
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's Best Credit Unions
credit union Credit unions are nonprofit institutions that are owned by their members. Many of them keep fees down and offer respectable interest rates on at least some of their accounts.
By Lisa Gerstner Last updated
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How to Increase Credit Scores — Fast
How to increase credit scores quickly, starting with paying down your credit card debt.
By Lisa Gerstner Last updated
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Kiplinger Readers' Choice Awards 2024 Results
Kiplinger Readers' Choice Awards The results are in for the 2024 Kiplinger Readers’ Choice Awards — celebrating the best products and services in personal finance.
By Lisa Gerstner Published
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Still Have FSA Money to Spend?
Still have FSA money to spend from your healthcare flexible spending account? Here are some ideas to use it up.
By Lisa Gerstner Last updated
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Best Business Credit Cards of August 2025
Credit Cards Small business credit cards can be great tools to earn hundreds of dollars of rewards.
By Lisa Gerstner Last updated
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Best Credit Cards for Bad Credit
If used wisely, these credit cards can help you dig out of bad credit; you may even earn 2% cash back.
By Lisa Gerstner Last updated
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Best 0% APR Credit Cards
Kiplinger's guide to the best 0% APR credit cards. Pay no interest on large purchases for up to 21 months.
By Lisa Gerstner Last updated
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The Best Balance Transfer Credit Cards
Balance transfer credit cards have the power to drastically cut your payments with 0% APR. But there’s a cost, and rules to follow.
By Lisa Gerstner Last updated
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21 Great Ways To Use $1,000
Kiplinger experts present over 20 ways to use $1,000, from long-term investing to smart vacation planning.
By Anne Kates Smith Published
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Best Student Credit Cards
Students can get hundreds of dollars in cash back while they build credit with these offers from popular issuers.
By Lisa Gerstner Last updated
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Airline Ticket Prices Are Coming Down to Earth
Domestic airline prices are on the decline in fall 2023, finally retreating after spiking just a year ago. International fares are still high.
By Lisa Gerstner Published
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Know Why Your Credit Score Changes: 9 Money Moves to Consider
credit & debt Your credit score is a key indicator of your financial well-being and of the risk you pose to lenders. How good is yours?
By Lisa Gerstner Last updated
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A Fresh Look for Kiplinger Personal Finance
The magazine has undergone its first total redesign in several years — but our mission of providing sound financial advice hasn’t changed.
By Lisa Gerstner Published
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How to Deal With Nanny Taxes
Hiring full-time help, such as a nanny, requires financial obligations to pay certain taxes. Here's how to keep track of what you're responsible for.
By Lisa Gerstner Published
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Kiplinger Readers' Choice Awards 2023 Results
Kiplinger Readers' Choice Awards The results are in for the Kiplinger Readers’ Choice Awards — celebrating the best products and services in personal finance.
By Lisa Gerstner Published
Kiplinger Readers' Choice Awards -
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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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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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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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
Basics