NerdWallet’s trusted finance journalists answer real-world money questions to help you make smarter financial decisions with confidence. Each episode dives deep into topics like budgeting, saving, investing, home buying, and credit cards, cutting through misinformation to bring you clear, actionable advice backed by thorough research. By the end of every episode, you’ll have the latest financial insights and the tools you’ll need to manage your money wisely, build wealth, and plan for life’s ...
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NerdWallet Personal Finance Podcasts
The Brown Ambition Podcast helps you unapologetically build wealth by saving, investing and making smart career choices — on your own d@mn terms! New episodes Wednesdays and Fridays.
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Host Jill Schlesinger, CFP®, tackles sometimes uncomfortable and even controversial money and investing issues, without the financial jargon, to get to the heart of what’s important for anyone to know. Jill takes listener phone calls and interviews informative and entertaining guests each week to uncover surprising insights and provide actionable information so you can make the most of your money. Have a question you want us to answer on the show? Head to Jillonmoney.com and click the "Conta ...
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Caleb Kioh, Founder of the WalletGyde, talks with top industry professionals to go on a financial journey that creates a platform for success. The habits learned will change your financial lifestyle so you can more easily manage your money. Follow @WalletGyde on IG to develop the right habits to save!
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We're in our 50s and seeking greater financial flexibility as we start to plan for our retirement. Have a money question? Email us here…
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Life’s Big Buys: Travel Splurges and When to Cut Retirement Savings for a Home Down Payment
30:10
30:10
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30:10Learn how to shift savings between retirement and a home down payment without derailing your future. How do you balance big life experiences with long-term financial goals? Is it smart to scale back retirement savings to buy a home sooner? Hosts Sean Pyles and Elizabeth Ayoola discuss wedding budgeting, honeymoon spending, and saving trade-offs to …
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Am I on track to have a bit more flexibility, or even retire, in just over two years at the age of 62? Have a money question? Email us here…
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How to Plan Your Next Act in Your 50s (Without Burning It All Down)
38:26
38:26
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38:26In this BAQA episode, Mandi Money is joined by legendary money expert and Money Coach, Lynnette Khalfani‑Cox, to answer a powerful question from listener Raquel: “I’m 56, I like my paralegal job, I love my podcast, and I know I can’t afford to fully retire… so what does my next act even look like?” Together, we talk honestly about purpose vs. profi…
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After playing with a bunch of retirement calculators, and seeing really positive results, are the numbers too good to be true? Have a money question? Email us here…
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Understanding 2026 Housing Pressure Points and Finding Your “Enough” Number for Retirement
34:28
34:28
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34:28See what 2026’s housing costs and mortgage rates might mean for your homebuying plans and learn when you can safely coast on retirement savings. How is the housing market reshaping homebuying going into 2026? When can you stop saving for retirement and still feel confident about your future? Hosts Sean Pyles and Elizabeth Ayoola discuss Coast FI an…
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After doing my best to keep our financial house in order, is it time to enlist the help of a financial planner? Have a money question? Email us here…
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No-Contact Family Trend, Record Black Friday Spending, Chris & Yanely Are Back!
1:33:48
1:33:48
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1:33:48This week on the show, we’re getting real about the holiday season at the Brown Table because as much as we love the food, the vibes, and a good family kiki, the holidays can bring up a lot. From navigating messy family dynamics to redefining traditions, the hosts open up about what it means to protect your peace, your energy, and yes…your bank acc…
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How should we be managing our finances after learning that we'll need to care for a family member? Have a money question? Email us here Subs…
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With a toddler in the mix, can we afford to cut back at work and spend more time with our child? Have a money question? Email us here Subscrib…
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Master Multiple Credit Cards Without Tanking Your Credit Score (Plus: Giving Tuesday Tips)
35:52
35:52
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35:52Learn how to donate effectively for Giving Tuesday and juggle multiple credit cards without hurting your credit score. How can you donate more intentionally on Giving Tuesday without blowing your budget? Does having multiple credit cards hurt your credit score? Hosts Elizabeth Ayoola and Sean Pyles discuss charitable giving and credit card manageme…
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I think we have enough money but need some help convincing my wife that we're in solid shape. Have a money question? Email us here Subscribe to …
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BA Throwback: A World Without White People? ft. Sky Full of Elephants Author Cebo Campbell
1:11:24
1:11:24
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1:11:24Hi BA Fam - I hope you had the loveliest, peaceful Thanksgiving week and weekend. I will be back with a brand new Brown Table this Weds, and I am recording new BA Q&A episodes as well! So please submit any questions to [email protected] or DM me on IG @brownambitionpodcast. In the meantime, enjoy this rewind episode of my conversation …
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With the year coming to a close, and with all the uncertainty given the tariffs and the recent government shutdown, Black Friday seems like a good time for a heat check on where things stand in the economy. To help explain it all, we're joined by Diane Swonk, the Chief Economist at KPMG, who has always been a go-to source to make sense of short, an…
