Episodes

Enjoy this special presentation of NerdWallet’s Smart Money Podcast, a podcast where NerdWallet’s objective finance journalists answer real-world questions that empower you to make smarter decisions with your money and help your finances thrive. In this special episode, the hosts turn financial blunders into learning opportunities to help you set up for future financial success. Then, they weigh the pros and cons of saving and investing versus paying off debt when a listener comes across an...

How do you reach financial independence when you’re a late starter and don’t have everything figured out in your 20s, 30s, or even your 40s? Bill Yount and Jackie Cummings Koski, hosts of the Catching up to FI podcast, have made it their mission to help you make up for lost time, and they’re sharing their secrets in this episode. Their action steps to reach financial independence as a late starter is all about the kiss method - keep it simple by starting to invest and save money, and stay simple...

You’ve heard many guests on this show talk about all the different ideas regarding investing. Most of them are in two camps - either day trading or value investing. If you like the idea of living your life, maybe you’re a parent, or you work full-time or run a business and don’t want to be stuck in front of the screen all day, then value investing probably makes sense for you. But what is value investing? That’s a good question that our guest, Kiana Danial, CEO of Invest Diva and an award-winnin...

Are you struggling to finally break free from debt? In this Money 101 episode, I’m breaking down how to think about debt, strategies to pay it off, and why being completely debt-free should never be the goal. Just a quick note, this episode is not just for newbies. When I was a working financial planner I worked with people of all ages who just couldn’t figure out how to get a handle on debt. So, you are not alone if you’re struggling with debt. According to CNBC, the average American has over $...

This episode is dedicated to the much-hated and universally loathed budget. As you can tell, I’m not a fan, either. That’s because I believe that budgeting was never appropriately taught to you, so the fact that you hate budgeting isn’t your fault. It’s like a system set up to fail, so if you’ve never felt you could do budgeting correctly, or the numbers never work out, don't worry. In this vault Money 101 episode, I give you permission to ditch your budget and instead learn the power of trackin...

78,000. That’s a 20% downpayment on the average price of a house in 2022, according to The Zebra. No matter how much money you make, that’s a sizable amount. After you riffle through your couch cushions and pull out your rusty calculator to figure out how many coffee runs you need to skip, the question remains: where will you find that kind of cash? In this vault, Ask Shannah, I’m answering the burning question: should I take money from my retirement account to buy a house, or is that the worst ...

Side hustles can be a game-changer in your money situation. Our guest, Whitney Hansen, host of the Money Nerds podcast, knows something about bringing in more cash flow. She has tried and tested many side hustles to find the most profitable and worthy of your time. In this vault episode, we talk about her most profitable side hustles, and I’m talking ways to bring in $500 - a couple of thousands of dollars a month, and why she thinks starting an Airbnb side hustle might not be wise this year, an...

Money is complicated. This is a common human feeling about money. There’s a lot to think about - how do you spend money to reach your goals, are you saving enough for retirement, what is it with all those investing acronyms, and how do you enjoy life through all the financial ups and downs? Our guest, comedian Paula Poundstone, and host of the Nobody Listens to Paula Poundstone podcast, knows a thing or two about life’s financial ups and downs. Paula was in debt for a million dollars and spent y...

How do you make, save, and invest your way to financial freedom? I’m glad you asked. Our guest, David Greene, host of the BiggerPockets Real Estate Podcast, real estate investor, and author of 5 books, including the best-seller titled Buy, Rehab, Rent, Refinance, Repeat, says you need to focus on saving your money, making more money, and investing in the best place you can. Sounds easy enough, right? So why is it so hard to reach financial freedom? David cautions you to understand your money val...

This special vault episode is about our furry best friends and explores dog ownership and the costs vs. investment. Our guest on this dogolicious episode is Krista Karpowich, who owns Wag Out Loud and is the host of the Wag Out Loud pawdcast. The Wag Out Loud podcast is a show that helps us pet parents to be the best advocates for your dog’s health and wellness. She’s here to share everything she knows about dogs, including how much money to spend on food, what to feed your dog, what kind of pet...

If you thought financial scams only happened to older people, I need you to listen to this episode. Financial scams like identity theft and fraud are happening to everyone and scamming people like you out of a lot of money. Did you know that investing scams were the #1 type of scam last year, and cryptocurrency was at the core of many of these investing scams? As our guest Sean Pyles, host of NerdWallet’s Smart Money podcast, said in the intro, “Scammers play on our emotions and make us feel lik...

Building your confidence as an investor is a journey. The early months and years of your investing journey can feel fruitless and like there isn’t a lot happening. When you first start, every dollar feels precious, and the thought of losing money is downright scary. But as our guest, Anna N’Jie Konte, President of Re-Envision Wealth and host of the Financial Powerhouse podcast, says, “Investing is truly the key to women's financial liberation. Every woman who wants to be at least financially sta...

