Lisa Gerstner
Lisa has been with Kiplinger Personal Finance magazine for more than 15 years and became editor in June 2023. 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, including credit, banking and retirement. For several years, she compiled the magazine’s annual rankings of the best rewards credit cards and the best banks, and she assembled the survey and results for Kiplinger’s first Readers’ Choice Awards in 2023.
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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Kiplinger Readers' Choice Awards 2023: National Banks
Kiplinger Readers' Choice Awards These are the winners of the Kiplinger Readers’ Choice Awards' best national banks category. Our awards celebrate the very best products and services in personal finance.
By Lisa Gerstner Last updated
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Kiplinger Readers' Choice Awards 2023: Internet Banks
Kiplinger Readers' Choice Awards The winners of the Kiplinger Readers’ Choice Awards' best internet banks category. Our awards celebrate the very best products and services in personal finance.
By Lisa Gerstner Last updated
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Kiplinger Readers' Choice Awards 2023: Full-Service Brokers
Kiplinger Readers' Choice Awards These are the winners of the Kiplinger Readers’ Choice Awards' best full-service brokers category. Our awards celebrate the very best products and services in personal finance.
By Lisa Gerstner Last updated
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Kiplinger Readers' Choice Awards 2023: Wealth Managers
Kiplinger Readers' Choice Awards These are the winners of the Kiplinger Readers’ Choice Awards' best Wealth Managers category. Our awards celebrate the very best products and services in personal finance.
By Lisa Gerstner Last updated
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Kiplinger Readers' Choice Awards 2023: Peer-to-Peer Payment Services
Kiplinger Readers' Choice Awards The winners of the Kiplinger Readers’ Choice Awards' best peer-to-peer payment services category. Our awards celebrate the very best products and services in personal finance.
By Lisa Gerstner Last updated
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Kiplinger Readers' Choice Awards 2023: Tax Software
Kiplinger Readers' Choice Awards The results of the Kiplinger Readers’ Choice Awards' best tax software category. Our awards celebrate the very best products and services in personal finance.
By Lisa Gerstner Last updated
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Kiplinger Readers' Choice Awards 2023: Auto Insurance Companies
Kiplinger Readers' Choice Awards The results of the Kiplinger Readers’ Choice Awards' best auto insurance company category. Our awards celebrate the very best products and services in personal finance.
By Lisa Gerstner Last updated
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Kiplinger Readers' Choice Awards 2023: Cash Back Credit Cards
Kiplinger Readers' Choice Awards These are the winners of the Kiplinger Readers’ Choice Awards' best cash back credit cards category. Our awards celebrate the very best products and services in personal finance.
By Lisa Gerstner Last updated
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Kiplinger Readers' Choice Awards 2023: Travel Rewards Credit Cards
Kiplinger Readers' Choice Awards These are the winners of the Kiplinger Readers’ Choice Awards' best travel rewards credit cards category. Our awards celebrate the very best products and services in personal finance.
By Lisa Gerstner Published
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How to Protect Your Finances If You Lose Your Phone
Technology Take these steps to protect your identity and financial information on your phone in case it's lost or stolen.
By Lisa Gerstner Last updated
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What to Consider Before Buying a Vacation Home
Smart Buying If you're thinking of buying a vacation home, we've got a guide on what to expect.
By Lisa Gerstner Last updated
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Money Market Account or Money Market Fund? How to Choose
money market accounts Whether you choose a money market account or money market fund largely depends on the money's purpose.
By Lisa Gerstner Last updated
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How to Pick the Best Rewards Card for You
credit & debt Pick the best rewards card for you. Tips on how to work out which card best fits your needs.
By Lisa Gerstner Last updated
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Kiplinger's Credit Card Methodology
Kiplinger's Credit Card Methodology: How We Choose our Rewards Credit Cards
By Lisa Gerstner Published
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Is a CCRC Right for You?
Continuing-care retirement communities (CCRCs) provide a range of amenities and health care when you need it—at a hefty cost.
By Lisa Gerstner Published
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10 Best Benefits for Military Members and Their Families
savings Service members face a range of threats – from the lethal to the financial. An array of military benefits and programs are meant to offset some of the risk for them, their spouses and their families.
By Lisa Gerstner Last updated
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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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How Our Family Fights Inflation
Budgeting Millennials typically spend more than other generations on certain expenses that have been increasing most rapidly. Here are some tips to cut your losses.
By Lisa Gerstner Published
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Free Credit Monitoring for Equifax Breach Victims
credit reports Millions of consumers whose data may have been exposed have been notified to sign up for the monitoring service.
By Lisa Gerstner Published
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The FIRE Movement Is Alive and Well
Basics The pandemic didn’t derail the Financial Independence, Retire Early movement. In fact, it gave it new life.
By Lisa Gerstner Published
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Conforming Mortgage Loan Limits for 2022 Rising
Becoming a Homeowner For 2022, the standard conforming limit for single-unit properties is $647,200, up nearly $100,000 from the 2021 cap.
By Lisa Gerstner Published
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Make a Plan for Your Parents' Care
Caregiving The ideal time to begin talking with your parents is before they need care.
By Lisa Gerstner Published
Caregiving