Investing in 2026: Fix Your Allocation Before the Next Market Swing

NerdWallet's Smart Money Podcast

NerdWallet Personal Finance

Education, Investing, Business, How To

4.3 • 893 Ratings

🗓️ 5 January 2026

⏱️ 18 minutes

🔗️ Recording | iTunes | RSS

🧾️ Download transcript

Summary

Start your 2026 investing strategy with smarter moves, fewer fees, and less stress when markets get rocky. How should you invest in 2026 if tech stocks keep dominating the market? What’s a smart checklist for leveling up your investing this year? Hosts Sean Pyles and Elizabeth Ayoola discuss diversification and investing tools to help you grow your wealth with a plan you can stick to. Then investing writer Alana Benson joins them to unpack what 2025’s market swings can teach you, how to diversify beyond mega-cap tech stocks (including options like equal-weight funds), and how to choose the right account and platform while keeping fees and taxes in mind. Check out NerdWallet’s Best-Of Awards: https://nerdwallet.com/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: stock market 2026, how to start investing, passive investing, index funds, S&P 500, Magnificent 7, AI stock bubble, rebalancing portfolio, asset allocation, stocks vs bonds allocation, long-term investing, market volatility, timing the market, brokerage account, best brokerage for beginners, best investing app, best robo-advisor, Fidelity investing, Interactive Brokers, Wealthfront robo advisor, ETFs, target date fund, robo-advisor, IRA contribution limit 2026, Roth IRA, traditional IRA, SEP IRA, 401k match, 529 plan, college savings plan, and retirement investing. 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. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Transcript

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0:00.0	Hear that? It's your big McDonald's hunger calling, because the Big Arch is back,
0:04.8	and this time it's here to stay with juicy beef, cheddar cheese and that Big Arch sauce.
0:09.9	Hungry? You are now.
0:11.7	Order delivery on the McDonald's app.
0:15.0	Serve from 11am, upcharges and fees apply to delivery orders.
0:17.9	Subjects availability, price and participation may vary.
0:21.2	300 years of expertise in every twining sleep blend.
0:27.1	100 hours of craft in every cup.
0:31.0	Eight natural ingredients in every sip.
0:34.7	One night of winding down in every drop. Your moment of serenity. Brought to you by
0:42.8	twining sleep. Twinings. Alive in every drop. A new year can mean a lot of things. A chance to build
0:53.4	better financial habits.
0:54.7	You could pick up a new hobby,
0:56.5	or just maybe you'll get serious about building your wealth through investing.
1:00.8	Investing is the easiest money that I have ever made, Sean.
1:04.4	I sleep in my money compounds.
1:06.7	It's beautiful.
1:07.5	And hey, maybe one day you'll be able to live off that in retirement,
1:10.0	or maybe even early retirement, which I know you love.
1:12.4	Yes, I do.
1:19.6	Welcome to Nerd Wallet's Smart Money Podcast, a show where you come to us with your money questions and we, genius nerds, answer them.
1:26.2	I'm Sean Piles.
	...

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