Best Personal Finance Podcasts and eBooks of 2021

The increasing popularity of personal finance podcasts and the availability of ebooks means it’s easier than ever to learn from the greatest personal finance experts whether you're a millennial, Gen Z, or a baby boomer. Many financial podcasts also frequently feature interviews with subject matter experts, giving you the opportunity to learn from the host and guest alike.

The Best Personal Finance Podcasts of 2021

Some podcasts take a broad approach to personal finance, while others go in-depth to explore a specific industry or financial topic. Fortunately, that means you can find something interesting and informative no matter your knowledge level. Here are some of the top personal finance podcasts for 2021.

Best general personal finance podcasts

Some podcasts either started with a narrow focus and expanded over time, or always took a general approach to personal finance. You can find episodes related to a variety of personal finance topics: budgeting, saving, investing, credit, retirement, quick loans, career advancement, student loans, money mindsets, and so much more.

Here are some of the top general personal finance podcasts of 2021:

• Brown Ambition. Tiffany “The Budgetnista” Aliche and Mandi Woodruff team up to tackle timely money topics and listener questions.

• Dave Ramsey podcast network. A collection of podcasts from personal finance expert Dave Ramsey and his colleagues. There are ten podcasts to choose from, each with its own focus.

• HerMoney with Jean Chatzky. Hosted by the best-selling author, Jean Chatzky’s Her Money podcast addresses the unique challenges women face when it comes to personal finance.

• Journey to Launch. Financial educator Jamila Souffrant’s relatable stories and thought-provoking questions for guests help listeners learn how to save money and build their net worth, and reach their financial goals.

• So Money with Farnoosh Torabi. An award-winning podcast with over 1,100 episodes. So Money tackles financial basics along with finance-related lifestyle advice from experts, and Torabi sets aside time each week to answer her listeners’ questions.

• Stacking Benjamins. A personal finance podcast that doesn’t take itself too seriously. Don’t let the conversational tone and jokes fool you, though. There are still a lot of important topics being discussed.

Some podcasts take a deeper dive into an aspect of personal finance. Or, knowing that your identity can often impact your personal finances, they’re created with a specific audience in mind.

Best stock investing podcasts — Motley Fool podcasts

Investment advice service the Motley Fool hosts five financial podcasts. Market Foolery offers a daily take on the market, while the weekly Motley Fool Money show delves into how the big news of the week could impact your investment decisions. There’s also Motley Fool Answers, a general personal finance podcast discussing saving, spending, and planning.

Best queer personal finance podcast — Queer Money

The Debt Free Guys, David and John, have experience working in financial services and paying off over $50,000 in credit card debt. Their Queer Money Podcast explores personal finance topics with an understanding and appreciation for the needs of the LGBTQ+ community.

Best real estate podcast — BiggerPockets Real Estate Podcast

For those interested in real estate as an investment opportunity, or who want to become a smarter (and wealthier) landlord, take a look at BiggerPockets. The company has created a wide range of products and services for real estate investors, and the weekly BiggerPockets Real Estate Podcast is a favorite.

Best early retirement podcast — Choose FI

Financial independence (FI) is a big topic of discussion within the personal finance community. The Choose FI podcast is all about how you can make the dream of financial independence a reality.

Best finance podcast that’s not entirely personal — Planet Money

NPR’s Planet Money is one of the original and most successful financial podcasts, but it doesn’t cover traditional personal finance topics. You’ll be entertained and learn answers to finance-related questions you might not have realized you wanted to ask: how the Christmas tree industry works, what it means to buy a toxic asset, and how the mafia is connected to recycling. It also explores more practical topics, such as what a recent jobs report could mean for your wallet, which offers big-picture context to your personal situation.

Best for offbeat topics related to money — Bad With Money

Gaby Dunn, the creator and host of Bad With Money, takes a direct approach to posing and answering less-common finance questions. What advice does a financial therapist have during the pandemic, how could reparations work, and how does a Tibetan Buddhist handle day-to-day expenses at a temple? Dunn explores the answers with her expert guests.

Even-more-niche financial podcasts

The popularity of podcasts as a medium has led to the creation of hyper-niche podcasts. These don’t always appear on best personal finance podcasts lists as they might not have a general appeal or application. However, the focus is also what can make them particularly interesting and valuable.

For example, if you work in healthcare then Nurses on Fire or Financial Residency could be a good fit. Or, perhaps you want to start a side gig? Check out Side Hustle Pro and The Side Hustle Show.

Top Personal Finance eBooks in 2021

There are far too many personal finance books to make a definitive list of the best ones. However, some classics that have been loved (and updated) over the years. And new titles incorporate today’s challenges, concerns, and opportunities.

• The Automatic Millionaire, Expanded and Updated, by David Bach. A book for beginners that can help you understand and set up systems to build wealth.

• I Will Teach You to Be Rich, by Ramit Sethi. On its second edition, this book focuses on personal finance basics, behavioral finance, and automating your finances.

• The Millionaire Next Door, by Thomas J. Stanley.

  A data-backed look at how millionaires live and the habits they share. Hint: Being a millionaire means you’ve saved a million dollars, not spent a million.

• The Money Manual, by Tanya B. Rapley. An introduction to personal finances that’s easy to read and digest. A good option if you’re starting (or restarting) your journey.

• The Price You Pay for College, by Ron Lieber. A book for parents looking to understand and make smart choices when paying for college.

• Tiny Habits, by BJ Fogg. Strictly speaking, this isn’t a personal finance book, creating new habits is often the key to long-term financial success.

• Work Your Money, Not Your Life, by Roger Ma. Tackling personal finance with a meaningful approach to career development.

• Zero Debt: The Ultimate Guide to Financial Freedom, by Lynnette Khalfani-Cox. Currently on its third edition, if you’re focused on paying off debt, this book provides an action plan with step-by-step advice.

Also, we didn’t list them here, but many of the podcast hosts have written personal finance books.

Choose Your Focus

A long list of podcasts and books may leave some people feeling overwhelmed rather than inspired. However, know that there’s no wrong place to start.

If there’s a particular interest or title that caught your eye, try it out. You can borrow eBooks from libraries for free using OverDrive, and listen to the podcasts for free using your favorite player.