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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Best Internet Banks 2021
banking Banks that operate primarily online have lower overhead costs than those with brick-and-mortar branches, which translates into lower fees and higher interest rates. These institutions make it easy to bank from home or on the go with mobile apps and remote check deposit.
By Lisa Gerstner Published
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Keep Moving Costs in Check
Making Your Money Last If I've learned anything, it's that moving is almost always more costly and time-consuming than I anticipate.
By Lisa Gerstner Published
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Protect Yourself Against New ID-Theft Schemes
Scams Crooks are using more-sophisticated tricks to steal your data. It's time to improve your armor.
By Lisa Gerstner Published
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Credit Card Perks for Car Rentals
Travel Certain cards can boost your status in a rental company’s loyalty program and give you an edge.
By Lisa Gerstner Published
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4 Ways to Use Mobile Wallets
Smart Buying Beyond contactless payments, mobile wallets let you send money to a friend, get cash-back rewards and more.
By Lisa Gerstner Published
Smart Buying -
20 Ways to Save on Health Care
health insurance From maximizing insurance benefits to shopping for discounts to funding tax-advantaged accounts, these tips will lower your costs no matter how you get your care.
By Lisa Gerstner Published
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How to Keep Tabs on Your Credit Report
Coronavirus and Your Money Free weekly access is ending, but several services let you view your credit files more than once a year.
By Lisa Gerstner Published
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Switch Accounts for a Better Yield?
Financial Planning If your current account has a reliable history of strong yields, it might be worth sticking around.
By Lisa Gerstner Published
Financial Planning -
Smart Ways to Save on Child Care Costs
Starting a Family The expenses and tax complications that come with hiring a nanny were reason enough for me to take my son to day care instead.
By Lisa Gerstner Published
Starting a Family -
What the Democrats' Agenda Will Mean for Your Pocketbook
Politics With President Joe Biden in the White House and a narrow Democratic majority in the Senate and House of Representatives, Democrats have a clearer path to enact their agenda.
By Lisa Gerstner Published
Politics -
Shoring Up Social Security
Politics Social Security is headed for a shortfall. But sooner or later, lawmakers will act to preserve your benefits.
By Lisa Gerstner Published
Politics -
Refer a Friend to Your Bank or Credit Card—and Reap Rewards
Making Your Money Last Some major card issuers are giving referral bonuses to eligible cardholders.
By Lisa Gerstner Published
Making Your Money Last -
Get Your Retirement Back on Course
Coronavirus and Your Money Even the most diligent savers can encounter obstacles on the road to retirement, but the past few months have delivered unprecedented hazards. We’ll help you come up with a recovery plan.
By Sandra Block Published
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Work From Home, Wherever That Is
Coronavirus and Your Money The pandemic has made it easier to work from a distance, but some far-flung workers have to follow special rules for taxes, health care and insurance.
By Lisa Gerstner Published
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New Venmo Card Personalizes Rewards
Smart Buying The Venmo Visa Credit Card pays you 3% cash back in the category in which you spend the most.
By Lisa Gerstner Published
Smart Buying -
Find Higher Yields for Your Cash
Financial Planning Interest rates are scraping bottom, but here’s a road map to accounts that will help your money grow.
By Lisa Gerstner Published
Financial Planning -
What the New President Means for Your Money
Politics President-Elect Biden wants more consumer protections and perks for the middle class and seniors.
By Lisa Gerstner Published
Politics -
Give Your Budget Some Love
Budgeting Think of it as a flexible tool to prioritize—and achieve—your goals.
By Lisa Gerstner Published
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Great Cards for Holiday Shopping
credit cards The branded card of a retailer you are loyal to may have strong rewards.
By Lisa Gerstner Published
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Kiplinger’s Best Firms for Customer Service: Banks, Credit Cards and More
banking We evaluated major banks, credit card issuers, mortgage lenders, and home and auto insurers to see how well they treat their clients.
By Lisa Gerstner Published
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Your Guide to Open Enrollment
health insurance Your options may look a little different this fall. Meanwhile, the cost of coverage continues to climb.
By Lisa Gerstner Published
health insurance -
Skip the Fees on Savings Transfers
banking But banks are not required to lift the limits or stop charging fees for excessive transactions.
By Lisa Gerstner Published
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How to Catch a Rock-Bottom Rate
Buying & Leasing a Car Rates on everything from home mortgages to car loans are at record lows. We’ll tell you how to qualify for the best rates.
By Sandra Block Published
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Give Your Credit a Boost
Coronavirus and Your Money When times get tough, your credit profile could take a hit. Here’s how to keep it in shape.
By Lisa Gerstner Published
Coronavirus and Your Money