In this episode of PennyWise, host John Kiernan discusses the key elements of identity theft protection with a pair of experts who have a ton of experience protecting consumers: Eva Velasquez, CEO of the Identity Theft Resource Center, and William Kresse, aka Professor Fraud.

Before taking the helm of the Identity Theft Resource Center, a non-profit organization dedicated to helping victims and educating the public, Eva worked with the San Diego District Attorney’s Office and the San Diego Better Business Bureau. William is an Associate Professor at Governors State University and the former Director of the Center for the Study of Fraud and Corruption. He’s also a Certified Fraud Examiner and a former Chicago Election Commissioner.

They provide valuable advice on how to keep your identity safe and what to do if some fraud sneaks past your defenses.

More on this episode from WalletHub:

• Best Identity Theft Protection Services of 2026
• Identity Theft Insurance: $1 Million in Coverage
• Identity Theft: What It Is, How It Happens & the Best Protection
• 6 Steps You Should Take Following Identity Theft
• Bank Account Monitoring: Keep Your Cash Safe
• Lost Wallet Assistance: Avoid Hassle & Identity Theft
• Address Change Monitoring: Keep Your Mail Safe

If you want to take your finances to the next level, sign up for a WalletHub Premium subscription. You can get personalized credit-improvement help, budgeting tools, identity protection and more. And if you want to find the best financial products, always add “WalletHub” to your search!

In this episode of PennyWise, host John Kiernan is joined by Professor Anthony Dukes to discuss whether it makes sense to join a warehouse club in search of savings amidst inflated prices at supermarkets, department stores, gas stations and pretty much everywhere else. Anthony is the Robert E. Brooker Chair in Marketing at the USC Marshall School of Business, Co-Director of the school’s Initiative on Digital Competition, and Associate Editor of the journal Management Science. He and John cover the benefits and drawbacks of warehouse clubs, who should and should not join one, and other money-saving strategies for shoppers. If you need a new way to save, give this episode a listen and maybe join the club.

More on this episode from WalletHub:

• Best Credit Cards for Warehouse Clubs
• Best Credit Cards for Groceries
• Costco Credit Card
• Costco Business Credit Card
• BJ’s Credit Card
• Sam's Club Credit Card

If you want to take your finances to the next level, sign up for a WalletHub Premium subscription. You can get personalized credit-improvement help, budgeting tools, identity protection and more. And if you want to find the best financial products, always add “WalletHub” to your search!

In this episode of PennyWise, host John Kiernan is joined by airline industry expert Blaise Waguespack to discuss what’s next for budget travelers in the wake of Spirit Airlines’ collapse. Blaise is a professor at Embry‑Riddle Aeronautical University in Florida, focusing on airline marketing and service quality measurement. He and John discuss the remaining budget airline options, money-saving strategies for cost-conscious vacationers, and more. If you need the cheapest flight possible, give this episode a listen.

More on this episode from WalletHub:

• Best Airlines of 2026
• Best Airline Credit Cards
• Best Frequent Flyer Programs
• How to Travel on a Budget

If you want to take your finances to the next level, sign up for a WalletHub Premium subscription. You can get personalized credit-improvement help, budgeting tools, identity protection and more. And if you want to find the best financial products, always add “WalletHub” to your search!

In this episode of PennyWise, host John Kiernan is joined by guest Stacie Rihl to discuss how to go about buying your first home. Stacie hosts the “Your First Home” podcast and helps connect first-time homebuyers with the right real estate agents. She has also worked as both a real estate agent and a loan officer for a mortgage company, so she’s the perfect person to coach us through the home-buying process. John and Stacie discuss how to prepare before you even start shopping for a home, tips for navigating an expensive, competitive market, common mistakes to avoid and more.

More on this episode from WalletHub:

• Compare Mortgage Rates
• Mortgage Calculator
• Best Cities for First-Time Homebuyers
• Rent or Buy Calculator
• How to Save for a House
• Best Home Improvement Credit Cards

If you want to take your finances to the next level, sign up for a WalletHub Premium subscription. You can get personalized credit-improvement help, budgeting tools, identity protection and more. And if you want to find the best financial products, always add “WalletHub” to your search!

In this episode of PennyWise, host John Kiernan is joined by guest Brian Bastin to discuss how to buy a car without breaking the bank. Brian spent 14 years as a general manager and minority operating partner of Mercedes-Benz of Palm Beach, and he is the Associate Dean for Academic Affairs and Program Director at Keiser University’s Flagship Campus, where he teaches automotive management and finance. He’s the perfect person to teach us how to navigate the car-buying process with minimal stress and maximum savings. John and Brian discuss how to prepare before you visit the car lot, how to deal with the sales team, and much more.

More on this episode from WalletHub:

• Compare Car Loan Rates
• Car Affordability Calculator
• Car Lease or Buy Calculator
• Best Credit Cards for Buying a Car
• Credit Score Needed to Buy a Car
• New vs. Used Cars

If you want to take your finances to the next level, sign up for a WalletHub Premium subscription. You can get personalized credit-improvement help, budgeting tools, identity protection and more. And if you want to find the best financial products, always add “WalletHub” to your search!

In this episode of PennyWise, host John Kiernan is joined by Dr. Nancy McGehee, a professor of hospitality and tourism management at Virginia Tech. John and Nancy discuss how to save money on summer travel, from when to book to what common mistakes you should avoid making. If you want to travel this summer but you’re working with a tight budget, these tips and tricks could make the difference.

More on this episode from WalletHub:

• How to Travel on a Budget
• Budget Family Travel Tips
• Best Summer Destinations
• Most Fun Cities
• Best Travel Credit Cards
• Best Travel Awards

If you want to take your finances to the next level, sign up for a WalletHub Premium subscription. You can get a personalized debt repayment plan, along with budgeting tools, credit-improvement help, identity protection and more. And if you want to find the best financial products, always add “WalletHub” to your search!

In this episode of PennyWise, host John Kiernan is joined by Dr. Michael Lynn, a professor of consumer behavior and marketing at the Cornell School of Hotel Administration, an expert on tipping, and author of the new book “The Psychology of Tipping: Scientific Insights for Services Customers, Workers, and Managers.” John and Dr. Lynn discuss how tipping has expanded over the years and what listeners can do to reward good service while protecting their finances.

More on this episode from WalletHub:

• WalletHub Tipping Survey
• How Much Should You Tip?
• Best Credit Cards for Dining
• Tip Validator
• Budgeting Tools

If you want to take your finances to the next level, sign up for a WalletHub Premium subscription. You can get a personalized debt repayment plan, along with budgeting tools, credit-improvement help, identity protection and more. And if you want to find the best financial products, always add “WalletHub” to your search!

In this episode of PennyWise, host John Kiernan is joined by Dan Ariely, a professor of business administration at Duke University, a founding member of the Center for Advanced Hindsight, the co-founder of several companies, and the author of several books including “Dollars and Sense: How We Misthink Money and How to Spend Smarter.” John and Dan talk about what people can do to save hundreds of dollars in just a few weeks, hoping to help ease the burden on folks during this affordability crisis. In other words, this could be a very valuable listen.

More on this episode from WalletHub:

• How to Save Money: 23 Tips for Everyday Savings
• How to Save Money on Groceries
• How to Save Money on Gas
• Household Budgeting Guide
• Budgeting Tools
• Expense Tracker

If you want to take your finances to the next level, sign up for a WalletHub Premium subscription. You can get a personalized debt repayment plan, along with budgeting tools, credit-improvement help, identity protection and more.