Donna LeValley
Donna joined Kiplinger as a personal finance writer in 2023. She spent more than a decade as the contributing editor of J.K.Lasser's Your Income Tax Guide and edited state specific legal treatises at ALM Media. She has shared her expertise as a guest on Bloomberg, CNN, Fox, NPR, CNBC and many other media outlets around the nation. She is a graduate of Brooklyn Law School and the University at Buffalo.
Latest articles by Donna LeValley
-
Where to Move Your Money Before the Next Fed Meeting
Savings rates remain high for now. But with the Fed likely to cut rates later this year, it's time for savers to lock in rates now.
By Donna LeValley
-
Quiz: Understanding Roth Conversions
Quiz Discover if a Roth conversion is the right move for you by taking our quick quiz.
By Donna LeValley
Quiz -
6 Champagne Problems Successful Retirees Face
What do you do if your biggest financial threat is simply having too much of a good thing — money?
By Donna LeValley
-
IRA, SIMPLE and SEP Rules at a Glance: Contribution Limits, Income Limits and Rollover Options for 2025 and 2026
Here are IRA contribution limits, income limits and rollover rules for Roth, traditional, SIMPLE and SEP IRAs at a glance.
By Donna LeValley
-
The 10 'Real' Richest Counties in the US
Real Estate In America's wealthiest counties, high incomes are common, yet the cost-of-living burdens are often lower than those typically found in major metro areas.
By Dan Burrows
Real Estate -
Turning 65 in 2026? Here Is Exactly How to Sign Up for Medicare
Whether you’re months away from your 65th birthday or plan to work past retirement age, here are the steps to secure your Medicare coverage and avoid costly mistakes.
By Donna LeValley
-
How to Use Your Health Savings Account in Retirement
Strategic saving and investing of HSA funds during your working years can unlock the full potential of these accounts to cover healthcare costs and more in retirement.
By Donna LeValley
-
Six Changes to Social Security in 2026
Big changes come to Social Security every year, impacting everything from the size of your benefit check to your full retirement age. Here's what you need to know.
By Donna LeValley
-
When Will Social Security and Medicare Run Out of Money?
Social Security and Medicare trust funds, which help pay benefits, are projected to run dry. What will happen then?
By Elaine Silvestrini
-
11 Costly Medicare Mistakes You Should Avoid Making
Medicare If you don't make the right choices, you could end up with higher Medicare premiums and high out-of-pocket costs.
By Donna LeValley
Medicare -
Eight Things Medicare Doesn't Cover
Medicare Part A and Part B leave gaps in your healthcare coverage. But Medicare Advantage has problems, too.
By Donna LeValley
-
9 Medicare Changes to Watch in 2026
Learn about the benefits that become permanent features of Medicare in 2026 and how they have been changed or updated since their inception.
By Donna LeValley
-
What You Will Pay for Medicare in 2026
Medicare premiums for 2026, as well as the costs of Parts A, B, and D, have increased. Here is how much you'll pay in 2026.
By Donna LeValley
-
2026 To-Do List: 7 Best Financial Moves to Make for a Happy New Year
Checklist of 7 Easy Things You Can Do In 2026 To Improve and Secure Your Finances
By Donna LeValley
-
Fixed vs. Adjustable-Rate Mortgages: Which Is Better for Buying a Home?
real estate Consider these pluses and minuses before jumping into a loan you'll be paying for the next 15 to 30 years.
By Donna LeValley
real estate -
9 Things You Should Keep in a Home Safe
Put these valuables in a home safe, not a bank safety deposit box (or under a mattress). You'll be glad you did.
By Donna LeValley
-
How Your Social Security Check Changes at Ages 62, 65, 66, 67 and 70
The longer you wait, the bigger your Social Security check. We break it down by the most common ages at which people claim their benefits.
By Donna LeValley
-
The Average Social Security Check by Age
Compare your average Social Security check with others of your age, and plan for the future.
By Donna LeValley
-
Control vs Protection Quiz: Which Trust Do You Need?
Quiz Take this simple quiz to discover whether a revocable or irrevocable trust should be the cornerstone of your estate plan.
By Donna LeValley
Quiz -
Don't Wait Until January: Your Year-End Health Checklist to Kickstart 2026
Skip the fleeting resolutions and start the new year with a proactive plan to optimize your longevity, cognitive health and social vitality.
By Donna LeValley
-
Money Market Account Basics
savings Money market accounts give you rates of return rivaling high-yield savings accounts, with more flexibility to access your cash.
By Donna LeValley
savings -
Vesting, Catch-Ups and Roths: The 401(k) Knowledge Quiz
Quiz Test your understanding of key 401(k) concepts with our quick quiz.
By Donna LeValley
Quiz -
When to Expect Your First Social Security Check of 2026
Social Security payments to retirees reflecting the 2.8% COLA will start arriving January 14.
By Donna LeValley
-
Vaccines Medicare Covers for Free
The U.S. is experiencing an outbreak of measles and is on track to have the most whooping cough cases since 1948; these vaccines Medicare covers for free can keep you safe.
By Donna LeValley
