NerdWallet's Smart Money Podcast NerdWallet Personal Finance

Learn how to spot and avoid online scams, including imposter scams, investment scams, phishing, vishing and smishing.
How can you protect yourself from financial scams? 
What steps should you take if you fall victim to one of these schemes? 
Hosts Sean Pyles and Sara Rathner discuss the pressing issue of online frauds and strategies for safeguarding personal finances to help you avoid falling prey to digital tricksters. They begin with a discussion of recognizing and avoiding various scams, with tips and tricks on spotting urgent money demands, identifying false emergencies and being wary of too-good-to-be-true investment opportunities. 
Then, Lisa Schifferle from the Consumer Financial Protection Bureau joins Sean to discuss the alarming scale of scamming in America. They discuss the importance of sharing scam experiences, recognizing payment method red flags and the necessity of being vigilant with personal information. They offer insights into the dangers of unsolicited communications, sophisticated scamming operations, and essential steps for recourse if you've been scammed.
In their conversation, the Nerds discuss: online scams, cryptocurrency scams, identity theft, fraud protection, internet safety, cyber fraud, financial predators, digital deception, romance scams, phishing scams, vishing, smishing, pig butchering scams, safeguarding finances, tech support scams, scam awareness, investment scams, recouping lost funds, scam red flags, Consumer Sentinel, scam complaints, social media scams, wire transfer fraud, gift card scams, scam prevention, sharing scam stories, urgent message scam, fake family emergencies, financial loss, scam targets, elder scams, digital cons, and technology scams.
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 why homeowners insurance costs are rising, tactics to find affordable coverage, and how to know if you have enough.

Why are homeowners insurance costs rising? How can you tell if you have enough insurance? Hosts Sean Pyles and Anna Helhoski delve into the factors behind rising home insurance premiums, from climate change-induced disasters to inflation’s impact on repair costs. They’re joined by Caitlin Constantine, an insurance editor at NerdWallet, who breaks down the details. She shares actionable strategies for finding affordable coverage and navigating insurance challenges; insights into how to safeguard your home and budget; and tips for negotiating insurance rates and making informed decisions. Whether you’re a homeowner or renter, this episode provides insights into how to better manage insurance costs and understand the evolving risks of climate-driven financial challenges.

In their conversation, the Nerds discuss: homeowners insurance, rising premiums, insurance costs, climate change impact, home insurance rates, uninsured homeowners, insurance affordability, property protection, natural disasters, insurance coverage, cost of insurance, insurance trends, home insurance quotes, insurance inflation, insurance migration, home insurance policies, insurance challenges, home insurance tips, affordable insurance options, insurance availability, flood insurance, insurance shopping, insurance market trends, insurance industry, home insurance market, disaster insurance, car insurance, homeowners coverage, insurance premium factors, home insurance insights, and climate-related insurance costs.

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 control your behavioral economics biases and whether it’s ever worth it to use a credit repair service.
00:58 Behavioral Economics Biases: How can you master the psychology behind your financial decisions? Are credit repair services really worth the investment? Hosts Sean Pyles and Sara Rathner discuss behavioral finance biases to help you understand the psychological factors that influence your financial choices, including loss aversion, framing, and the gambler’s fallacy, also known as the Monte Carlo fallacy or the fallacy of the maturity of chances. They share tips and tricks on matching investments with your time frame and risk tolerance, resisting the influence of framing on your choices, and avoiding frequent checks on market fluctuations. 
10:14 Today’s Money Question: NerdWallet credit writer Amanda Barroso joins Sean and Sara to answer a listener’s question about credit repair services. They explain the purpose and costs of credit repair services, the red flags that indicate a scam, and how you can manage your credit yourself effectively for free. They also tackle the pressing question of whether credit repair services can actually improve your credit score. Their conversation explains strategies for DIY credit repair, the importance of identifying and disputing inaccuracies on credit reports, and the role of credit counseling agencies for personalized financial planning.
In their conversation, the Nerds discuss: financial psychology, credit repair services, behavioral finance, credit score, credit health, financial decisions, investment strategies, credit bureaus, credit report, risk tolerance, financial goals, money management, credit repair companies, credit repair scams, Daniel Kahneman, loss aversion, credit improvement, credit counseling, credit repair costs, DIY credit repair, financial biases, credit repair tips, financial success, wealth management, behavioral biases, credit report disputes, credit repair agencies, framing effect, credit utilization, portfolio performance, negative information credit, financial planning, and managing credit.
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.

