Sandra Block
Sandra Block, senior editor for Kiplinger’s Personal Finance magazine, has covered personal finance for more than 20 years. In her current role at Kiplinger’s, she covers retirement, taxes and a range of other personal finance issues. She also edits the Ahead section of Kiplinger’s Personal Finance magazine and contributes to Kiplinger’s.com and Kiplinger’s Retirement Report.
Before joining Kiplinger, Sandy was a personal finance reporter and columnist for USA TODAY. During that time, she was a regular guest on CNN, Fox Business News and NPR. Before joining USA TODAY, Sandy worked as a business reporter for the Akron Beacon-Journal, where she covered businesses in northeastern Ohio and assisted in the newspaper’s coverage of the 1995 World Series. While Cleveland lost in six games, Sandy still considers this the highlight of her journalism career.
In her early years, Sandy was a reporter for Dow Jones News Service in Washington, DC, where she covered the Securities and Exchange Commission, the Treasury and the Federal Reserve.
Sandy graduated cum laude from Bethany College in Bethany, West Virginia., and was a fellow in the Knight-Bagehot Fellowship in Economics and Business at Columbia University. She is co-author of the “Busy Family’s Guide to Money” and “Easy Ways to Lower Your Taxes: Simple Strategies Every Taxpayer Should Know.”
Sandy divides her time between Arlington, Va., and her home state of West Virginia. In her spare time, Sandy is a voracious reader and tries to keep her rescue border collie from getting into trouble.
Latest articles by Sandra Block
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There’s No Escaping Your Credit Score (So Make It Count)
Financial Planning Kiplinger’s credit expert, Lisa Gerstner, joins us to talk credit strategy. Also, a number of new electric cars hit the market this year. Will one work for Sandy?
By David Muhlbaum Published
Financial Planning -
National Taxpayer Advocate Erin M. Collins Wants to Help
Financial Planning Your tax dollars are at work funding a government bureau to help you deal with the IRS. Strange but true! Also, the price of Amazon is going up.
By David Muhlbaum Published
Financial Planning -
How to Cut Your 2021 Tax Bill
Tax Breaks Our guidance could help you claim a higher refund or reduce the amount you owe.
By Sandra Block Published
Tax Breaks -
How to File Your Taxes for Free
tax filing If you had adjusted gross income of $73,000 or less in 2021, you can e-file your federal return without charge.
By Sandra Block Published
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Why This Tax Filing Season Could Be Ugly
Coronavirus and Your Money National Taxpayer Advocate Erin M. Collins warns the agency will continue to struggle with tight budgets and backlogs. Her advice: File electronically!
By Sandra Block Published
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The “Gray Resignation” with Liz Windisch
Making Your Money Last Pandemic pressures (and high stock and real estate values) are leading many to try to move up retirement. Plus, tax-filing season gets under way.
By David Muhlbaum Published
Making Your Money Last -
The Kiplinger Letter’s Top 10 Forecasts for 2022
Economic Forecasts What to expect from the U.S. economy and an election-year Congress, as well as the outlook for cryptocurrency regulations, TikTok and more. Plus, we give the Elizabeth Holmes verdict a think.
By David Muhlbaum Published
Economic Forecasts -
The 2022 Stock-Market Outlook with Anne Smith and James K. Glassman
Markets Sure, measuring stock markets by calendar years is a bit artificial, but it’s still a good way to give your portfolio a checkup. We forecast what stocks and sectors will fare well in 2022. Also, how the 401(k) got its start.
By David Muhlbaum Published
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What’s Your Retirement Number?
Financial Planning To cross the finish line when you want, find the right target for your retirement savings and follow our training regimen.
By Sandra Block Published
Financial Planning -
Meet the Architect of the 401(k) Plan
Financial Planning Ted Benna tells Kiplinger how savers can make the most of their 401(k) plans - and how these plans could be better.
By Sandra Block Published
Financial Planning -
Take This Job, I'm Retiring
Financial Planning The pandemic and bull market have led to an increase in the number of workers who are retiring. You might call it the Gray Resignation.
By Sandra Block Published
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How to Help Tornado Victims (Safely)
Scams Help is needed, and getting it there quickly matters, but make sure your well-intentioned charity doesn’t end up in the wrong pockets.
By Sandra Block Published
Scams -
Investing for Income with Jeffrey Kosnett
investing Cold, hard cash working from home! No, this isn’t a scam — it’s an investing strategy built on bonds, REITs, preferred stocks and more.
By David Muhlbaum Published
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There's No Vaccine Against Inflation
Economic Forecasts Prices should ease in 2022, but inflation will remain above the levels of recent years.
By Sandra Block Published
Economic Forecasts -
It Still Pays to Wait to Claim Social Security
Financial Planning Despite dire headlines about the Social Security trust fund, you will be better off waiting to collect benefits.
By Sandra Block Published
Financial Planning -
Changes Coming to Flood Insurance with Laura Lightbody
Becoming a Homeowner The National Flood Insurance Program is getting an overhaul that could send your rates up (or down). We dig into what's changing with this coverage that many have—and many more need. Also, a bond that pays over 7 percent, for now.
By David Muhlbaum Published
Becoming a Homeowner -
Brandon Copeland on Reaching Financial Freedom
Financial Planning This NFL player’s path to a future of financial independence after his pro career is over can help the rest of us plan.
By David Muhlbaum Published
Financial Planning -
What to Do When You’re the Executor
Financial Planning You’ll likely need professional help, including an attorney with estate-planning experience, a tax pro and a financial adviser.
By Sandra Block Published
Financial Planning -
The Pros and Cons of Target Date Funds with Tony Drake
Financial Planning The simplicity of target date funds has made them popular, particularly among 401(k) savers. But investors may be paying a price.
By David Muhlbaum Published
Financial Planning -
How to Complain (and Get Results), with Emma Patch
Basics In today's customer-service environment, getting through and getting results takes determination — and skill. We'll talk about techniques to help you get help.
By David Muhlbaum Published
Basics -
Oh Unlucky Heirs with Tim Steffen
Financial Planning Just because you’re in the will doesn’t mean you’re sitting pretty. Also: Does October deserve its scary reputation for stocks?
By David Muhlbaum Published
Financial Planning -
Trading Options for Your 401(k)
Employee Benefits About 40% of companies offer self-directed brokerage accounts in their 401(k) plans, giving participants more investing options.
By Sandra Block Published
Employee Benefits -
Nontraditional Options Let IRA Investors Crank Up the Risk
Financial Planning You can invest your retirement savings in everything from cryptocurrency to penny stocks. But that doesn’t mean you should.
By Sandra Block Published
Financial Planning -
Extending Broadband to More Americans
Technology The infrastructure bill would provide billions to improve internet access to rural and low-income households.
By Sandra Block Published
Technology