Libby Kane

From LearnVest to Business Insider: Building a Niche in Human-Centric Finance

We trace Libby Kane’s career trajectory beginning with her foundational role as Associate Editor at LearnVest (2012-2014), where she honed her ability to translate complex financial concepts into actionable advice for women. Her transition to Business Insider in 2014 marked a strategic shift toward systemic economic analysis, evidenced by her leadership on award-winning projects like Inside the Racial Wealth Gap (2021) and The Road to Home (2022).

"Advice is never for everyone. The best strategies depend on your financial situation, history with money, and goals." - Libby Kane on her editorial philosophy

Landmark Investigations: Three Articles That Define Her Approach

• Home prices don't always go down in a recession, but they can (Business Insider)

This 2020 analysis challenged conventional wisdom about housing markets during economic downturns. Kane combined historical data from the 2008 crisis with early COVID-19 pandemic indicators, interviewing 14 economists to create a risk-assessment framework for homeowners. The article’s real-time impact was measurable - it became Business Insider’s most-shared personal finance piece of Q2 2020, cited by multiple housing nonprofits in their consumer guidance materials.

• 29 money lessons everybody should know (Times of India)

Kane’s 2014 manifesto distilled complex financial principles into relatable axioms, using case studies from interviews with 47 subjects across income brackets. The article’s enduring popularity (still generating 15K monthly views as of 2024) stems from its cross-cultural applicability, particularly her analysis of how cultural attitudes toward debt influence savings behaviors.

• 9 Things Rich People Do Differently Every Day (Entrepreneur)

This 2014 behavioral finance piece deconstructed wealth-building habits through psychological research and ethnographic studies of high-net-worth individuals. Kane’s groundbreaking inclusion of time management patterns (documented through 112 time-use diaries) revealed that strategic delegation, not mere frugality, characterized sustainable wealth growth.

Pitch Perfect: Navigating Kane’s Editorial Priorities

1. Lead with Intersectional Economic Analysis

Kane prioritizes stories that examine financial systems through multiple identity lenses. Her 2021 Inside the Racial Wealth Gap series analyzed home appraisal discrimination through 200+ property records and 43 interviews, setting a new standard for data-driven equity reporting. Successful pitches might explore how LGBTQ+ retirement planning differs from traditional models, or regional variations in immigrant banking access.

2. Propose Solutions-Focused Frameworks

Her Master Your Money series (2022) stood out for its "choose-your-own-adventure" approach to debt repayment, featuring interactive budgeting tools. Pitches should mirror this practical orientation - think comparative analyses of savings apps with customizable goal-setting features, or case studies of employers innovating student loan assistance programs.

3. Surface Underreported Demographic Insights

Kane’s Strings Attached series gave voice to financial experiences in insular communities, from Amish entrepreneurs to former cult members. This creates opportunities for pitches about unique subcultures’ wealth-building strategies, such as how diaspora communities utilize informal lending circles alongside traditional banking.

4. Leverage Behavioral Psychology Angles

Her CFEI certification informs pieces like The Psychology of Emergency Funds, which mapped savings habits against Maslow’s hierarchy of needs. Pitches could explore neuroeconomic research on financial decision-making under stress, or behavioral interventions that increase 401(k) participation rates.

5. Localize National Trends with Hyper-Specific Data

The Road to Home guide’s success stemmed from its ZIP-code-level analysis of first-time buyer programs. Replicate this approach by pitching investigations into how specific cities are adapting housing policies for climate change resilience, or county-by-county comparisons of small business recovery post-pandemic.

Awards and Industry Recognition

• Drum Award Finalist, Editorial Campaign of the Year (2021): For Inside the Racial Wealth Gap, recognized for its innovative combination of quantitative analysis (using Federal Reserve data) and qualitative storytelling through 18 first-person narratives.
• National Association of Real Estate Editors Silver Award (2022): Awarded for The Road to Home series that tracked 37 first-time buyers through the entire purchasing process, revealing systemic pain points in mortgage underwriting.
• LearnVest Excellence in Financial Education (2013): Early career recognition for her interactive budgeting tools that increased user savings rates by 22% among beta testers.