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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Medicare and Moving: A Guide to Keeping Your CoverageYour Medicare plan’s coverage area will determine if you need to make changes after a move.
By Donna LeValley
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6 Reasons to Disinherit Someone and How to Do ItWhether you're navigating a second marriage, handling an estranged relative or leaving assets to charity, there are reasons to disinherit someone. Here's how.
By Donna LeValley
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Social Security Garnishment Rules: What Retirees Need to KnowDo you know who can garnish your monthly Social Security benefit? Or take the funds from your bank account? Learn how to protect your benefits from creditors.
By Donna LeValley
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Find Hidden Savings With A Home Energy AuditWith rising energy prices and inflation, now's a great time to check the efficiency of your home and find the most cost-effective fixes.
By Patricia Mertz Esswein
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I want original Medicare, but my wife chose Medicare Advantage for usWe retired with $4.6 million. Even so, our Medicare Advantage plan limits coverage when we travel or want to see a specialist. How can I convince my wife to switch?
By Donna LeValley
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Where to Move Your Money Before the Next Fed MeetingSavings rates remain high for now. But with the Fed's next move up on the air, it's time for savers to lock in rates now.
By Donna LeValley
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Which Airlines Have the Most Legroom — and Which Have the Least?Care about legroom? This list ranks major airlines by legroom and tells you which of their fleet is the roomiest.
By Donna LeValley
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International Travel with Medications: Know Before You GoWhen you travel with medications abroad, good planning can help avoid getting your prescriptions confiscated — or worse. Here's how to stay on the right side of the law.
By Donna LeValley
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15 Estate Planning Terms You Need to KnowSometimes industry jargon can turn otherwise understandable concepts into stumbling blocks. Here are simplified explanations, definitions and uses for some estate planning tools.
By Donna LeValley
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Is Music In Your Care Plan? I Learned How It Helps The Brain, Bones and MoreLincoln Center became a lab for the 2026 Heartbeat Summit. I met the experts proving art is medicine. Here is the new habit I’m taking home.
By Donna LeValley
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Spring Home Maintenance Checklist for 2025real estate Use this 20-point checklist to get your home ready for spring.
By Patricia Mertz Esswein
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Quiz: Do You Know Essential Estate Planning Terms?Quiz Take this quick quiz to test your knowledge of the essential legal and financial vocabulary required to protect your assets and your family.
By Donna LeValley
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Frustrated With Your Medicare Advantage Plan? You’re Not AloneMedicare Advantage plans scored lower in overall satisfaction among members in 2025. Eroding trust and policy confusion drove the drop in customer satisfaction.
By Donna LeValley
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12 Things You Must Know About Claiming and Maximizing Your Social Security BenefitsSocial Security Claiming Social Security benefits at the right time means more money for you. Here’s a guide to everything from knowing your retirement age to spousal benefits.
By Donna LeValley
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The Average Retirement Withdrawal Rate by AgeClinging to "safe" income and hoarding your principal isn't protecting your wealth; it's shortchanging the retirement you earned.
By Donna LeValley
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The Social Security Test Every Wealthy Retiree Must TakeWhen you work and collect Social Security benefits before your FRA, you are subject to the Retirement Earning Test that could result in a temporary reduction of your benefits.
By Donna LeValley
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How Your HSA Can Reimburse You for Medicare Premiums and ExpensesMedicare Even if your Medicare premiums are automatically deducted from your Social Security check, you can take tax-free withdrawals from an Health Savings Account to reimburse yourself.
By Kimberly Lankford
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Need More Money for Retirement? You May Have Already Saved It. Here's How to Find Your Lost 401(k).Over 29 million lost 401(k) accounts worth almost $1.65 trillion have been forgotten by their owners. Here are nine ways you can locate your account.
By Donna LeValley
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The Little-Known Tool to Protect Your Retirement Savings in a DivorceLearn why a divorce decree isn't enough to protect your retirement assets. You need a QDRO to divide the accounts to avoid paying penalties or income tax.
By Donna LeValley
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How Your Social Security Check Changes at Ages 62, 65, 66, 67 and 70The 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
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Safe or Seizable?: The IRA & Bankruptcy Protection QuizQuiz Depending on the type of IRA you own and/or how you inherited it, your "safe" money might actually be on the table for creditors.
By Donna LeValley
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4 High-End Experiences Worth the Splurge After 50These curated date ideas provide the perfect backdrop for couples ready to enjoy the very best that the world has to offer.
By Donna LeValley
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Quiz: Do You Know How to Maximize Your Social Security Check?
Quiz Test your knowledge of Social Security delayed retirement credits with our quick quiz.
By Donna LeValley
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The Minimum Savings You Need To Retire in All 50 StatesWorried you haven't saved enough for retirement? Here are the average annual expenses and minimum savings amounts needed to get by in all 50 states.
By Donna LeValley
