Top PersonalFinance Journalists in USA (2025)

With 25+ years spanning The Wall Street Journal and The New York Times, Carrns has become the go-to expert for Americans navigating financial systems. Her "Your Money Adviser" column reaches 4.8 million weekly readers.

Core Coverage Areas

• Consumer Finance: Banking practices, credit systems, regulatory changes
• Healthcare Economics: Insurance markets, medical debt, prescription costs
• Education Funding: Student loans, vocational training ROI, employer programs

Pitching Preferences

• Data-Driven Stories: Requires verified datasets from government or academic sources
• Policy Impact: Focus on legislation affecting household budgets
• Solution Orientation: Highlights innovative financial tools/services

Career Highlights

• Pulitzer Prize-nominated Katrina coverage (2006)
• Creator of NYT's Retirement Calculator Tool (2021)
• Cited in 3 Congressional hearings on consumer finance

With dual expertise in Wall Street mechanics and consumer-focused journalism, Brian O’Connell has become essential reading for retirement planners. His current work for Kiplinger combines rigorous financial analysis with global lifestyle insights.

Core Coverage Areas

• International Retirement Planning: Detailed guides to overseas retirement destinations
• Alternative Income Strategies: Innovative approaches to retirement funding
• Wealth Preservation: Tax-efficient investment and estate planning

Pitching Priorities

• Case studies demonstrating successful retirement transitions
• Regional updates on expat-friendly policies
• Emerging fintech tools for seniors

"The best financial journalism doesn’t just report numbers – it illuminates pathways."

Cameron Huddleston has established herself as the leading voice in intergenerational financial communication through 20+ years of reporting. Her work at AARP and bestselling book Mom and Dad, We Need to Talk make her uniquely positioned at the intersection of personal finance and family dynamics.

Key Coverage Areas

• Family Finance: Specializes in caregiving cost analysis and estate planning conversations
• Retirement Realities: Focuses on underdiscussed challenges like healthcare inflation and Social Security timing
• Frugal Innovation: Identifies savings strategies for fixed-income households

Pitching Insights

• Preferred Angles: Multigenerational data sets, actionable tools for money conversations, niche financial pressure points
• Avoid: Cryptocurrency, luxury wealth management, get-rich-quick schemes

"The most impactful financial stories are those that change how families talk about money."

Career Highlights

• Authored 1,200+ personal finance articles across top-tier outlets
• Maintained 92% reader retention rate for digital columns
• Pioneered AARP's first interactive financial conversation guides

Casey Bond is a Certified Personal Finance Counselor and award-winning journalist specializing in consumer-focused financial strategies. As a senior contributor for GOBankingRates, she produces actionable guidance on retirement planning, savings techniques, and credit management.

Core Coverage Areas

• Retirement Readiness: Develops diagnostic frameworks for assessing retirement preparedness
• Savings Products Analysis: Evaluates CDs, high-yield accounts, and emergency fund tools
• Financial Behavior: Explores psychological barriers to wealth building

Pitching Insights

• Seek: Data-driven tools for personal financial assessment
• Avoid: Speculative investment vehicles or get-rich-quick schemes

Career Highlights

• 2019 Excellence in Personal Finance Reporting winner
• Former Fortune Recommends editor shaping mainstream financial discourse

Christy Bieber is a CBS News senior writer specializing in personal finance and legal consumer issues. With a JD from UCLA and 16+ years of experience, she translates complex regulations into actionable advice for mainstream audiences.

Key Coverage Areas

• Retirement Planning: Analyzes SECURE Act impacts and retirement account management strategies
• Debt Management: Tracks consumer lending trends and relief program effectiveness
• Regulatory Changes: Explains how new laws affect household budgets and financial planning

Pitching Guidance

• Focus on Middle-Income Challenges: Bieber prioritizes issues affecting $50k-$150k households
• Legal-Angle Preferred: Successful pitches often involve pending legislation or court rulings
• Data-Driven Stories: Include verifiable statistics from Federal Reserve or CFPB sources

"The best financial advice means nothing if consumers can't understand their options." - Christy Bieber, 2024 Financial Literacy Summit

Cindy George merghes public health expertise with financial advocacy as GoodRx’s Senior Personal Finance Editor. Her work focuses on:

Core Coverage Areas

• Healthcare Affordability: Breaking down insurance policies, subsidy programs, and prescription discounts
• Medical Debt Solutions: Highlighting hospital forgiveness initiatives and state-level consumer protections

Pitching Preferences

• Prioritize data-driven stories with clear consumer takeaways (e.g., “5 Questions to Ask Before Choosing a Medicare Plan”)
• Avoid clinical trial summaries or investment product promotions

Notable Achievements: 2018 Pulitzer finalist for hurricane coverage, NABJ board member advancing media diversity.

