The Fed Just Cut Rates — Here’s How to Make the Most of It (Plus: How to Freeze Your Credit)

NerdWallet's Smart Money Podcast

Learn how the Fed rate cut impacts loans and savings, then find out when to freeze your credit and how to do it fast.

What does a Federal Reserve rate cut mean for your wallet? Should you freeze your credit if an internet provider runs a soft pull? Hosts Sean Pyles and Elizabeth Ayoola kick off this episode with senior news writer Anna Helhoski to unpack the Federal Open Market Committee’s (FOMC) new federal funds rate target range and how it filters through to credit cards, mortgages, auto loans, personal loans, and high-yield savings accounts and CDs. They explain why Fed chair Jerome Powell framed this as a “risk-management cut,” what dissent within the committee signals, how a cooling labor market and sticky inflation shape the outlook for additional cuts, and what stock market moves might follow. Plus, what all of that means for your near-term borrowing and saving decisions.

Then, NerdWallet’s Amanda Barroso joins Sean and Elizabeth for a practical lesson in credit freeze 101. They start with when and why to freeze your credit, with tips on freezing at all three bureaus, using apps for fast thawing, and setting time-boxed thaws before major credit applications. They also discuss soft vs. hard inquiries, fraud alerts vs. credit freezes vs. credit locks, and common pitfalls (forgetting one bureau, thawing too late at the car dealership, weak passwords) to help you understand when to keep your reports “frozen like Elsa,” but still move fast when you need new credit.

Fed Trims Rate: What Does It Mean For You?

https://www.nerdwallet.com/article/finance/fed-rate-cut-sept-2025

How to Unfreeze Your Credit With Equifax, Experian and TransUnion https://www.nerdwallet.com/article/finance/how-to-unfreeze-your-credit

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In their conversation, the Nerds discuss: credit card APR, mortgage refinance rates, savings account interest rates, certificate of deposit rates, stock market after Fed decision, inflation forecast, unemployment trends, federal funds rate explained, Trump pressure on Fed, dissent at FOMC, labor market cooling, tariffs and inflation, soft credit check vs hard credit check, how to unfreeze credit, thaw credit timeline, fraud alert vs credit freeze, credit lock vs credit freeze, identity theft protection steps, FTC identity theft reports, data breach protection, certified mail credit freeze, password manager for credit bureaus, how to freeze credit by phone, and credit freeze pitfalls.

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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