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.
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
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
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…
November 6, 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
Kiplinger’s Best Firms for Customer Service: Banks, Credit Cards and More
banking
Kiplinger’s Best Firms for Customer Service: Banks, Credit Cards and More
We crunched a lot of numbers (and ran a survey) to crown top firms for their service on banking, credit cards, mortgages, and home and auto insurance.…
October 22, 2020
Your Guide to Open Enrollment
health insurance
Your Guide to Open Enrollment
Your options may look a little different this fall. Meanwhile, the cost of coverage continues to climb.
October 1, 2020
Skip the Fees on Savings Transfers
banking
Skip the Fees on Savings Transfers
But banks are not required to lift the limits or stop charging fees for excessive transactions.
September 29, 2020
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
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