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.
Earn 3.54% With Series I Bonds
Financial Planning
Earn 3.54% With Series I Bonds
A savings or money market deposit account is best for quick cash, but I bonds can fit into a longer-term savings plan.
June 23, 2021
The Best Bank for You
Making Your Money Last
The Best Bank for You
Check out our list of the best candidates for your next financial institution based on interest rates, fees and other features.
June 22, 2021
Keep Moving Costs in Check
Making Your Money Last
Keep Moving Costs in Check
If I've learned anything, it's that moving is almost always more costly and time-consuming than I anticipate.
June 18, 2021
Protect Yourself Against New ID-Theft Schemes
Scams
Protect Yourself Against New ID-Theft Schemes
Crooks are using more-sophisticated tricks to steal your data. It's time to improve your armor.
May 27, 2021
Credit Card Perks for Car Rentals
Travel
Credit Card Perks for Car Rentals
Certain cards can boost your status in a rental company’s loyalty program and give you an edge.
May 24, 2021
10 Best Financial Benefits for Military Families
savings
10 Best Financial Benefits for Military Families
Service members face a range of threats – from the lethal to the financial. A wide array of generous benefits and programs are meant to offset some of…
May 19, 2021
Freeze Your Credit in 3 Steps
credit & debt
Freeze Your Credit in 3 Steps
Freezing your accounts at the three major credit bureaus is the best way to prevent thieves from opening new credit accounts in your name.
May 17, 2021
4 Ways to Use Mobile Wallets
Smart Buying
4 Ways to Use Mobile Wallets
Beyond contactless payments, mobile wallets let you send money to a friend, get cash-back rewards and more.
April 28, 2021
The Best Rewards Credit Cards for You, 2021
rewards credit cards
The Best Rewards Credit Cards for You, 2021
Don’t settle for any old plastic. Choose a credit card that provides maximum rewards for your spending habits.
April 22, 2021
20 Ways to Save on Health Care
health insurance
20 Ways to Save on Health Care
From maximizing insurance benefits to shopping for discounts to funding tax-advantaged accounts, these tips will lower your costs no matter how you ge…
March 31, 2021
Get Free Weekly Credit Reports for Another Year
Coronavirus and Your Money
Get Free Weekly Credit Reports for Another Year
Take advantage of the extension to check each report for errors or signs of fraudulent activity.
March 26, 2021
20 Ways to Save on Health Care
health insurance
20 Ways to Save on Health Care
From maximizing insurance benefits to shopping for discounts to funding tax-advantaged accounts, these tips will lower your costs no matter how you ge…
March 19, 2021
How to Keep Tabs on Your Credit Report
Coronavirus and Your Money
How to Keep Tabs on Your Credit Report
Free weekly access is ending, but several services let you view your credit files more than once a year.
March 5, 2021
Smart Ways to Cut Your Utility Bills
Tax Breaks
Smart Ways to Cut Your Utility Bills
Tax breaks and potentially lower home energy costs make these green projects worth a look.
February 24, 2021
Switch Accounts for a Better Yield?
Financial Planning
Switch Accounts for a Better Yield?
If your current account has a reliable history of strong yields, it might be worth sticking around.
February 23, 2021
Smart Ways to Save on Child Care Costs
Starting a Family
Smart Ways to Save on Child Care Costs
The expenses and tax complications that come with hiring a nanny were reason enough for me to take my son to day care instead.
February 5, 2021
What the Democrats' Agenda Will Mean for Your Pocketbook
Politics
What the Democrats' Agenda Will Mean for Your Pocketbook
With President Joe Biden in the White House and a narrow Democratic majority in the Senate and House of Representatives, Democrats have a clearer path…
January 30, 2021
Shoring Up Social Security
Politics
Shoring Up Social Security
Social Security is headed for a shortfall. But sooner or later, lawmakers will act to preserve your benefits.
January 27, 2021
Refer a Friend to Your Bank or Credit Card—and Reap Rewards
Making Your Money Last
Refer a Friend to Your Bank or Credit Card—and Reap Rewards
Some major card issuers are giving referral bonuses to eligible cardholders.
January 27, 2021
Get Your Retirement Back on Course
Coronavirus and Your Money
Get Your Retirement Back on Course
Even the most diligent savers can encounter obstacles on the road to retirement, but the past few months have delivered unprecedented hazards. We’ll h…
December 26, 2020
Work From Home, Wherever That Is
Coronavirus and Your Money
Work From Home, Wherever That Is
The pandemic has made it easier to work from a distance, but some far-flung workers have to follow special rules for taxes, health care and insurance.…
December 16, 2020
Best Cards for Balance Transfers
Smart Buying
Best Cards for Balance Transfers
Credit card issuers still offering balance transfers have tightened their approval standards.
December 16, 2020
New Venmo Card Personalizes Rewards
Smart Buying
New Venmo Card Personalizes Rewards
The Venmo Visa Credit Card pays you 3% cash back in the category in which you spend the most.
November 30, 2020
Find Higher Yields for Your Cash
Financial Planning
Find Higher Yields for Your Cash
Interest rates are scraping bottom, but here’s a road map to accounts that will help your money grow.
November 24, 2020
What the New President Means for Your Money
Politics
What the New President Means for Your Money
President-Elect Biden wants more consumer protections and perks for the middle class and seniors.
November 17, 2020
Give Your Budget Some Love
Budgeting
Give Your Budget Some Love
Think of it as a flexible tool to prioritize—and achieve—your goals.
November 17, 2020
Great Cards for Holiday Shopping
credit cards
Great Cards for Holiday Shopping
The branded card of a retailer you are loyal to may have strong rewards.
October 29, 2020