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
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Two Ways To Stop and Restart Social Security: Ditch the RegretGet a Social Security do-over. Learn how to stop and restart Social Security.
By Jacob Wolinsky
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Claim Your Online Social Security Account Before a Scammer DoesSkip long phone holds and field office lines. Discover how an active online Social Security account gives you control over your records.
By Donna LeValley
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Costco’s Next Big Bulk Item: Medicare AdvantageFrom bulk goods to healthcare coverage, Costco plans its expansion into senior health plans pending government approval.
By Donna LeValley
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The Medicare Travel Readiness Quiz: What’s Covered at Home and Abroad?Out-of-state ER visit? Emergency in Europe? Find out what your Medicare plan covers before you take off.
By Donna LeValley
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The 25 Most Expensive Cities to Live in the USFrom metro areas on both coasts to the middle of the Pacific Ocean, these are the most expensive cities to live in the U.S.
By Dan Burrows
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Quiz: Understanding Roth ConversionsQuiz Test your basic knowledge of Roth conversions in our quick quiz.
By Donna LeValley
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The Disinheritance Quiz: 10 Questions to Protect Your Final WishesQuiz From second marriages to special needs trusts, test your disinheritance strategy with our 10-question quiz to prevent family feuds.
By Donna LeValley
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Bond Ratings and What They Meaninvesting Bond ratings measure the creditworthiness of your bond issuer. Understanding bond ratings can help you limit your risk and maximize your yield.
By Donna LeValley
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Beyond 1776: 4 Multi-Generational Road Trips for America's 250thSkip the crowded cobblestones of the 13 Colonies. These four regional routes prove America’s history is best learned on the open road.
By Donna LeValley
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5 Social Security Myths That Can Cost You ThousandsBefore you collect Social Security benefits, make sure you don't believe any of these falsehoods.
By Donna Fuscaldo
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The Saver to Spender Quiz: Enjoy the Life You EarnedQuiz Is fear keeping you from spending the money you worked so hard for? Take our quiz to uncover the mindset holding your retirement back.
By Donna LeValley
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25 Cheapest Small Towns to Live InYou don't have to break the bank to find your dream hometown. Here is where affordability meets a high quality of life.
By Donna LeValley
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2032 Social Security Cuts: What Retirees Stand to Lose in Every StateReducing Social Security benefits doesn't just impact retirees — it hits state economies, creating a double-whammy effect of smaller checks and lower GDPs.
By Donna LeValley
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Medicare 2027 Projections: How Much Your Premiums Are Expected to RiseIn 2027, Medicare participants will pay more for their health care. Fortunately, Part B costs are expected to rise less than 5%.
By Donna LeValley
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Do Lottery Winnings Affect Social Security Benefits?social security The sudden windfall won't reduce your benefits. Here's why.
By Donna LeValley
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9 Upgrades That Transform Your Family Home Into a Retirement OasisHere's a look at the smart, luxury modifications that prioritize your recovery, relaxation and effortless entertaining.
By Donna LeValley
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9 Things You Should Keep in a Home SafePut 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
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Your Medicare Costs Are Set to Soar Over the Next DecadeMedicare beneficiaries will face higher premiums, deductibles and surcharges starting in 2026 and continuing over the next decade. Here's what you need to know.
By Donna LeValley
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Flashback Finance: The Cost of Retiring the Year You Were BornJust like groceries, gas and home prices, the cost of retiring is subject to inflation. Here's a look at what it costs to retire in the year you were born.
By Donna LeValley
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How Much Will Social Security's 2032 Shortfall Cost You?The SS trust fund will be insolvent in 2032 and will have to reduce benefits by 22%. Here is how much more you need to save to cover the shortfall, by age.
By Donna LeValley
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The New Average Divorce Rate By Age: Are You in the Risk Zone?While the overall divorce rate has seen a small but steady decline, gray divorces have been on the rise since the 1990s.
By Donna LeValley
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The 25 Cheapest Places to Live: US Cities EditionHave a look at the cheapest places to live in America for city dwellers. Is one of the cheapest places to live in the U.S. right for you?
By Donna LeValley
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21 Things Home Buyers Will Hate About Your Housereal estate As a home seller, you don't want to let the small — or big — fixes around your house that have added up over the years sabotage your bottom line during a resale.
By Patricia Mertz Esswein
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America at 250: The 3 Economic Headaches That Haven't Changed Since 1976From sticky inflation to Social Security deadlines, a look back at the 50-year evolution of our personal economies as we celebrate the Semiquincentennial.
By Donna LeValley
