NerdWallet's Smart Money Podcast

Learn how to tackle debt, early retirement and a windfall, plus why home and auto insurance rates jumped.

Is it worth saving for the future when the world feels like it's ending? Hosts Sean Pyles, CFP®, and Elizabeth Ayoola kick off a series of episodes recorded in Chicago with another round of As Seen on Reddit, where they react to real money posts and the advice Redditors leave in the comments. They dig into financial nihilism and why it can be tempting to spend now instead of saving for the future. They also size up a $3,875 weeklong yoga retreat to Greece, debate whether inflation and health care costs have put the FIRE movement out of reach, and weigh what a young couple could do with a $90,000 settlement check, including whether a financial advisor is worth the fee.

Then, why have home and auto insurance rates climbed so much, and is relief on the way? Senior news writer Anna Helhoski talks with NerdWallet insurance writer and licensed insurance specialist Andrew Hurst and data editor and insurance managing editor Lisa Green about new NerdWallet pricing reports showing auto insurance premiums up about 32% and home insurance premiums up 24% in three years. They discuss how severe weather, reinsurance costs, and rising legal expenses pushed rates higher, why older homes cost so much more to insure than new ones, and why drivers with poor credit and clean records saw bigger increases than some drivers with a DUI. They also get into whether rates are stabilizing.

Read NerdWallet's 2026 auto and home insurance pricing reports:

Auto Insurance Rates Rise 32% in 3 Years, Outpacing Income Gains: https://www.nerdwallet.com/insurance/auto/auto-insurance-pricing-report-2026

Home Insurance Prices Up 24% in 3 Years; Midwest, Older Homes Hit Hardest: https://www.nerdwallet.com/insurance/homeowners/home-insurance-pricing-report-2026

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 [email protected].

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

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 a reality TV star built a career in insurance and why she saves her Hollywood paychecks instead of spending them.

How did an original Real Housewife build a career in finance long before reality TV? Hosts Sean Pyles, CFP®, and Elizabeth Ayoola talk with Vicki Gunvalson, founder of Coto Insurance & Financial Services and an original cast member of The Real Housewives of Orange County. They hear her story about starting over financially after a divorce at 28, how her father’s Alzheimer’s diagnosis and lack of long-term care insurance shaped her career, and the life insurance mistakes she sees most often. You’ll also hear why so many people tune out when insurance comes up, what it takes to go from earning money to building wealth, and why getting your financial documents organized could spare your family a mess later on.

Then, what happens when the reality TV paychecks start rolling in? Vicki explains how she handles her show income, why she kept running her business while filming, and the money habits she’s noticed among her castmates. She also shares her best and worst money moves, her take on renting versus buying a home, and how she earns credit card rewards without carrying a balance. Then Sean and Elizabeth discuss whether they’d ever join a reality show, how a side hustle could boost your savings, and when a little lifestyle creep might be OK.

Learn more about Vicki’s firm, and figure out how much coverage your own family could need:

https://www.cotoinsurance.com/our-team/

How Much Life Insurance Do I Need? Use This Calculator: https://www.nerdwallet.com/insurance/life/learn/how-much-life-insurance-do-i-need

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 [email protected].

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Learn how to weigh dental, vision, life and disability coverage, and what a cheaper home far from loved ones could cost.

Is supplemental insurance worth paying for? Hosts Sean Pyles, CFP®, and Elizabeth Ayoola, in the second of our episodes about Open Enrollment season, talk with Victoria Collar, director of knowledge, community and operations at SHRM (the Society for Human Resource Management), about the benefits that often get overlooked: dental, vision, life and disability coverage. They discuss how dental PPOs, DHMOs, indemnity plans and discount plans differ, when bundling dental and vision could save you money, and why waiting periods and annual maximums matter. You’ll also hear why employer-provided life insurance may fall short, how short-term and long-term disability coverage work together, and what hospital indemnity, critical illness and cancer insurance actually pay for.

Then we ask: what does it really cost to live far from your people? Senior news writer Anna Helhoski and NerdWallet mortgage writer Abby Doyle unpack a Federal Reserve study finding that 44% of American families gave or received help with money or caregiving from friends or relatives in the past year. They discuss the hidden costs of buying a cheaper home far from your support network, why many buyers would trade a bigger yard for a walkable neighborhood, how cottage court housing could help people stay close to their communities, and how to weigh connection against affordability in your home search.

