Life's full of big money decisions. Dividend versus growth stocks, tapping home equity, even navigating tariffs.

And for every smart tip out there, there's another one that sounds smart but isn't.

That's where NerdWallet's Smart Money podcast comes in. I'm Sean Piles, a certified financial planner professional.

And I'm Elizabeth Ayola. On NerdWallet Smart Money Podcasts, our finance journalists do the homework

so you can make confident wealth-building moves. Whether you're building your portfolio or protecting

it, we've got the facts and a little fun along the way. Follow NerdWallet Smart Money Podcasts

on your favorite podcast app. In 1300 BCE, give or take, a young woman appeared before Egypt's Pharaoh,

perhaps in a palace at one of the royal residences, or a nobles estate in some provincial town.

Wherever it was, the meeting was important.

It would change the trajectory of this girl's life. The youngling was approximately

13 years old. She likely wore a long dress of high-quality linen, perhaps some jewelry at the neck

and wrists. Her hair, whether natural or a wig, was probably a long mass of black strands, perhaps bunched at the

ends with metal caps. Around the eyes, thick black lines of coal accentuated her appearance,

a vision of beauty according to the standards of the day.

Before the girl, Egypt's pharaoh was an imposing sight.

In his early 40s, roughly, he stood tall, bedecked in his panoply. The king had prominent cheekbones

and a strong jawline. We can only wonder how the girl responded to this image of royal power.

Was she impressed or nonchalant?

Was she enthusiastic or anxious about the world she might be entering?

However you imagine it, the appearance of Setti I, King of Egypt, would be a transformative

moment in her life.

After a time, the Pharaoh nodded his approval and gestured to someone in his entourage.

...