Explore how to protect yourself from identity fraud, understand its emotional toll and learn fraud recovery steps.
How can you protect yourself from identity theft and fraud? 
What steps should you take if you become a victim of financial fraud? 
Hosts Sean Pyles and Sara Rathner delve into the unsettling world of identity theft and fraud prevention to help listeners safeguard their finances and wellbeing. They begin with a discussion on the various facets of identity theft, with tips and tricks on identifying fraudulent activity, enhancing personal banking security and dealing with the aftermath of having your identity compromised. Then, they discuss the differences between identity fraud and scams, the importance of good cyber hygiene, and the steps to take immediately if your personal information is breached.
Sean also speaks with John Breyault, Vice President of Public Policy, Telecommunications and Fraud at the National Consumers League, about the current trends in identity theft and the forms of fraud that are on the rise in 2024. They cover topics such as new account fraud, the impact of zero-day vulnerabilities on personal data security and the necessity for consumers to stay vigilant with software updates and report incidents promptly. They also explore how victims can navigate the process of recovering from fraud, including freezing credit reports, changing passwords, and engaging with financial institutions and law enforcement to document the crime and seek restitution.
In their conversation, the Nerds discuss: identity theft, fraud prevention, financial fraud, cyber security, bank account fraud, scams, identity fraud, data breach, zero-day vulnerabilities, credit report freeze, two-factor authentication, artificial intelligence, online banking security, phishing, cyber criminals, emotional impact of fraud, credit card fraud, fraud alerts, financial wellbeing, scam awareness, cyber hygiene, consumer protection, financial predators, cyber theft, financial crime, financial education, cyber vigilance, fraud recovery, financial security, scam prevention, identity protection, personal finance, cyber fraud, bank fraud, fraud detection, identity theft awareness, and fraud restitution.
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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Unlock insights on vacation spending to leverage summer travel trends, and dive into the latest employment report. 
Planning to travel this summer? In this episode of NerdWallet’s Smart Money podcast, hosts Sean Pyles and Anna Helhoski delve into the world of summer travel. They discuss the key findings from NerdWallet’s 2024 Summer Travel Report, revealing insights into Americans’ vacation plans and expected spending. NerdWallet travel rewards expert Sally French joins them to dissect the latest trends in airline fees, price fluctuations, and factors influencing travel decisions. Whether you plan on traveling across the globe, or staying local, understanding summer trends can help you optimize your travel planning.
Later in this week’s Money News roundup, Sean and Anna cover the latest money headlines, including the March employment report and a new student loan relief program. From travel and job market trends to initiatives aimed at reducing student loan debt, this episode highlights some evolving aspects of the American financial landscape.  
In their conversation, the Nerds discuss: summer travel, vacation spending, travel trends, money news, airline fees, travel expenses, travel insights, travel decisions, travel tips, travel rewards, employment report, job market trends, student loan relief, student loan debt, financial developments, personal finance, summer vacations, travel planning, inflation impact, travel industry, airline pricing, travel costs, budgeting tips, financial decisions, economic indicators, financial trends, travel research, travel data, travel analysis, vacation budget, travel hacks, budget travel, money management, financial advice, money-saving tips
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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Get a comprehensive breakdown of strategies for buying, selling, and improving homes in our homeowners lightning round.
00:42 This Month’s Nerdy Question: What’s the best thing you spent your money on this month? Hosts Sean Pyles and Sara Rathner kick off a new segment by sharing some of their recent purchases, in a new segment designed to encourage you to think about your consumption habits.
08:24 Today’s Money Question: Should you shop around for a title agency? What are the pros and cons of owning a second home? What’s the ROI for home improvement projects? What are the financial implications of using retirement funds for home improvements? Housing Nerd Kate Wood joins Sean and Sara to delve into the complexities of the homebuying process, financing home upgrades, and leveraging home equity. They discuss the risks and strategies associated with using home equity for investing in real estate, the importance of an emergency fund when becoming landlords, and the alternatives to using retirement savings for home improvements. 
In their conversation, the Nerds discuss: homeownership, smart home investments, title insurance, home equity, real estate investments, financial security, home improvement financing, title agencies, home disasters, buying a home, home equity loans, home equity line of credit (HELOC), cash-out refinancing, real estate game, emergency funds, home buying process, navigating title agencies, financial planning, home maintenance savings, intentional purchasing, home renovations ROI, anti-overconsumption, plumbing repairs, tax lien, closing costs, home buying in 2024, second property investment, becoming a landlord, IRA withdrawals, real estate attorney fees, escrow services, lender's title insurance, owner's title insurance, home value increase, property investment risks, buying second home, home buying expenses, mortgage application, real estate market trends, and decision fatigue.
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.