Ellen B. Kennedy
Ellen writes and edits retirement articles. She joined Kiplinger in 2021 as an investment and personal finance writer, focusing on retirement, credit cards and related topics. Ellen worked in the mutual fund industry for 15 years as a manager and sustainability analyst at Calvert Investments. She covered consumer staples, energy, water and environment. She served on the sustainability councils of several Fortune 500 companies. Before that, Ellen was a program officer for Winrock International, managing loans to alternative energy projects in Latin America. Ellen earned a master’s in international relations and Latin American Studies from the University of California at Berkeley, and she earned a B.A. from Haverford College.
Latest articles by Ellen B. Kennedy
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10 Credit Cards With Travel InsuranceThese cards provide excellent travel insurance coverage for you and your trip.
By Ellen B. Kennedy
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New Dating App "SCORE": Love Me for My Credit ScoreOnly those with a good credit score can join the dating app "SCORE." Matchmaking expert Andrea McGinty says that's a great idea.
By Ellen B. Kennedy
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Get up to $12,000 off a New Mercedes: Amex and Sam's Club Members QualifyGet up to $12,000 off a Mercedes from American Express, Sam’s Club and others.
By Ellen B. Kennedy
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Is Air Pollution Harming Your Health and Home Value? A Free App Now Shows Your Property and Health Risk.A quarter of Americans are exposed to air pollution deemed "unhealthy," which may damage the lungs, heart and brain. A free app from Redfin shows if your property is at high risk.
By Ellen B. Kennedy
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5 Tax Tips for Renting Out Your Vacation HomeWhether you use your vacation getaway every weekend or just a few times a year, you may want to rent it out occasionally to offset some of your expenses.
By Ellen B. Kennedy
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What Is a 401(k) Retirement Savings Plan?retirement A 401(k) is a retirement plan sponsored by an employer that offers employees tax incentives to save money for retirement from their paychecks.
By Ellen B. Kennedy
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Charging an EV? Get Cash Back from Your Credit CardA Bank of America credit card is the latest to reward charging an electric vehicle — up to 5.25% cash back.
By Ellen B. Kennedy
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Costco Auto Program: $1,000 off CadillacsGet $1K off a new Cadillac with the Costco Auto Program, for a limited time only.
By Ellen B. Kennedy
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Cars Are Losing Value More SlowlyCars are depreciating at a slower rate, thanks to market disruptions and a tight supply.
By Ellen B. Kennedy
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Alaska Airlines to Buy Hawaiian: Get Bonus Miles NowHow to use the Alaska Airlines credit card and frequent flyer program to save on trips to Hawaii, Alaska and beyond.
By Ellen B. Kennedy
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Mint Mobile Deal: Save $500 on the Google Pixel 9This Mint Mobile Black Friday deal includes the Unlimited plan for $15 per month for one year when you bundle it with the $500 Google Pixel 9 discount.
By Ellen B. Kennedy
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How To Choose a Credit CardChoose a credit card to improve your credit score, save money, or earn rewards — but don’t get in over your head.
By Ellen B. Kennedy
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Credit Card Offers are Eroding — Get a Deal While You CanTake advantage of credit card offers while you still can — many are disappearing or weakening.
By Ellen B. Kennedy
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CFPB Slams Credit Repair Companies. Could you get compensation?Credit repair titans face a $2.7 billion settlement with the CFPB for charging customers illegal fees.
By Ellen B. Kennedy
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Zillow Says Home Values to Rise 6.5% Over Next YearHome values have bottomed out, says Zillow, and home sales will decrease amid a tight market.
By Ellen B. Kennedy
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J.D. Power Ranks American Express Top Credit Card IssuerThe annual survey ranks credit cards by consumer satisfaction and reports on trends, like rising credit card debt.
By Ellen B. Kennedy
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Nursing Home Costs Soared in JulyThe cost of nursing home and adult care grew by the largest amount in July. Have you made a plan for your family?
By Ellen B. Kennedy
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Snag a $900 bonus for opening a checking account.Basics Want to get a bonus for opening a checking account? Just make sure you read the fine print.
By Ellen B. Kennedy
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Is Chase's "Pay Yourself Back" Worth It?"Pay Yourself Back" rewards some Chase cards with extra cash — and it's also a powerful donation tool.
By Ellen B. Kennedy
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Moving to Florida? Arizona? Join the CrowdAmericans are moving to Florida, Arizona and disaster-prone counties across the country.
By Ellen B. Kennedy
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Debit Cards vs Charge Cardscredit & debt Whether sticking to a budget or reaping big rewards, understand whether debit cards vs charge cards are right for you.
By Ellen B. Kennedy
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Whole Foods Quietly Asks for Your Palm Print: Should You Sign Up?All Whole Foods stores will allow shoppers to pay with a wave of the hand, but should you give biometric data to Amazon?
By Ellen B. Kennedy
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Credit or debit? Cash? Consumers have many options, so it's best to understand the pros and cons of all three.credit & debt Credit or debit? Cash? Each payment method has pros and cons. Your best bet is to use a combination that meets your own needs.
By Ellen B. Kennedy
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Proxy Season Update for 2023: What Shareholders Are SayingStay informed about proxy season 2023 with these updates about what shareholders are voting on.
By Ellen B. Kennedy
