NerdWallet's Smart Money Podcast

Learn how to plan for self-employment taxes and understand how savings interest can affect your tax bill.

How can sports betting apps affect your finances? How do you set up taxes for 1099 contract work? Hosts Sean Pyles and Elizabeth Ayoola discuss self-employment taxes to help you prepare for tax season and avoid surprises. But first, senior news writer Anna Helhoski joins them to discuss the rise of sports betting and prediction markets. They break down how legal sports betting expanded after a 2018 Supreme Court decision, how app-based betting and prop bets make it easy to wager in real time, and the growing concerns around addiction risk, regulation, and the nonstop flood of betting ads.

Then, Sean and Elizabeth dig into tax prep for contract work, including how business structure can affect self-employment taxes, ways to pay during the year through quarterly estimated payments or adjusting W-2 withholding, and how to stay organized with bookkeeping, deductible expenses, and forms like 1099-NEC. They also cover what to expect tax-wise with a Roth IRA and why high-yield savings account interest is typically taxed as ordinary income (often reported on Form 1099-INT).

Use NerdWallet’s free calculator to estimate your self-employment tax: https://www.nerdwallet.com/taxes/calculators/self-employment-tax-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

In their conversation, the Nerds discuss: self-employment taxes, 1099 contractor taxes, estimated taxes, quarterly estimated tax payments, Form 1099-NEC, Schedule C, Schedule SE, sole proprietor taxes, S corp vs LLC taxes, S corp reasonable salary, self-employment tax rate 15.3%, net earnings self-employment tax, W-2 withholding for side hustle, Form 1040-ES, bookkeeping for freelancers, deductible business expenses, home office deduction, business bank account, separate business and personal finances, business credit card for expenses, tax deadline for S corp, first time penalty abatement, IRS penalty abatement, Roth IRA taxes, Roth IRA income limits 2026, Roth IRA phase-out, traditional IRA tax deduction, SEP IRA, SIMPLE IRA, tax forms for freelancers, Form 1099-INT, high-yield savings account taxes, sports betting taxes, sports betting apps, DraftKings, FanDuel, prediction markets, Kalshi, and Polymarket.

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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Get ideas for spending less in February and learn how deferment affects Public Service Loan Forgiveness (PSLF) payments.

How can a month-long spending challenge reset your money habits? Should you keep paying student loans while in grad school if you’re close to Public Service Loan Forgiveness and planning a move? Hosts Sean Pyles and Elizabeth Ayoola discuss no-spend experiments and “friction” strategies to help you build spending habits that stick while juggling big life changes. Joined by personal finance Nerd Amanda Barroso, they begin with a discussion of designing a February no-spend challenge, with tips and tricks on setting rules that fit your life, deciding where the saved money will go, and avoiding a binge-and-purge rebound.

Then, lending Nerd Kate Wood joins Sean and Elizabeth to help answer a listener’s question about how to weigh student loan payments against saving for a new home. They discuss how deferment affects qualifying PSLF payments, what to check before switching repayment plans or taking out new grad school loans, and how to prioritize cash flow when you’re balancing a car payment, a mortgage, and an emergency fund.

See NerdWallet’s list of the best private student loans: https://www.nerdwallet.com/student-loans/best/private-student-loans 

See all the winners of NerdWallet’s Best-Of Awards: https://www.nerdwallet.com/l/awards?utm_source=sm&utm_medium=podcast&utm_campaign=cm_organic_020226_podcast_sm_desc_allepisodes_best-of-awards 

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

In their conversation, the Nerds discuss: no-spend challenge, low-spend challenge, spending freeze, budgeting challenge, money habits, impulse spending, track expenses, friction-maxxing, cash-only budget, stop online shopping, takeout spending, spending triggers, phone addiction and spending, Brick phone blocker, attention and spending, sinking fund, emergency fund, high-yield savings account, student loan deferment, student loan payments in grad school, Public Service Loan Forgiveness, PSLF qualifying payments, PSLF payment count, qualifying employer PSLF, income-driven repayment, PAYE repayment plan, Income-Based Repayment, Income-Contingent Repayment, Repayment Assistance Plan, graduate student loan changes 2026, Grad PLUS loans, federal student loan borrowing limits, professional degree loan cap, nursing graduate student loans, buying a house with student loans, mortgage planning, moving costs, car payment budget, and student loan forgiveness uncertainty.

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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See what gold and silver highs mean and how to plan retirement spending without the 80% rule.

Is gold’s record run a sign you should buy? Do you really need 80% of your income in retirement? Hosts Sean Pyles and Elizabeth Ayoola discuss retirement income rules of thumb to help you understand how to estimate what you might spend after you stop working. But first, senior news writer Anna Helhoski joins Sean and Elizabeth to break down the precious-metals rally with investing writer Sam Taube. They discuss why investors treat gold and silver as “safe havens,” how a weakening U.S. dollar and tariff-driven uncertainty can move prices, and what to consider if you’re deciding between physical metals and gold ETFs.

Then, James Bashall, COO and advisor for NerdWallet Wealth Partners, joins Sean and Elizabeth to discuss how to plan for retirement without blindly relying on the 80% rule. They discuss where the 80% benchmark came from, how other shortcuts like the 4% rule and the “rule of $1,000” can shape your thinking, and why running multiple spending scenarios (including a “spending smile”) can help you balance travel, inflation, and health care costs over time.

