Lisa Gerstner
Contributing Editor, Kiplinger's Personal Finance
Lisa has spent more than a decade with Kiplinger’s Personal Finance magazine, heading up the magazine’s annual rankings of the best banks and rewards credit cards and writing about other topics ranging from retirement to health care to money concerns for millennials. She has appeared as a guest with the TODAY Show, CNN, Fox, NPR, Cheddar and many other media outlets around the nation and has been quoted in the New York Times. Lisa graduated from Ball State University with a degree in magazine journalism and history and received the school’s “Graduate of the Last Decade” award in 2014.
How to Catch a Rock-Bottom Rate
Buying & Leasing a Car
How to Catch a Rock-Bottom Rate
Rates on everything from home mortgages to car loans are at record lows. We’ll tell you how to qualify for the best rates.
August 27, 2020
Give Your Credit a Boost
Coronavirus and Your Money
Give Your Credit a Boost
When times get tough, your credit profile could take a hit. Here’s how to keep it in shape.
August 27, 2020
Stay on Course With Student Loans
Paying for College
Stay on Course With Student Loans
You may be eligible for deferment if you receive unemployment benefits or are unable to find a full-time job.
August 27, 2020
Snag a New Account Bonus
Basics
Snag a New Account Bonus
But choose an account that makes sense for the long run.
August 19, 2020
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5 Great Places to Buy a Vacation Home
buying a home
5 Great Places to Buy a Vacation Home
With remote work on the rise, more people are looking for a permanent getaway.
July 30, 2020
Timely Reasons to Buy a Vacation Home
Smart Buying
Timely Reasons to Buy a Vacation Home
With remote work on the rise, more people are looking for a permanent getaway.
July 30, 2020
Rewards for Cell-Phone Customers
Smart Buying
Rewards for Cell-Phone Customers
Some major cell-phone companies offer options worth checking out.
July 22, 2020
10 Ways to Save On Your Cell Phone Plan
family savings
10 Ways to Save On Your Cell Phone Plan
We’ve rounded up 10 techniques to cut expenses on both your cell phone plan and your device.
July 20, 2020
Know Why Your Credit Score Changes: 9 Money Moves to Consider
credit & debt
Know Why Your Credit Score Changes: 9 Money Moves to Consider
Your credit score is a key indicator of your financial well-being and of the risk you pose to lenders. How good is yours?
July 10, 2020
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HSAs Get Even Better
Financial Planning
HSAs Get Even Better
A health savings account is a powerful, tax-advantaged tool to cover out-of-pocket medical expenses and a smart way to save for medical expenses in re…
July 3, 2020
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The Best Bank for You, 2020
banking
The Best Bank for You, 2020
We've identified the banks and credit unions that offer the best combination of high rates, low fees and a customer-friendly focus.
June 25, 2020
Find the Best Money Market for You
money market accounts
Find the Best Money Market for You
Whether you choose a money market fund or account largely depends on the money's purpose.
June 24, 2020
Finding Affordable Health Care Now
insurance
Finding Affordable Health Care Now
The pandemic has caused millions of people to lose their jobs — and their health coverage. Here’s a guide to finding affordable insurance.
June 4, 2020
When Savings Bonds Make Sense
credit & debt
When Savings Bonds Make Sense
Series I savings bonds are safe options, but don’t go all in.
June 3, 2020
10 Best Financial Benefits for Military Families
savings
10 Best Financial Benefits for Military Families
Members of the military have a lot of special financial challenges that most people don’t encounter.
May 22, 2020
How One Woman Became a 401(k) Millionaire
retirement
How One Woman Became a 401(k) Millionaire
Saving early and implementing a smart investing strategy helped Alison Sowell make big gains over time.
May 12, 2020
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Get Help With Your Bills
credit & debt
Get Help With Your Bills
Many lenders are offering breaks to borrowers hit by the coronavirus-fueled crisis.
May 7, 2020
Are Your Bank Deposits Insured?
credit & debt
Are Your Bank Deposits Insured?
As long as your financial institution is federally insured, your deposits are protected — up to certain limits.
May 7, 2020
The Best Rewards Credit Cards for You, 2020
credit & debt
The Best Rewards Credit Cards for You, 2020
Our top picks offer cash back or points you can use to buy groceries and other everyday items -- or add to your rainy-day fund.
May 1, 2020
3 Great Low-Rate Credit Cards
credit & debt
3 Great Low-Rate Credit Cards
If you're focused on finding a card with a minimal interest rate rather than one with stellar rewards, here are top contenders.
April 30, 2020
Strategies for CD Savers
credit & debt
Strategies for CD Savers
Shades of 2008: Certificates of deposit return to ultra-low interest rates.
April 3, 2020
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How Buying a Home Helped One Couple Prosper
real estate
How Buying a Home Helped One Couple Prosper
From rental living to owning a farmhouse on 22 acres, Tasha and William Kornegay are using homeownship to help build financial security.
April 3, 2020
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How One Couple Is Funding College for Their Four Kids
college
How One Couple Is Funding College for Their Four Kids
Matt and Suellen Sharp are hoping to help their quadruplets graduate from college with as little debt as possible.
April 3, 2020
27 Solid Ways to Build Your Wealth
savings
27 Solid Ways to Build Your Wealth
Building wealth is essential to accomplish a variety of goals, from sending your kids to college to retiring in style.
April 3, 2020
More Bad News for Savers
savings
More Bad News for Savers
Savers searching for top yields should look to online banks, which offer significantly higher rates than brick-and-mortar institutions.
April 3, 2020
Finding the Best Savings Account After the Coronavirus Interest Rate Cuts
savings
Finding the Best Savings Account After the Coronavirus Interest Rate Cuts
Savers searching for top yields should check out our list of the top online banks.
March 26, 2020
Strategies for CD Savers After the Coronavirus Interest Rate Cuts
savings
Strategies for CD Savers After the Coronavirus Interest Rate Cuts
As yields on certificates of deposit drop, you need to be smarter when it comes to saving with CDs.
March 26, 2020