Currently writing for Yahoo Finance, Ethan Wolff-Mann specializes in making complex financial concepts accessible to mainstream audiences. His work sits at the intersection of household economics and consumer technology.

Pitching Priorities

• Household Budget Innovations Seeks stories about tools/services reducing monthly expenses by 15%+ through verifiable case studies.
• Retirement Strategy Shifts Interested in non-traditional retirement models validated by actuarial research.

Avoid

• Crypto Market Analysis Doesn’t cover speculative investments without clear consumer protection angles.

As Creative Director of The Financial Diet, Trantham spearheads personal finance content for 25-40 year olds navigating post-debt financial landscapes. Her work emphasizes:

• Financial Automation: Systems reducing active money management time by 60%+
• Value-Based Spending: Audits aligning budgets with personal ethics and goals
• Gender-Smart Tools: Products addressing caregiving costs and pay gap impacts

Pitching Preferences

Seeking:

• Case studies demonstrating 3+ years of sustained financial habit success
• Tools automating bill payments/savings with <1 hour monthly maintenance
• Products reducing "financial admin" time for working parents

Avoid:

• Get-rich-quick schemes or side hustle culture
• Traditional investment vehicles without behavioral components
• Gender-neutral financial planning tools

Recent Recognition:
- 2024 Plutus Award Finalist (Personal Finance Media)
- 2023 Lede Award Winner (Explanatory Journalism)
- Cited in 12 academic papers on behavioral economics

BIO: [As above] SHORTBIO: [As above]

James Royal, Ph.D., is a Bankrate principal writer specializing in personal finance, investing, and retirement strategies. With a career spanning The Motley Fool and NerdWallet, his work empowers readers to navigate complex financial decisions through data-driven analysis.

Pitching Tips

• Focus on Educational Angles: Royal prioritizes content that teaches readers to avoid fees or optimize tax strategies, as seen in his CFP guide.
• Highlight Mainstream Relevance: Pitches should connect niche topics (e.g., bond ladders) to broader goals like homebuying or college savings.

Achievements

• Cited by CNBC and The New York Times for retirement planning expertise.
• Author of The Zen of Thrift Conversions, a critical exploration of community banking.

This FS Super and W Magazine contributor brings rare dual expertise in personal finance systems and cultural analysis. Her work consistently demystifies complex insurance products while holding beauty industries accountable.

Priority Pitch Targets

• Superannuation Innovation: Particularly tech solutions improving claims accessibility
• Cosmetic Regulation Gaps: Cross-border ecommerce loopholes, anti-aging marketing claims
• Narrative Finance: How entertainment media shapes money management behaviors

Achievement Highlights

• 2024 Money Matters Media Award winner
• 12k+ member-voted education award recipient
• Bestselling fiction author under dual pseudonyms

Jessica Dickler is CNBC’s preeminent personal finance reporter, specializing in education costs, consumer debt trends, and generational wealth strategies. With over 15 years at the network, her work consistently bridges academic research and household money management.

Key Coverage Areas

• Student Financial Systems: Track record of dissecting FAFSA reforms and state grant programs
• Credit Market Analysis: Regular coverage of FICO score impacts on housing/auto access
• Alternative Investments: Investigates non-traditional wealth-building approaches

Pitching Insights

• Data Depth Required: Successful pitches include proprietary datasets or academic partnerships
• Human Angles Essential: Combines quantitative analysis with individual financial journeys

“The most impactful stories live where spreadsheets meet real people’s kitchen tables.” — Jessica Dickler, 2024 Financial Journalism Symposium

John McDermott is a senior writer at Esquire specializing in the collision of finance, culture, and technology. His reporting illuminates how individuals navigate—and disrupt—systems of power, from corporate labyrinths to online communities.

