NerdWallet's Smart Money Podcast
Managing the Job Market and Your Parents’ Finances: Tips for the Sandwich Generation
20 Mar 2025
Learn how to juggle finances for aging parents and kids, plus what the latest labor market data means for your wallet. How do you navigate the financial challenges of caring for aging parents while raising kids? How should the job market impact your financial decisions? Hosts Sean Pyles and Elizabeth Ayoola break down the realities of the sandwich generation and the latest labor market trends shaping Americans’ financial outlook. They begin with a discussion of how economic sentiment differs from reality, exploring new data on job security, wage growth, and job seekers' frustrations. Senior news writer Anna Helhoski and NerdWallet economist Elizabeth Renter join to discuss how people’s perceptions of the labor market compare to actual employment data and why younger workers feel the impact of job market shifts more acutely. Then, NerdWallet Medicare authority and certified senior advisor (CSA)® Kate Ashford joins to tackle the financial challenges of managing aging parents’ finances while also raising children. They discuss essential conversations to have with loved ones, strategies for handling medical and long-term care costs, and the importance of estate planning and power of attorney. Read NerdWallet’s new report looking at our perception of how things are relative to what they really are: https://www.nerdwallet.com/article/finance/labor-market-sentiment In their conversation, the Nerds discuss: managing parents’ finances, sandwich generation financial planning, how to care for aging parents financially, power of attorney for parents, how to talk to parents about money, estate planning for parents, best way to pay for long-term care, Medicare vs Medicaid long-term care, financial help for caregivers, how to manage caregiving costs, labor market trends 2025, job market outlook 2025, job market for Gen Z, wage growth vs inflation, worker sentiment survey, hiring trends 2025, job security in 2025, financial stress of caregiving, balancing kids and elderly parents, generational wealth planning, how to talk to family about money, financial stress and mental health, caregiving while working full-time, and budgeting for multi-generational households. To send the Nerds your money questions, call or text the Nerd hotline at 901-730-6373 or email [email protected]. Like what you hear? Please leave us a review and tell a friend. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices
Full Episode
Elizabeth, do you enjoy sandwiches? I do enjoy sandwiches, Sean. And actually, I had a fire chicken sandwich two days ago and I had an egg sandwich yesterday. And of course, no cheese because we are lactose intolerant over here.
You know, for me, I'm all about a classic PB&J, preferably with chunky peanut butter. But today we're going to talk about a different kind of sandwich, the financial one that you can find yourself in when you're of a certain age. Welcome to NerdWallet's Smart Money Podcast, where you send us your money questions and we answer them with the help of our genius nerds. I'm Sean Piles.
And I'm Elizabeth Ayola.
This episode, we're looking at how to help manage the finances of aging parents while also caring for children.
Mmm, the sandwich generation. I am inching my way closer to that cohort.
Exactly. But first, our weekly money news roundup, where we break down the latest in the world of finance to help you be smarter with your money.
Today, we're talking about the labor market and how we, the public, are feeling about the economy. NerdWallet actually has a new report looking at our perception of how things are relative to what they really are. Our news colleague, Anna Helhosky, is here with more. Hey, Ana. Hey, Elizabeth.
Ana, this was a big topic of conversation last fall, right? During election season in particular, economists were saying, hey, the U.S. economy is doing pretty darn well, while voters were saying, no, no, it's not, at least not where we live.
Yeah, that's right. And the disconnect continues. So I'm joined by NerdWallet economist, Elizabeth Renter. Welcome back, Elizabeth.
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