Figure out how much coverage your family might need with NerdWallet’s life insurance calculator: https://www.nerdwallet.com/insurance/life/learn/how-much-life-insurance-do-i-need

Has social connection shaped your house hunt? Email Abby at [email protected] with the subject line “House Hunt.”

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 [email protected]. 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 compare health insurance plans, HSAs and FSAs before open enrollment deadlines arrive.

How do you pick the right health plan when costs keep climbing? Hosts Sean Pyles, CFP®, and Elizabeth Ayoola kick off a two-part open enrollment series with NerdWallet lead writer Kate Ashford, starting with the key enrollment dates for marketplace, Medicare, federal and employer-sponsored coverage. They discuss why employer health benefit costs are expected to jump next year, how premiums and deductibles work like a seesaw, the tradeoffs between HMOs, PPOs and high-deductible health plans, and why being a middle-of-the-road health care user could make the choice especially tricky. You’ll also hear how to weigh your out-of-pocket maximum, whether you have enough cash on hand to cover a high deductible, and how last year’s medical bills could help you estimate next year’s.

How can you get the most out of a health savings account or flexible spending account? Sean, Elizabeth and Kate explain the triple tax advantage of HSAs and why some planners treat them like another retirement account, how use-it-or-lose-it rules and rollover limits work for FSAs, and what a dependent care FSA could cover. They also dig into what’s changing for Affordable Care Act plans in 2027, including higher proposed premiums, insurers entering and leaving markets, new subsidy eligibility rules for some immigrants and state-level changes, plus why it could be worth trying to negotiate a medical bill.

Compare plans, premiums and out-of-pocket costs with NerdWallet’s guide:

How to Choose Health Insurance: Your Step-by-Step Guide: https://www.nerdwallet.com/insurance/health/learn/choose-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 [email protected].

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.

Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Learn whether managing your own mortgage escrow pays off and what popular election slogans could mean for your money.

Can you manage your own escrow account instead of letting your mortgage servicer pay your property taxes and homeowners insurance? Hosts Sean Pyles, CFP®, and Elizabeth Ayoola welcome housing Nerd Kate Wood to weigh the pros and cons of do-it-yourself escrow. They discuss how escrow fits into your monthly mortgage payment, when a lender might grant an escrow waiver, and why FHA loans and private mortgage insurance can take the choice off the table. They also run the numbers on how much interest you could earn by holding the money yourself, what happens when an escrow account comes up short, and why some mortgage hacks on social media don’t tell the full story.

What do candidates actually mean when they say “tax the rich,” “affordability” or “Medicare for All”? Senior news writer Anna Helhoski joins Sean and Elizabeth to decode the campaign slogans on mailers, ads and bumper stickers ahead of Election Day. They discuss how one slogan can cover very different taxes, how candidates are framing the cost of groceries, utilities and healthcare, and why “affordable housing” means something different from race to race.

Watch the Portlandia escrow scene: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=OZmO_7JBeao

Run your own numbers with NerdWallet’s Compound Interest Calculator: https://www.nerdwallet.com/banking/calculators/compound-interest-calculator

See the escrow shortage findings in the 2026 NerdWallet Home Buyer Report: https://www.nerdwallet.com/mortgages/studies/home-buyer-report

Find ways to save with 8 Ways to Lower Homeowners Insurance Rates: https://www.nerdwallet.com/insurance/homeowners/learn/save-on-homeowners-insurance

Read Anna’s breakdowns of this year’s campaign slogans:

What Does ‘Tax the Rich’ Actually Mean?: https://www.nerdwallet.com/finance/news/tax-the-rich

On Affordability: Can a Politician Make Your Groceries Cheaper?: https://www.nerdwallet.com/finance/news/affordability

‘Medicare for All’ to ‘Take on Big Pharma’: What’s Behind Healthcare Slogans: https://www.nerdwallet.com/finance/news/medicare-for-all

What Does ‘Affordable Housing’ Mean?: https://www.nerdwallet.com/finance/news/affordable-housing

Find out what’s on your ballot with the U.S. Election Assistance Commission (https://www.eac.gov/), Can I Vote (https://www.nass.org/can-I-vote) and VOTE411 from the League of Women Voters (https://www.vote411.org/).

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 [email protected]. 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 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 [email protected].

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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 [email protected]. 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.

Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

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 [email protected].

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 [email protected].

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 [email protected].

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

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