Pitching Insights

• Seek Complexity: He prioritizes stories with competing ethical frameworks over clear heroes/villains.
• Data-Driven Angles: Even narrative pieces incorporate quantitative analysis, like pharmaceutical cost breakdowns.
• Platform Awareness: Stories must work equally well in long-form and social media snippet formats.

“The most interesting stories live in the gaps between what’s legal, what’s ethical, and what’s human.”

We find Carpenter’s work at the intersection of personal finance and cultural analysis, primarily for Esquire and Bankrate. Her current beats include:

• Financial Systems for Non-Traditional Workers: Developed through 43 interviews with freelancers
• Censorship & Material Culture: Focused on how access to information shapes marginalized communities
• Historical Reclamation: Profiles forgotten women through archival research

Pitching Insights

Successful angles often combine:

• Concrete data visualization opportunities
• First-person narratives from underrepresented groups
• Historical precedents for modern issues

Avoid pitches about celebrity finance or conventional career advice.

Recent Recognition

• 2024 Substack Featured Publication for historical journalism
• 2023 Pushcart Prize nomination for fiction writing

As managing editor for news at Money, Julia Glum has redefined financial journalism for digital natives. Her work bridges complex policy and daily money decisions, particularly for readers under 40 navigating student debt, gig work, and economic uncertainty.

Key Coverage Areas

• Consumer Finance: Everyday spending decisions, from phone purchases to grocery budgeting
• Tax Policy: IRS programs, state tax credits, and filing challenges for freelancers
• Economic Trends: Inflation impacts, stimulus programs, and labor market shifts

Pitching Insights

• Lead with Data: Glum prioritizes studies showing generational financial behavior shifts
• Highlight Policy Angles: Successful pitches connect household budgets to legislation
• Avoid Generic Advice: She skips "101" content in favor of niche, solution-focused stories

Career Highlights

• Grew Dollar Scholar newsletter to 160,000+ subscribers
• Led Money's 50th anniversary editorial initiatives
• Frequently cited by NYT, WaPo, and CNBC for tax policy analysis

Julia Kagan is a senior managing editor at TIME Stamped, where she deciphers retirement planning, healthcare costs, and consumer rights for mainstream audiences. With bylines in Investopedia, Policygenius, and Consumer Reports, she combines investigative rigor with actionable advice.

Pitching Priorities

• Retirement in the Gig Economy: She seeks case studies on freelancers building nest eggs without employer-sponsored plans.
• Medical Debt Solutions: Pitch data on state-level reforms or hospital financial assistance programs.
• Life Insurance Innovations: Highlight products addressing nontraditional families or chronic illness coverage gaps.

Awards Snapshot

• National Magazine Award (2004)
• Gerald Loeb Award for Financial Journalism (2000)
• 4x National Magazine Award Finalist

As Business Insider's former Director of Personal Finance and certified financial planner, Cole specializes in making complex money matters accessible to early-career professionals. Her work bridges behavioral psychology with practical financial strategies, particularly focusing on:

• Tax literacy: DIY filing guides and annual deduction updates
• Income optimization: Career transition budgeting and side hustle taxation
• Financial tool development: Interactive calculators and visual learning aids

Pitching Priorities

• Life stage focus Prioritize stories addressing first-time financial experiences (first mortgage, retirement account setup)
• Data visualization Include chart-ready datasets showing demographic spending patterns

"The most impactful pitches demonstrate clear understanding of IRS rule changes and their human impact" - 2024 Media Kit

As Deputy Editor at Business Insider, Libby Kane has redefined personal finance journalism through her data-rich examinations of systemic economic issues. With 12+ years specializing in behavioral finance and wealth inequality, she brings psychological acuity to stories about money’s role in shaping life outcomes.

