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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When to Apply for Social Security Payments? Your Age Matters
Do you know when to apply for Social Security benefits? What's the best age to start receiving monthly payments? Part of the answer lies in your birth year.
By Donna LeValley
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What’s the Best Medigap Plan for You?
Medicare The 10 Medigap plans offer different levels of benefits that pay for expenses, such as co-payments, not covered by original Medicare.
By Jackie Stewart
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Quiz: Are You Ready for the 2026 401(k) Catch-Up Shakeup?
Quiz If you are 50 or older and a high earner, these new catch-up rules fundamentally change how your "extra" retirement savings are taxed and reported.
By Donna LeValley
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How to Avoid Medicare Late Enrollment Penalties Forever
Whether you're still working or plan to retire this year, understanding the 2026 late penalties for Parts A, B and D is essential for your financial health.
By Donna LeValley
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Prior Authorization for Traditional Medicare Patients Has Started in 6 States
The Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services (CMS) has implemented prior authorization requirements for certain traditional fee-for-service Medicare services in six states starting this year.
By Donna LeValley
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Flashback Finance: The Cost of Retiring the Year You Were Born
Just like groceries, gas and home prices, the cost of retiring is subject to inflation. Here's a look at what it cost to retire in the year you were born.
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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4% and Chill? Find Out If This Distribution Rule Fits Your Retirement
Take this simple quiz to discover whether the 4% Rule will work for you in retirement.
By Donna LeValley
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Quiz: Understanding Roth Conversions
Quiz Discover if a Roth conversion is the right move for you by taking our quick quiz.
By Donna LeValley
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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
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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
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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
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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
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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
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
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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
savings
