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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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
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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
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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
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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
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9 Medicare Changes to Watch in 2026
Understanding the changes happening to Medicare in 2026 will help you work out whether original Medicare or a Medicare Advantage plan is best for you.
By Donna LeValley
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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
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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
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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
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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
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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
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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
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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
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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
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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
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The Retirement Donor's Checklist: Key Deadlines by Gift Type
Retirees have some charitable contribution options that can help avoid spikes in income from RMDS and capital gains.
By Donna LeValley
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The 9 Key Milestone Ages In Retirement
These nine milestone ages mark your eligibility for significant retirement benefits, including catch-up contributions and required actions, such as taking RMDs at age 73.
By Donna LeValley
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4 Things You Need to Know Before Applying for Social Security in 2025
Don't unnecessarily delay or reduce your Social Security benefits because you don't know all the rules and requirements.
By Donna LeValley
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The 7-Month Deadline That Sets Your Lifetime Medicare Premiums
Understanding Medicare enrollment is crucial, as missing deadlines can lead to permanent late enrollment penalties and gaps in coverage.
By Donna LeValley
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Why Is My First Medicare Bill So High?
Your first Medicare bill may be higher than expected for several reasons. If your premiums aren't taken out of your Social Security benefit, the bill can be huge.
By Donna LeValley
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7 Ways to Plan Now to Save on Medicare IRMAA Surcharges Later
Understand the critical 2-year lookback period and why aggressive planning before you enroll in Medicare is the most effective way to minimize IRMAA.
By Donna LeValley
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Don't Let the Court Decide: Test Your Knowledge on Avoiding Probate
Quiz Test your basic understanding of why having an estate plan is crucial to avoiding probate in our quick quiz.
By Donna LeValley
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CDs vs Bonds: Which Is Better for You?
If you're considering CDs vs bonds, here's a breakdown of how each works.
By Donna LeValley
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The Average Retirement Savings by Age: Are You Keeping Up?
Think you may have more retirement savings than your peers? Here's your answer.
By Donna LeValley
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Should You Refinance Your Mortgage Now That the Fed Just Cut Rates?
The Fed just cut rates, so mortgage refinance rates will be cheaper. Should you act now, or wait?
By Donna LeValley
