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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Does Your Health Insurance Cover the Coronavirus Test?
insurance Our hosts Sandy Block and Ryan Ermey discuss what your health insurance may or may not cover during the coronavirus pandemic. Also, the pair breaks down market basics to keep in mind amid market volatility and strategies for raising quick cash.
By Sandra Block Published
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Income Tax Returns and Payments Extended
income tax The IRS has pushed back the April 15 tax return filing and tax payment deadline to help Americans struggling with the coronavirus crisis.
By Sandra Block Published
income tax -
Coronavirus Fears Suppress Student Loan Interest Rates
interest rates The plunge in interest rates could reduce borrowing costs for students who take out federal loans for the 2020-2021 academic year—and their parents could get a break, too.
By Sandra Block Published
interest rates -
What to Know About the New FICO Score
credit & debt Credit expert Gerri Detweiler joins our hosts Sandy Block and Ryan Ermey to talk about how the new FICO scoring system could affect your credit score. Also, the pair explains the history of bear markets and why you need to tax-diversify your retirement accounts.
By Sandra Block Published
credit & debt -
How to Invest Amid Coronavirus Panic
investing Kiplinger.com senior investing editor Kyle Woodley joins hosts Sandy Block and Ryan Ermey to discuss risk-mitigating market strategies in the wake of the coronavirus outbreak. Also, the pair highlight virus-related scams to be aware of.
By Sandra Block Published
investing -
States Lower Taxes to Court Retirees
Tax Breaks The tax breaks range from property tax exemptions to tax-free retirement plan withdrawals.
By Sandra Block Published
Tax Breaks -
Where the Housing Market Is Headed
real estate Zillow.com economist Jeff Tucker joins hosts Sandy Block and Ryan Ermey for a discussion on the housing market outlook for 2020. The pair also offers tips for saving at the pump, as well as investing strategies amid coronavirus market panic.
By Sandra Block Published
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Best Values in Tax Software
taxes Kiplinger.com tax editor Rocky Mengle breaks down our newly released tax software rankings. Also, our hosts Sandy Block and Ryan Ermey discuss the ins and outs of trip insurance in the wake of the coronavirus outbreak.
By Sandra Block Published
taxes -
The Best ETFs You've Never Heard Of
investing Kiplinger.com investing guru Kyle Woodley returns to chat with hosts Sandy Block and Ryan Ermey about the market's best lesser-known exchange-traded funds. Also, the cohosts review the leftover ramifications of the SECURE Act.
By Sandra Block Published
investing -
How the SECURE Act Will Impact Your Retirement Plan
retirement IRAhelp.com's Ed Slott joins our hosts Sandy Block and Ryan Ermey to explain how the SECURE Act could be impacting your retirement plans. Also, the cohosts offer up last-minute Valentine's Day deals for the procrastinators.
By Sandra Block Published
retirement -
Protecting Your Digital Assets
business Jamie Hopkins, director of retirement research at Carson Group, joins our hosts Sandy Block and Ryan Ermey to explain how to protect your digital assets. Also, the pair offers tips on how to prevent your smart home devices from getting hacked.
By Sandra Block Published
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The Best Tax Software Values for 2020
tax software We tested nine of the most popular tax software programs to see which ones offer the best overall value. You might be surprised who's #1.
By Rivan V. Stinson Published
tax software -
You Still Have Time to Save on Your Taxes
taxes Start now to take advantage of all of the tax breaks available to you.
By Sandra Block Published
taxes -
Why You Should File Your Taxes Now
taxes Our hosts Sandy Block and Ryan Ermey discuss why you should file your taxes as soon as you get your W-2 form. Also, the pair dish on common nuisance fees and how to avoid them, as well as why renters need to invest in a renters insurance policy.
By Sandra Block Published
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Should You Buy or Rent a Home?
real estate Zillow's economic research director Skylar Olsen joins our hosts Sandy Block and Ryan Ermey to discuss what factors to consider when deciding to buy or rent a home. Also, the pair offers money-smart travel tips to help you save.
By Sandra Block Published
real estate -
How to Avoid Elder Fraud
Scams Kiplinger's associate editor Miriam Cross offers tips on how to protect your loved ones from falling victim to elder fraud. Also, our hosts Sandy Block and Ryan Ermey delve into the results of Kiplinger's market volatility poll.
By Sandra Block Published
Scams -
Stocks to Invest in for the Next Decade
stocks Our co-hosts Ryan Ermey and Sandy Block break down which stocks to buy and hold for the next 10 years and remind procrastinators why they should make those lingering holiday gift returns now.
By Sandra Block Published
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Financial Planning Tips for Families From Knight Kiplinger (Ep. 6 Rebroadcast)
spending Our classic podcast episode featuring Kiplinger's editor emeritus Knight Kiplinger, who chatted with hosts Sandy Block and Ryan Ermey about all things families and finances.
By Sandra Block Published
spending -
Look Out for These Scams
Scams Stay alert for phony sales at stores and other tricks.
By Sandra Block Published
Scams -
Track Your Charitable Donations Online
spending A new charity-rating online tool measures the impact of every dollar donated to a particular organization.
By Sandra Block Published
spending -
10 Moves to Make Sure You Have Enough Money in Retirement
retirement As you approach retirement, it’s easy to become fixated on the magic number—a pot of money large enough to allow you to retire comfortably without outliving your savings.
By Sandra Block Published
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Year-End Money Moves to Make Right Now
Financial Planning As 2019 comes to a close, our hosts Sandy Block and Ryan Ermey offer up last-minute money moves to make before the year's end. Also, the pair discuss strategies for building an emergency fund and how mutual fund expense ratios can affect returns.
By Sandra Block Published
Financial Planning -
Money-Smart Strategies for Charitable Giving
spending Schwab Charitable president Kim Laughton joins our hosts Ryan Ermey and Sandy Block to discuss why you should use a donor-advised fund for year-end charitable giving. Also, the duo offers tips on how to avoid ID theft and holiday scams.
By Sandra Block Published
spending -
Where to Invest in 2020
investing Kiplinger's executive editor Anne Smith joins our hosts Ryan Ermey and Sandy Block to discuss investing trends that will move markets in 2020. The pair also offer ways to thwart package thieves.
By Sandra Block Published
investing