Lisa Gerstner
Lisa has spent more than 15 years with Kiplinger’s Personal Finance magazine, where she has gained a breadth of knowledge on pocketbook issues for consumers. She started with Kiplinger as an American Society of Magazine Editors intern in 2006, was hired as a copy editor in 2007 and later began reporting and writing on a range of personal-finance topics. Her primary areas of coverage:
Retirement, including Social Security claiming strategies, advice on retirement-account savings and withdrawals, and growth of the FIRE (Financial Independence, Retire Early) movement. Consumer credit, including boosting credit scores and monitoring credit reports. For several years, she has compiled the magazine’s annual rankings of the best rewards credit cards, and she regularly updates articles on the best rewards cards for Kiplinger.com. Consumer banking, including the magazine’s annual rankings of the best banks. Money concerns for millennials, from saving on child-care costs to managing student loans.Lisa has shared her expertise as a guest with many media outlets around the nation, including the Today Show, CNN, Fox, NPR and Cheddar.
Lisa was an Honors College student at Ball State University, in Muncie, Ind., and graduated summa cum laude with a degree in magazine journalism and history. During her time as a student, she was editor-in-chief of the campus magazine and an intern at the Indianapolis Business Journal as well as her hometown newspaper, the Wapakoneta Daily News. She received Ball State’s “Graduate of the Last Decade” award in 2014.
A military spouse, Lisa experiences firsthand the financial challenges and opportunities for military families. Born and raised in Ohio, she has moved around the U.S.-from Washington, D.C., to Las Vegas to southern New Mexico–and currently lives in the Philadelphia area with her husband and two sons. When she finds free time, she loves to travel (especially to national parks), hike, try new recipes in the kitchen, and get on the mat to practice yoga.
Latest articles by Lisa Gerstner
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Freeze Your Credit in 3 Steps
credit & debt Freezing your accounts at the three major credit bureaus is the best way to prevent thieves from opening new credit accounts in your name.
By Lisa Gerstner • Published
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Why a Target-Date Fund Works for Me
investing Target-date funds are attractive for their simplicity. And while I've invested in one in the past, that doesn't mean it's the right choice for you.
By Lisa Gerstner • Published
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The Retiree's Guide to Going Back to Work
Making Your Money Last Inflation and a bear market have prompted some retirees to change course.
By Lisa Gerstner • Published
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Best Banks for Parents With Kids
Raising Money-Smart Kids Kids learn the ropes of banking with dedicated checking and savings accounts from these online banks, and parents have impressive options for their own needs, too.
By Lisa Gerstner • Last updated
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Best National Banks
banking These large, brick-and-mortar institutions have branches in several states (as well as online banking), so they’re solid choices if in-person assistance is important to you. They also have broad account offerings and investment and wealth-management services.
By Lisa Gerstner • Published
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Best Banks for Retirees
banking With these institutions, retirees avoid pesky fees on checks and paper statements and have access to an array of additional wealth and investment services.
By Lisa Gerstner • Published
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Best Credit Unions
credit union Credit unions are not-for-profit institutions owned by their members. Those listed here are open to anyone in the U.S.; if you are not eligible based on geographic or employer affiliations, use the method listed in the “How to join” section to become a member.
By Lisa Gerstner • Published
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Best Banks for Higher-Net-Worth Clients
wealth management Those who can meet high minimum-balance requirements at these banks get abundant account freebies and extras ranging from financial advice to event access.
By Lisa Gerstner • Published
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Best Internet Banks
online banking These institutions operate fully online, which decreases their overhead costs and allows them to offer lower fees and higher rates than many other banks.
By Lisa Gerstner • Published