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 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 -
The Best Bank for You, 2018
savings We've identified the banks and credit unions that offer the best combination of high rates, low fees and a customer-friendly focus.
By Miriam Cross 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 -
How to Vet a Financial Adviser
Financial Planning Be sure to interview a few options and check into their backgrounds before hiring someone.
By Lisa Gerstner Published
Financial Planning -
The Best Financial-Planning Options for Single Savers
Financial Planning At this stage of life, a robo adviser with a low minimum asset requirement may be sufficient, but you might also consider a financial planner who charges a flat fee or by the hour for extra help with broader planning.
By Sandra Block Published
Financial Planning -
Find the Right Financial Advice at the Right Price
Financial Planning The best financial adviser for you should work to serve your unique needs.
By Lisa Gerstner Published
Financial Planning -
The Best Financial-Planning Options for Families Saving for Retirement and College
Financial Planning When you have competing priorities, you may need more assistance sorting through your financial picture.
By Sandra Block Published
Financial Planning -
Money-Market Funds Offering Juicier Yields
mutual funds Beware, however: They are not protected from losses by the Federal Deposit Insurance Corp.
By Lisa Gerstner Published
mutual funds -
How to Make a Complaint and Get Results
spending Keep your cool, create a paper trail and take it all the way to the top if you need to.
By Lisa Gerstner Published
spending -
3 Upsides of Rising Interest Rates
Economic Forecasts The Federal Reserve is slowly turning the volume back up on interest rates. For some, there's a silver lining.
By Lisa Gerstner Published
Economic Forecasts -
Did You Freeze Your Credit? Watch Out for These Pitfalls
credit & debt If you put your credit reports on ice, watch out for these slippery spots.
By Lisa Gerstner Published
credit & debt -
New Ways to Foil Hackers and Protect Your Identity
Scams These tools guard your smart gadgets and your identity.
By Lisa Gerstner Published
Scams -
A Great New Travel Rewards Card -- Without an Annual Fee
credit & debt PenFed Pathfinder Rewards American Express is a good new option of no-fee travel rewards cards.
By Lisa Gerstner Published
credit & debt -
Financial Tools for Savers With Big Balances
credit & debt Workarounds for when your bank isn't passing on higher yields to you.
By Lisa Gerstner Published
credit & debt -
What to Expect From the New Fed Chief
Economic Forecasts By and large, Jerome Powell will move along the path set by his predecessor.
By Lisa Gerstner Published
Economic Forecasts -
Fighting Financial Fraud and Identity Theft
Scams Learn what it's like on the front lines on our ride along with the scam police.
By Anne Kates Smith Published
Scams -
Airline Rewards Cards Without the Fee
credit & debt You can take advantage of new no-fee card offerings from Delta and United to buy plane tickets with miles or credits.
By Lisa Gerstner Published
credit & debt -
5 Keys to Keeping Your Data Secure
Technology Protect yourself from would-be identity thieves.
By Lisa Gerstner Published
Technology -
How to Tame Your Student Loans
college Don't let the burden bar you from saving for your future.
By Lisa Gerstner Published
college