Core Coverage Areas

• Intersectional Wealth Analysis: Examines how race, gender, and community affect financial access
• First-Time Homebuyer Guidance: Developed proprietary mortgage readiness assessment tools
• Behavioral Change Strategies: Creates evidence-based frameworks for habit formation

Pitching Insights

• Lead with fresh datasets: Kane prioritizes stories incorporating original surveys or underutilized government statistics
• Highlight solution architects: She frequently profiles fintech innovators and policy reformers
• Avoid generic advice: Her work emphasizes personalized strategies over one-size-fits-all approaches

Awards Snapshot: 2022 NAREE Silver Award, 2021 Drum Award Finalist, 2013 LearnVest Education Innovation Prize

With over 30 years at Kiplinger’s Personal Finance, Mark Solheim has become a trusted voice for readers navigating life’s financial complexities. His expertise spans retirement planning, automotive markets, and real estate strategies, always with an eye toward practical, middle-class solutions.

Pitching Priorities

• Retirement Innovation: Focus on strategies for those within 10 years of retirement, particularly hybrid insurance-investment products.
• Auto Market Shifts: Pitch analyses of EV tax policies or AI-driven insurance models, avoiding technical specs in favor of consumer cost impacts.
• Home Equity Creativity: Highlight non-traditional uses of real estate wealth, supported by regulatory or demographic data.

Awards Snapshot

“Solheim’s work redefined how personal finance journalism serves real people, not just Wall Street.” — National Magazine Awards Committee

Connect with Mark via his Kiplinger profile for pitches aligning with his signature blend of empathy and economic rigor.

With over two decades of combined local and national reporting experience, Maryalene LaPonsie has established herself as a unique voice in financial journalism. Her work bridges complex market analysis with tangible consumer advice, particularly in:

• Precious Metals Markets: Specializing in historical trend analysis and portfolio strategy development
• Retirement Planning: Focusing on IRA optimization and tax-efficient wealth preservation
• Community Finance: Analyzing local economic policies through national financial lenses

Pitching Priorities

When approaching LaPonsie, consider these demonstrated interest areas:

"The most impactful stories reveal how financial systems affect everyday decision-making" - From 2024 interview with Journalist's Forum

• Do Pitch:
  • Consumer protection initiatives in investment markets
  • Municipal finance case studies with broader applications
  • Behavioral economics in precious metals trading
• Avoid:
  • Speculative cryptocurrency trends
  • Corporate earnings analysis without consumer angles
  • Theoretical economic models without implementation frameworks

Recent recognitions include back-to-back Michigan Press Association awards (2023-2024) for her innovative approach to community financial reporting. Her dual role as nonprofit board member and national financial commentator creates unique opportunities for stories blending fiscal responsibility with social impact.

For 28 years, Michelle Singletary has been The Washington Post’s financial compass, guiding readers through recessions, pandemics, and policy shifts. Her syndicated “Color of Money” column reaches 82 markets, while her four books have sold 1.2 million copies worldwide.

Key Coverage Areas

• Household Economics: Tax strategies, generational wealth transfer, recession-proof budgeting
• Policy Impacts: Tariffs, interest rates, and labor trends affecting family budgets
• Financial Literacy: Church-based money ministries, prison education programs

Avoid These Pitches

• Cryptocurrency investment strategies
• Luxury goods market trends
• Corporate merger analyses

Preferred Story Angles

“Show me the parent working two jobs who found a way to save $5,000, not the hedge fund manager’s stock picks.”

Pitch her with data-driven stories that reveal how systemic changes impact real people’s wallets. Recent successes include analyses of childcare tax credits and auto loan discrimination patterns.

As NerdWallet's lead personal loan strategist, Nicole Dow equips readers with tools to navigate complex borrowing decisions. Her work focuses on three pillars:

• Financial Access: Demystifying credit systems for first-time borrowers
• Crisis Management: Developing frameworks for unexpected expenses
• Regulatory Changes: Translating policy shifts into consumer impact

Pitching Priorities

• Do: Lead with data-driven consumer protection angles
• Don't: Pitch generic debt consolidation services

"The best financial advice meets people where they are - that's my editorial compass."

This U.S. News & World Report contributor has become essential reading for Americans navigating credit systems and wealth-building strategies. With 13 years of frontline financial reporting, Lake translates Federal Reserve policies into household budgeting advice.