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Fix Emotional Spending Habits with Feel-Good Finance and Learn How to Manage Finances Post-Job Loss
38:12
38:12
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38:12Learn how to navigate job loss and reshape your money mindset to feel more in control — emotionally and financially. What should you do with your money after losing a job? How can you feel better about money and stop stressing about finances? Hosts Sean Pyles and Elizabeth Ayoola discuss managing job loss and improving your relationship with money …
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The sluggish employment landscape explains why workers are now “job hugging,” rather than job hopping. The challenge is to fight the urge to hunker down and instead try to be proactive and focus on what you can control. That means raise your hand for any new opportunity at your company, update your LinkedIn profile/fire up your network, and conside…
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Thanksgiving Crossover: Brown Ambition x Nerdwallet's SmartMoney Podcast
39:28
39:28
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39:28Happy Thanksgiving week, beloved BA Fam! As a special treat, I wanted to share a crossover episode with Nerdwallet's SmartMoney Podcast, featuring their incredible hosts Sean Piles and Elizabeth Ayoola. We had SUCH a good conversation about career strategies, salary negotiations, and how to navigate this wild job market we’re in right now. We talke…
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Our current asset allocation is 65% equities, 7% bonds, 28% cash/CDs, etc. My wife is concerned that we are taking on too much risk given our ages. Is she correct? Have a money question? Email us here…
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I have a 10 year ARM and I'm wondering if I should refinance or ride it out a bit longer and hope that rates continue to come down? Have a money question? Email us here…
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Outsmart Black Friday Hype and Tackle Credit Card Debt with a Budget Reset
39:26
39:26
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39:26Learn how to spot real Black Friday deals and reshape your budget with a step-by-step money makeover. What should you watch for on Black Friday to avoid fake discounts? How can you reset your budget when debt and housing costs squeeze you? Hosts Sean Pyles and Elizabeth Ayoola discuss holiday shopping and budgeting to help you spend smarter without…
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I made a big move in 2023 and am considering doing it again and I need your input because I don't want to blow up our retirement plans. Have a money question? Email us here…
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Is Your Achievement Ladder Holding You Back? ft. Monique Shields [WASHDAY WOOSAH]
58:50
58:50
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58:50This week, Mandi Money sits down with powerhouse executive coach and host of Ambition Without Compromise, Monique R. Shields a woman whose mission is simple but profound: to liberate the professional imaginations of women of color. From being a “lost English major” to coaching leaders across mental health, tech, and corporate spaces, Monique shares…
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BA QA: A Husband's $50,000 Loss; Sexually Harassed at Work and HR Dropped the Ball
16:25
16:25
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16:25Hey, hey BA fam! This week we're revisiting two intense listener questions: Financial Infidelity: When Your Partner Invests Behind Your Back Listener Robin's husband made an over $50,000 investment on credit cards without telling her—and lost it all. Mandi breaks down how to protect yourself: separate your finances, secure bank accounts with strong…
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A Simple, Tax-Smart Account for Charitable Giving
27:35
27:35
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27:35With Thanksgiving around the corner, the charitable giving season is upon us and changes are afoot. Of course, most people give because they want to do good, but the tax rules around philanthropy have always been an added sweetener. To break it all down, we're joined by Fred Kaynor from DAFgiving360. The mission of DAFgiving360 is to increase chari…
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Thanksgiving Savings You’ll Actually Notice and Tax Filing Tips for Common Law Couples
24:42
24:42
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24:42Learn how to save on Thanksgiving dinner and decide if filing taxes jointly makes sense for common law couples. How can you trim your Thanksgiving costs without skimping on the feast? Should common law spouses file taxes jointly or separately? Hosts Sean Pyles and Elizabeth Ayoola dig into tax choices for couples to help you understand which filing…
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With hopes of calling it quits in just a few years, when should I pull money from my different "buckets" once I get into retirement? Have a money question? Email us here…
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Best of BA: C-Suite Edition ft. Black Girls Code CEO Christina Mancini
54:06
54:06
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54:06This week, Mandi Money brings the BAFAM a special “Best Of” mash-up episode featuring two powerhouse women who’ve carved out space in the C-suite and beyond. From boldly leaving corporate America to building whole new tables (not just getting a seat at one), these conversations are all about self-belief, wealth-building, and trusting your gut—even …
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With a large inheritance sitting in cash, should I leave it as is and take the peace of mind it provides, or invest it? Have a money question? Email us here…
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I find myself at a fork in the road, and I'm hoping you can help me choose the right financial path. Have a money question? Email us here…
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Generational Wealth Built from Scratch and an Emergency Fund on a Deadline
39:47
39:47
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39:47Learn how first-generation earners build wealth and how to grow an emergency fund before a possible job loss. How do first-generation earners start and protect generational wealth? How can you bulk up an emergency fund fast if layoffs are looming? Hosts Sean Pyles and Elizabeth Ayoola discuss first-generation wealth building and how to build an eme…
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Is it foolish if I spend $300k on a renovation project during retirement? Have a money question? Email us here Subscribe to …
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What it Means to Be Black In Tech in the Age of AI ft. C.J. Farley [WASHDAY WOOSAH]
