtk2MoyooHzlSIRBnRxUPl3hKBig/viewform?usp=header

Smart Money’s YouTube Channel: https://youtube.com/@nerdwalletsmartmoney

To send the Nerds your money questions, call or text the Nerd hotline at 901-730-6373 or email podcast@nerdwallet.com. Like what you hear? Please leave us a review and tell a friend.

*The show notes were created with the assistance of AI. They have been reviewed by our editorial team for accuracy and quality.

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Learn how to get past the fear of negotiating for higher pay, even when your employer might say no.

Why does negotiating feel so scary, and how do you get past that fear? Hosts Sean Pyles, CFP®, and Elizabeth Ayoola talk with Kwame Christian, a negotiation expert, CEO of the American Negotiation Institute and host of the “Big Swings Only” podcast. They discuss how the fear of rejection, awkwardness and damaged relationships can keep you from asking for what you want, the everyday situations where you could negotiate more than you expect, and Kwame’s three-step framework for tough conversations. You’ll also hear what an “internal negotiation” with yourself looks like, how shifting from a fear of failure to a fear of regret could change your approach, and why staying quiet can turn into resentment.

And what do you do when the job offer seems final or your company says it doesn’t negotiate pay? Kwame walks Sean and Elizabeth through why it can help to think about total compensation instead of salary alone, the five-word question that could reveal room to move in an offer, how outside offers may give you leverage with your current employer, and how to respond to a “no negotiation” policy without attacking it. They also get into anchoring, why repeating the other side’s number can work against you, when raising your voice could backfire, and how to turn everyday negotiations into deliberate practice.

Learn more about Kwame Christian’s work, his framework for negotiating anything and the app he recommends for tracking your career wins:

ANI: Negotiate Anything | Master Negotiation Today: https://kwamechristian.com/

How to Get What You Want Every Time: 3 Steps to Negotiate Anything With Anyone: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=MV8xSekK-KE

Big Swings Only: https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/big-swings-only/id1101679010

PepTalkHer: https://www.peptalkher.com/

Want us to review your budget? Fill out this form — completely anonymously if you want — and we might feature your budget in a future segment! https://docs.google.com/forms/d/e/1FAIpQLScK53yAufsc4v5UpghhVfxtk2MoyooHzlSIRBnRxUPl3hKBig/viewform?usp=header

To send the Nerds your money questions, call or text the Nerd hotline at 901-730-6373 or email podcast@nerdwallet.com.

Like what you hear? Please leave us a review and tell a friend.

*The show notes were created with the assistance of AI. They have been reviewed by our editorial team for accuracy and quality.
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Learn how to plan and pay for a sabbatical, plus why cash advance apps may cost more than you think.

How do you plan and pay for a sabbatical, even if your employer doesn't offer a paid one? Hosts Sean Pyles, CFP®, and Elizabeth Ayoola are joined by Smart Money producer Tess Vigeland to answer a listener's question about setting up for extended time off work. They talk about how rare paid sabbaticals are, which companies offer them, and how to set goals for your time away. Tess shares the story of her three-year sabbatical in Asia, and the hosts compare the pros and cons of shorter breaks. They also get into building a sabbatical budget and sinking fund, why debt and emergency savings matter even more when your paycheck pauses, what happens to your health insurance, and what it can feel like to return to work. Plus, ways to get a real break when a sabbatical isn't in reach.

Why might cash advance apps cost more than their marketing would lead you to believe? Senior news writer Anna Helhoski talks with Candice Wang, senior researcher at the Center for Responsible Lending, about new research on payday advance apps. They discuss how these apps differ from traditional payday lenders (and how they don’t), why users may not recognize them as high-cost loans, how an average 232% APR and frequent repeat borrowing can add up, why some state payday lending laws don't apply, and what you could consider before using one.

Explore the Center for Responsible Lending's research on payday loan apps, plus NerdWallet's guides to sinking funds and COBRA coverage:

The Cost of Payday Loan Apps in Your State: https://www.responsiblelending.org/research-publication/cost-payday-loan-apps-your-state

Sinking Funds: The Secret to Stress-Free Expenses: https://www.nerdwallet.com/finance/learn/nerdwallet-sinking-fund-savings

COBRA Health Insurance Eligibility and Alternatives: https://www.nerdwallet.com/insurance/health/learn/cobra-health-insurance

Want us to review your budget? Fill out this form — completely anonymously if you want — and we might feature your budget in a future segment! https://docs.google.com/forms/d/e/1FAIpQLScK53yAufsc4v5UpghhVfxtk2MoyooHzlSIRBnRxUPl3hKBig/viewform?usp=header

To send the Nerds your money questions, call or text the Nerd hotline at 901-730-6373 or email podcast@nerdwallet.com.

Like what you hear? Please leave us a review and tell a friend!

*The show notes were created with the assistance of AI. They have been reviewed by our editorial team for accuracy and quality.
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Learn how to handle money tension with friends and partners, from splitting costs to getting a loan paid back.

Is it fair for a friend to split every grocery bill with you when they earn far more than you do? Hosts Sean Pyles, CFP®, and Elizabeth Ayoola dig into some of Reddit’s messiest money conversations, with posts read by NerdWallet senior banking writer Spencer Tierney, credit expert Amanda Barroso and content strategist Jackie Tucker. You’ll hear why surprise payment app requests can sting, how rarely money values come up between friends, whether splitting every cost makes a friendship feel transactional, and what to consider when a friend borrows money twice and then asks whether they really need to pay it all back.

Then, how much money does it take to stop worrying about money? Sean and Elizabeth discuss why there may never be a magic number, how medical bills and rising health care costs feed financial anxiety, and what a viral article about Gen Z women paying for, and parenting, their boyfriends reveals about the difference between a wage gap and an effort gap in relationships. They also open up about the financial decisions they regret (or refuse to), from overstaying in a low-wage job market abroad to not setting money aside for taxes, and react to Redditors’ biggest regrets, including selling Microsoft stock in 1992 and skipping a prenup.

Read The Cut article discussed in this episode here:

https://www.thecut.com/article/young-women-earning-more-money-boyfriends.html

Follow the Reddit conversations discussed in this episode below:

Finance Stuff With A Friend

At what income or net worth did you stop worrying about money?

How To Ask Somebody To Pay You Back

What is a financial decision you will regret for the rest of your life?

Want us to review your budget? Fill out this form — completely anonymously if you want — and we might feature your budget in a future segment! https://docs.google.com/forms/d/e/1FAIpQLScK53yAufsc4v5UpghhVfxtk2MoyooHzlSIRBnRxUPl3hKBig/viewform?usp=header

To send the Nerds your money questions, call or text the Nerd hotline at 901-730-6373 or email podcast@nerdwallet.com.

Like what you hear? Please leave us a review and tell a friend.
Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices