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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How to Avoid Paying 17 Pesky Fees
spending Fees aren’t just annoying—they’re expensive.
By Lisa Gerstner Published
spending -
Estate Planning: A Family Affair
savings Use our guide to save on taxes, avoid probate and keep peace among your heirs.
By Eileen Ambrose Published
savings -
Savings Bonds for the Holidays?
investing Rising interest rates won’t affect savings bonds, which makes them a money-smart gift for a young child. Here’s our top pick.
By Lisa Gerstner Published
investing -
Best Ways to Give Rewards Miles and Points
Travel You may want to be generous with your credits, but the carriers have other ideas. Transfers are pricey (and limited).
By Lisa Gerstner Published
Travel -
A Visit With Mr. Money Mustache
retirement Pete Adeney “retired” at age 30 and has been working hard ever since to inspire his FIRE followers.
By Lisa Gerstner Published
retirement -
New Rules for Mobile Deposits
credit & debt The change is designed to help ensure that mobile banking app users aren't able to deposit a check online and then again at a brick-and-mortar bank.
By Lisa Gerstner Published
credit & debt -
10 Best Credit Unions Almost Anyone Can Join, 2018
credit union Credit unions are nonprofit institutions owned by their members -- meaning they tend to offer accounts and services that are more customer-friendly than those of large national banks.
By Lisa Gerstner Published
credit union -
Pump Up Your Credit-Card Gas Rebates
credit & debt With prices at the pump climbing, some gas-brand credit cards are ramping up their discount offers.
By Lisa Gerstner Published
credit & debt -
5 Great Second Career Moves
careers Many people suffer from job burnout, but making the decision to change careers can be a bit overwhelming, especially after decades of building expertise.
By Miriam Cross Published
careers -
California Ramps Up Privacy Protection
Technology A new law may spur other states—or the feds—to give you more control over your online data.
By Lisa Gerstner Published
Technology -
Earn More Interest on Your Savings
credit & debt Money market deposit accounts and savings accounts provide safe, easily accessible places to store cash.
By Lisa Gerstner Published
credit & debt -
Online Shopping Could Get Pricier
taxes States now have more latitude to collect sales tax on internet purchases.
By Lisa Gerstner Published
taxes -
14 Little-Known Credit Card Perks
credit cards Rewards points and cash back aren’t the only benefits of paying with plastic.
By Lisa Gerstner Published
credit cards -
Best Regional Banks, 2018
savings Regional banks have a smaller reach than big national banks, but many are large enough to offer considerable resources for their customers.
By Miriam Cross Published
savings -
Best Banks for Small-Business Owners, 2018
business A small-business owner's banking needs depend on the nature of the company.
By Lisa Gerstner Published
business -
Best Banks for Retirees, 2018
savings Our top banks in this category offer extra discounts and perks if you're 65 or older (or 60 or older, in the case of our runner-up), such as breaks on fees and free or discounted checks and safe-deposit boxes.
By Lisa Gerstner Published
savings -
Best Banks for High-Net-Worth Families, 2018
banking These are the best financial institutions for high-net-worth families in 2018
By Lisa Gerstner Published
banking -
Best National Banks, 2018
savings Large banks have the resources to serve up a variety of deposit accounts and loans, as well as financial planning, investing and wealth-management services.
By Lisa Gerstner Published
savings -
Travel Snag? Your Credit Card Could Help
credit & debt Booking a trip with the right credit card can save you thousands.
By Lisa Gerstner Published
credit & debt -
Make the Most of Rising CD Rates
credit & debt As the Federal Reserve hikes interest rates, banks have been more generous in boosting yields on certificates of deposit.
By Lisa Gerstner Published
credit & debt -
The Benefits of Being Your Own Boss
business Self-employment comes with extra flexibility—a trait that millennials prize—but it can also complicate your financial life.
By Lisa Gerstner Published
business -
Hackers Target Loyalty Programs
Travel You're likely not as vigilant in protecting your rewards points and miles as you are with your bank and credit-card accounts—which is why they're vulnerable.
By Lisa Gerstner Published
Travel -
Nab a Signing Bonus on These Rewards Cards
credit & debt Some rewards credit cards come with fat sign-up bonuses. Here's what you should know before registering.
By Lisa Gerstner Published
credit & debt -
The Best Financial-Planning Options for Near-Retirees
Financial Planning The closer you get to retirement the more likely you are to need all the help you can get.
By Sandra Block Published
Financial Planning