53:01
53:01
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53:01In this week’s episode of Brown Ambition, Mandi Money sits down with author C.J. Farley to unpack his new book Who Knows You by Heart a story that hits right at the intersection of ambition, identity, and the harsh realities of working in big tech. Farley takes us behind the curtain of corporate life through the journey of Octavia, a young Black wo…
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One Couple's $13,000 Debt Dilemma, plus Are HSAs Worth It? [BA QA]
25:40
25:40
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25:40On today's BA QA, where I take your questions about life, money, career and everything in between (!), we're revisiting past questions on managing debt as a couple, navigating military benefits during a cross-country move, and figuring out whether high-deductible health plans are actually worth it . Quick reminder: if you want YOUR question feature…
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Retirement and college expenses are on a collision course, how should we handle both? Have a money question? Email us here Subsc…
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IRA Conversion Strategies and Reading Economic Signals During a Shutdown
23:24
23:24
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23:24Discover how current economic data affect you and decide if a Roth or Traditional IRA is the most appropriate option for your retirement savings. What’s happening with layoffs and the economy right now? How should you be thinking about the data used to determine the economy's health, and what does it mean for your personal finances? Hosts Elizabeth…
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Should we run screaming from a potential financial planner or am I overreacting? Have a money question? Email us here Subscribe to…
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1
How to Boycott Big Business This Holiday Season
46:51
46:51
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46:51Hey BA Fam! As the temperatures drop and the days get shorter, Mandi Money is keeping it real about what this season can bring emotionally, financially, and politically. In this episode, she dives into how seasonal changes can impact our moods and motivation, why planning ahead for the holidays can save both your sanity and your wallet, and how col…
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Will we blow up our financial plan if we tap the TSP to fund a renovation project? Have a money question? Email us here Subscribe to…
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With a large inheritance sitting in CDs, should we leave the money as is or start investing it? Have a money question? Email us here S…
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1
First-Generation Wealth Building and the Truth About Stablecoin Yields
41:30
41:30
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41:30Learn how first-generation wealth builders create financial freedom and what stablecoins could mean for your savings. How do you build wealth when you’re the first in your family to be able to do so? And can stablecoins really out-earn your savings account? Host Elizabeth Ayoola and Sean Pyles explore generational wealth-building and the myths and …
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I think now is the time for a financial advisor. How do I find the right one? Have a money question? Email us here Subscribe to …
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How To Thrive More and Suffer Less In a Leadership Role ft. C-Suite Coach Muriel Wilkins [WASHDAY WOOSAH]
58:48
58:48
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58:48In this week’s Washday Woosah episode, Mandi Money sits down with executive coach and author Muriel Wilkins for a powerful conversation about leadership, self-efficacy, and the internal work required to truly step into your power. Muriel host of Harvard Business Review’s Coaching Real Leaders podcast and author of Leadership Unblocked, pulls back t…
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With early retirement in our plans, should we switch from retirement accounts to a brokerage account? Have a money question? Email us here…
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Open Enrollment 2026: How to Choose Dental, Vision, Life and Disability (Plus: When to Refinance a Home)
37:23
37:23
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37:23Learn how to pick dental, vision, life, and disability coverage with confidence, and when refinancing a home can actually save you money. Is now a good time to refinance your mortgage? Which open enrollment benefits are worth it this year? Hosts Sean Pyles and Elizabeth Ayoola talk to an expert about the ins and outs of open enrollment in 2026. But…
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With some bad financial decisions in our past, and a large inheritance now in the picture, we're terrified of making the wrong move. Have a money question? Email us here…
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How to Cope with Financial Uncertainty in 2025 [Solo Ep]
50:07
50:07
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50:07Hey BA Fam! this week Mandi Money is flying solo with a heart-to-heart about what it really looks like to find peace in uncertain times. Between election night energy, economic anxiety, and personal challenges with depression and anxiety, I’ve been reminded how important it is to slow down, show yourself compassion, and stay connected to your peopl…
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With a recent divorce now in the rearview mirror, what's the right financial game plan to ensure that I'm still on track for a solid retirement? Have a money question? Email us here…
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With four rental properties providing income, and low expenses, is it okay if I transition into part-time work? Have a money question? Email us here…
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Healthcare Open Enrollment Tips for 2026 and a Catch-Up Plan for Retirement
34:38
34:38
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34:38Learn how to pick the right health plan for your situation and build a stronger retirement even if you feel behind. How do you choose the best health plan during open enrollment? What can you do to secure retirement if savings feel like they’re falling short? In the first of a two-part series, hosts Sean Pyles and Elizabeth Ayoola break down open e…
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Even though my husband is currently furloughed, is it okay if I start looking for a new (lesser paying) job? Have a money question? Email us here…
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