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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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 • Last updated
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Smart Ways to Cut Your Utility Bills
Tax Breaks Tax breaks and potentially lower home energy costs make these green projects worth a look.
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
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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
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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
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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
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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
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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