Wondering how to buy gold? You have several options, including bullion, gold stocks, gold funds and gold futures. Learn more about the pros and cons of each: https://www.nerdwallet.com/investing/learn/how-to-buy-gold 

If you want to learn more about working with a financial advisor, then visit NerdWallet Wealth Partners at nerdwalletwealthpartners.com/smart

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

In their conversation, the Nerds discuss: gold prices, silver prices, gold record high, investing in precious metals, gold vs silver, safe haven asset, hedge against inflation, hedge against a falling dollar, U.S. dollar decline, dollar index, portfolio diversification, gold ETF, best gold ETFs, physical gold, gold bullion, buying gold coins, storing gold safely, selling gold jewelry, central banks buying gold, geopolitical uncertainty investing, tariffs and markets, market volatility hedge, Goldman Sachs gold forecast, commodity investing, rebalancing portfolio, silver industrial demand, silver for electronics, AI chips silver demand, electric vehicle silver demand, retirement income replacement, 80% rule retirement, retirement spending, 4% rule, withdrawal rate, Monte Carlo retirement simulation, and retirement healthcare costs.

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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Protect your identity from tax-season scams and learn when 401(k) and IRA rollovers make sense.

How do you roll over old 401(k)s and IRAs? And is a mega backdoor Roth worth the hassle? Hosts Sean Pyles and Elizabeth Ayoola answer listener questions about retirement account rollovers, including when consolidation can help and how to avoid common missteps. But first, they kick off Identity Theft Awareness Week (and tax season) with a refresher on how you can protect your data, including pausing before you click or pay, updating passwords and tightening account security, and recognizing common scam tactics like fake websites, IRS impostors, smishing, and AI-powered impersonation.

Then, investing Nerd Sam Taube joins Sean and Elizabeth for a lightning round all about retirement account rollovers. They answer listener questions about whether to roll over and consolidate multiple old 401(k) accounts, whether a mega backdoor Roth is worth the hassle and potential tax complexity, whether consolidating multiple IRAs is likely to boost returns or mainly simplify finances, and whether rollover IRAs have the same bankruptcy and creditor protections as 401(k)s.

Links discussed in this episode: 


Report fraud through the FTC: https://reportfraud.ftc.gov/


5 Low-Cost Target-Date Funds for 2026 https://www.nerdwallet.com/investing/learn/what-is-a-target-date-fund-and-when-should-you-invest-in-one 


Mutual Fund Calculator: Growth and Fees https://www.nerdwallet.com/investing/calculators/mutual-fund-calculator 


Best IRA Accounts for 2026 https://www.nerdwallet.com/retirement/best/ira-accounts 

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

In their conversation, the Nerds discuss: tax season scams, identity theft, phishing scams, smishing, gift card draining, fake websites, IRS impostor scam, government impostor scam, emergency scam, bogus debt scam, employment scams, AI scams, voice cloning, deepfake scams, data breaches, mail theft, public Wi-Fi risks, password updates, credit report monitoring, billing statement review, Federal Trade Commission, reporting fraud, 401(k) rollover, IRA rollover, consolidating retirement accounts, legacy 401(k)s, target-date funds, expense ratios, mutual fund screener, after-tax 401(k) contributions, employer match, mega backdoor Roth, Roth conversion, pro-rata rule, taxes on investment gains, conversion limits, managed accounts vs self-directed investing, robo-advisor investing, beneficiary organization, bankruptcy protection, creditor protection, and rollover IRA protections.

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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Find out how AI shopping could tempt your budget and how to choose a city for a new career with confidence.

Is AI shopping about to turn your chatbot into a checkout line? How do you choose a medical residency program when an algorithm makes the final call? Hosts Sean Pyles and Elizabeth Ayoola discuss residency location trade-offs to help a listener understand what to prioritize during low-pay training years. But first, news writer Anna Helhoski joins Sean and Elizabeth to discuss the rise of AI shopping inside chats. They discuss how Google and other platforms are weaving deals into AI conversations, how ads and “instant checkout” could blur the line between recommendations and advertising, and why this convenience could make impulse spending a lot easier.

Then, producer Tess Vigeland joins Sean and Elizabeth to help answer a listener’s question about how to approach a medical residency match decision when weighing New York City prestige against a lower-cost path. They discuss ways to save in expensive cities without feeling like you’re missing out, why starting retirement contributions earlier can meaningfully change your long-term results even if the amount is small, and how focusing on skill-building and lifestyle fit can matter more than trying to make one “perfect” career choice.

Are you on track to save enough for retirement? Use NerdWallet’s free retirement calculator to check your progress, see how much retirement income you'll have and estimate how much more you should save: https://www.nerdwallet.com/investing/calculators/retirement-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

In their conversation, the Nerds discuss: AI shopping, ChatGPT ads, Google AI Mode, in-chat checkout, shopping in chatbots, sponsored results, personalized deals, impulse buying, comparison shopping, price check online, online shopping security, credit card information privacy, AI product research, AI shopping recommendations, interpreting online reviews, finding deals with AI, Shopify checkout, Etsy shopping, Walmart online shopping, Universal Commerce Protocol, Direct Offers, AI personal shopper, AI shopping agent, buy now pay later, return policy online shopping, save receipts screenshots, medical residency match, residency ranking algorithm, choosing a residency program, New York City cost of living, living on a resident salary, prestige vs cost of living, saving during residency, retirement savings early, compound interest, NerdWallet retirement calculator, emergency fund during training, roommates to save money, lifestyle creep, and career networking.

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