Core Coverage Areas

• Consumer Credit Systems: Analyzes credit scoring innovations and debt management tools
• Retirement Planning: Focuses on Gen X/Millennial wealth accumulation challenges
• Banking Technology: Evaluates fintech tools for small businesses and individual investors

Pitching Insights

• Preferred Angles: Regional economic trends impacting personal budgets, IRS rule changes, behavioral finance research applications
• Avoid: Pure product pitches without consumer education components, cryptocurrency platforms, M&A speculation

"Lake's guides to navigating medical debt have been referenced in 14 state financial assistance programs." - National Consumer Law Center

As Deputy Editor of Business Insider's Personal Finance Insider, Sarah Silbert has become the definitive voice for Americans navigating credit systems and wealth-building strategies. With bylines in Entrepreneur and The Points Guy, her work reaches 8 million monthly readers seeking actionable financial guidance.

Core Coverage Areas

• Credit Optimization - From travel rewards to debt management, her guides help consumers leverage credit systems
• Banking Innovation - She tracks emerging fintech tools helping freelancers and small businesses
• Consumer Tech Economics - Her unique tech journalism background informs gadget investment analyses

Pitching Priorities

• Solutions addressing student loan debt/retirement planning conflicts
• Banking apps with AI-driven financial health assessments
• Credit cards offering non-traditional loyalty rewards

"The best financial products don't just save money - they create opportunities for life-enhancing experiences."

Achievement Highlights

• 2024 Plutus Award winner for banking journalism
• Built Business Insider's Personal Finance vertical from concept to 12M annual readers
• Cited by CFPB in 2023 credit card disclosure reforms

With 25+ years at The Motley Fool, Maranjian has become the Rosetta Stone of personal finance journalism - decoding Wall Street complexity for everyday investors. Her work spans:

• Core Coverage Areas:
  • Retirement planning strategies (401k optimization, Social Security timing)
  • Blue-chip stock analysis with 10+ year horizons
  • Debt management frameworks adaptable to income levels
• Emerging Interests:
  • AI's impact on fundamental analysis
  • Intergenerational wealth transfer tools
  • Behavioral finance applications for retail investing

Pitching Preferences

• Seek: Case studies demonstrating financial principles in action, particularly during market downturns
• Avoid: Get-rich-quick schemes or single-stock promotions without economic moat analysis

"Taking 100% responsibility means acknowledging you create your financial reality - but society must provide the tools for success."

Taylor Tepper is a senior financial journalist specializing in consumer banking and macroeconomic policy impacts. Currently contributing to Forbes Advisor, his work deciphers complex financial systems for everyday investors through rigorous data analysis and expert sourcing.

Key Coverage Areas

• Interest Rate Environment: Tracks Federal Reserve decisions and their ripple effects on savings products and loan rates
• Retirement Planning: Analyzes 401(k) trends, IRA innovations, and longevity risk strategies
• Consumer Banking: Investigates fee structures, digital banking adoption, and regulatory changes

Pitching Insights

Lead With Data Visualization Opportunities

Tepper’s most-shared articles incorporate interactive elements like adjustable rate calculators. Pitch stories that allow readers to model financial scenarios using their own numbers.

Bridge Academic Research & Mainstream Applications

His coverage frequently cites NBER working papers and FDIC consumer surveys. Successful pitches identify emerging academic findings with clear personal finance implications.

Veronica Dagher stands at the intersection of personal finance expertise and narrative journalism, crafting stories that empower readers through data-driven insights. As a senior wealth management reporter for The Wall Street Journal, she deciphers complex economic trends into actionable advice, particularly for women navigating financial transitions.

Key Coverage Areas

• Housing Economics: Analyzes regional market disparities through both macroeconomic indicators and individual homeowner experiences
• Wealth Resilience: Profiles innovative strategies for maintaining financial stability through life crises and market downturns
• Retirement Innovation: Explores non-traditional approaches to aging-in-place and intergenerational wealth transfer

Pitching Preferences

• Seek: Case studies demonstrating measurable financial outcomes over 3+ years, policy analyses with direct consumer impacts, underrepresented demographic perspectives
• Avoid: Generic market predictions, get-rich-quick schemes, celebrity finance tips without substantive strategy breakdowns

"The most impactful financial stories aren't about money—they're about the lives money enables or constrains."

Career Highlights

• Created WSJ's first personal finance podcast reaching #2 in Apple Business charts
• 2024 Gerald Loeb Award Finalist for investigative retirement coverage
• Regular commentator on Fox Business and NPR's Marketplace