What should you do first? Do you invest, pay off debt, buy a house, open a ROTH, start a side hustle, or buy a business? In this solo episode, I share insights from 10 people on what they think you should do with money if you only do one thing. I went out and talked to 10 experts in all fields - career, money, psychology, food, intimacy, and more and asked them this one simple question - if you only do one thing with your money, do this or don’t do this. I must tell you, this was so much fun for...

How do you teach your kids about money? A recent survey from Thriving Wallet found that 90% of Americans say money impacts their stress level. How do we change this? It starts by raising kids comfortable with money and giving them the tools to make smart money decisions. Our guest, Adam Carroll, a renowned financial literacy expert, celebrated author, and captivating speaker who has delivered over 1,000 speaking engagements worldwide and has a Ted Talk with over 6 million views, has some ideas o...

In this Ask Shannah episode, I’m sharing two listener questions from Bernice and Cindy and jumping headfirst into sharing my biggest money lessons and things I would do differently if I could do them again. Through my transparency, I hope you can see we all make money mistakes and struggle with our relationship with money. It doesn't matter how much money you have or make; you aren't immune to money mishaps. Links Thank you for being a part of our community! We couldn't do it without you. To s...

In this episode, we’re talking about one of my favorite topics: How to use travel rewards to fly and stay for free. Our guest, Lyn Mettler, discovered in 2015 a way for her family of 4 to use travel rewards to always fly for free. Today, she teaches hundreds of families her simple system through FamiliesTravelFree.com. She thinks she’s saved around $75,000 using her simple point system over the years. That’s some serious cash if you ask me. We talk about it all in this episode, including how to ...

When was the last time you found yourself emotionally spending money? In this episode, you'll discover the allure and consequences of revenge spending, a phenomenon many have succumbed to this year (including me). As the pandemic disrupted our sense of control, indulging in shopping provided a dopamine rush that momentarily eased the strain. However, while it may offer solace for our well-being, its impact on our finances deserves scrutiny. Join us in this enlightening summer vault episode as Dr...

In this Ask Shannah, I'm debunking my top 10 money myths that I think you need to know about, inspired by a question from a listener, Loraine. Many money myths or misconceptions are easy to believe because we don't openly talk about them, like the myth that renting is throwing away money. I'm debunking a lot of juicy myths in this episode. Links *Special announcement* Sign up now for my course, Unf*ck Your Money, which is open until April 3rd, and only available for 20 people. Visit etmpodlin...

Welcome to another episode of Everyone's Talkin' Money, where we dive deep into the world of personal finance and untangle the often sticky emotions that come with it. Whether you're a financial novice or a seasoned pro, today's episode is one you won't want to miss. Join us as we welcome Matt Schulz, a personal finance expert, chief credit analyst at LendingTree, and the author of "Ask Questions, Save Money, Make More." This episode explores how a simple question can unlock secrets to a wealth...

What if your thoughts create your results? That’s a powerful question for me. I’ve had a life-long relationship with negative thinking and creating my own money drama. It’s easy for me to think of something positive, but right behind it is a nagging negative thought - what if it doesn’t work out? What if I’m not good enough? What if it all falls apart? Do I really deserve this, etc.? Here’s the kicker, though, as our guest Dielle Charon, certified life coach 7, figure sales expert, and host of t...

In this Ask Shannah episode, I'm performing a Budget Rescue for Abigail, who wrote, "I’ve tried everything to reach my money goal of saving $4500 for a trip to Europe I want to take; I’ve eaten mac and cheese for a month, tried furniture flipping, and rented out a room in my house for a few months, but nothing is working. Please, Shannah, I need your help." We go deep and break down Abigail's numbers, and I offer some suggestions for how she might be able to finally reach her goal of saving for ...

Is there an art to interviewing? Our guest, Anna Papalia, an interview expert and author of Interviewology: The New Science of Interviewing, says emphatically that yes, there is. You may have seen Anna on all the social platforms. She has a huge following, and she dishes out tips on everything you want to know about interviewing and brings them all to our conversation. What do you say when you’re asked, “Tell me about yourself,” or “Why do you want to work here,” or everyone’s favorite question,...

Did you ever have bad dreams when you were a kid? Maybe you thought something was lurking in your closet or under your bed - the boogie monster. Now, that boogie monster might be replaced by bad dreams about money. Our guest, Meghan Dwyer, a Certified Financial Planner and host of the Money Isn’t Scary podcast, is here to remove all those bad money dreams and help you go from financial fear to financial freedom. I get that money might feel scary - it’s a primal need, and you can’t escape it. So,...

What is a prenup, and do we need one? A question from Brian and Tracey inspired this episode of Ask Shannah. They have friends who recently got a postnuptial agreement and are curious about how they work and if it makes sense for them. As controversial as they might be, if you're thinking about a prenup or a postnup, the first place you should start is getting some education about these hot-button documents. Jennifer Guimond-Quigley is joining us on this episode to demystify what you need to kno...