Joel O'Leary

Full-Time Personal Finance Writer |

Expertise

Credit cards, banking, investing, insurance, personal loans

NUMBER OF PUBLICATIONS: 652 | LAST PUBLISH DATE: 10-14-2026

Past Experience

Writer & Editor, How To Money
Resident Blogger, Budgets Are Sexy

Summary

Joel O’Leary is a full-time Personal Finance Writer at Motley Fool Money, covering credit cards, bank accounts, investing, mortgages, and other personal finance topics. Joel has been writing about personal finance since 2018, previously leading editorial content for the How To Money podcast and serving as a resident writer at Budgets Are Sexy. He bought his first rental property at age 18, funding the down payment with savings from his high school job at McDonald’s -- a testament to his lifelong passion for smart money decisions. His work aims to make personal finance accessible and actionable for everyday readers. When he’s not writing, Joel enjoys surfing and spending time with his family.

Joel's Recent Articles

• Why 21 Months of 0% Intro APR Could Be All You Need to Become Debt-Free
  Oct 14, 2026
  Paying one fixed amount each month during a 0% intro APR window can clear an average credit card balance before interest returns. Here's the math.
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• Earn a $500 Bonus and up to 5.25% Cash Back With This Bank of America Business Card
  Oct 14, 2026
  Bank of America's business loyalty tiers can seriously boost this card's cash back, but the top tier comes with a steep balance requirement.
  Read More
• Up to $250 in Cash and No Annual Fee: 3 of the Easiest Sign-Up Bonuses You Can Earn Now
  Oct 14, 2026
  Here's how to spot the easiest sign-up bonuses, plus three of the top cards right now with low spending hurdles and no annual fees.
  Read More
• Raisin Review
  Oct 13, 2026
  Raisin connects savers with some of the highest yield savings products on the market. Learn how Raisin works and who it's good for in our …
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• Best High-Yield Savings Accounts (Up to 4.25%)
  Oct 13, 2026
  Our expert picks for the best high-yield savings accounts earn up to 4.25% APY -- 11x more than the national average. Most accounts here are …
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• How to Invest Your Chase Points in Stocks: A Step-by-Step Guide
  Oct 13, 2026
  Turn your everyday credit card rewards into real investing dollars. This simple walkthrough shows how to move Chase points into the stock market.
  Read More
• How Business Owners Can Earn a $500 Bonus and 2.625% on Everything With One Bank of America Card
  Oct 13, 2026
  The Bank of America Business Advantage Unlimited earns unlimited flat-rate cash back with no annual fee, and rewards grow if you bank your business with …
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• The Chase Sapphire Preferred 2026 Update: Everything You Need to Know
  Oct 12, 2026
  The annual fee stays the same, while new travel rewards and a bigger hotel credit rolls out. Here are the full Chase Sapphire Preferred refresh …
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• Credit Card Debt Is the No. 1 Financial Stress of Every Generation. Here's How to Get Out of It
  Oct 12, 2026
  Money stress hits every generation, and credit card debt is one of the biggest drivers. Here are practical, proven ways to break the cycle and …
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• Citi Strata Premier® Card vs. Chase Sapphire Preferred® Card
  Oct 12, 2026
  Both cards charge the same annual fee, but rewards and redemption value differ. See how Citi Strata Premier stacks up against Chase Sapphire Preferred.
  Read More
• Chase Sapphire Preferred vs. Amex Blue Cash Preferred
  Oct 12, 2026
  The Chase Sapphire Preferred® Card and Amex Blue Cash Preferred both offer big value -- see which card gives you more savings and fits your …
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• Chase Sapphire Preferred Review
  Oct 12, 2026
  Chase Ultimate Rewards points are some of the most flexible out there. Here's my honest 2026 take on the Chase Sapphire Preferred's perks, fees, and …
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• Fidelity vs. Robinhood
  Sep 22, 2026
  Fidelity and Robinhood are two excellent brokerage picks, but for different audiences. I'll break down which is best for you.
  Read More
• Fidelity vs. E*TRADE
  Sep 22, 2026
  While Fidelity and E*TRADE are similar, one is better for active traders and the other is better for trading on the international market. Compare them …
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• Charles Schwab vs. Fidelity
  Jan 30, 2026
  You can't go wrong picking either Fidelity or Charles Schwab as a broker. Here's a quick overview of each and a fair comparison.
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• Charles Schwab Promotions
  Aug 24, 2026
  New Charles Schwab users can get $50 in free stock with the Starter Kit, or up to $1,000 with a referral bonus. See the tiers …
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• The 3 Top No-Annual-Fee Business Credit Cards of October 2026
  Oct 9, 2026
  The best no-annual-fee business credit cards for October 2026 from Chase and Bank of America, picked by Motley Fool Money.
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• Best Broker Bonuses
  Oct 8, 2026
  Brokerages often offer bonuses and promotions for opening a new account. Here are our picks for the best broker bonuses available now.
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• J.P. Morgan Investing Review
  Oct 8, 2026
  J.P. Morgan Self-Directed Investing allows unlimited trades with $0 commissions. Find out all the details in our full J.P. Morgan Self-Directed Investing review.
  Read More
• Our 3 Favorite Balance Transfer Cards With the Lowest Transfer Fees: October 2026
  Oct 7, 2026
  Some balance transfer cards charge less to move your debt while giving you months of interest-free time. Compare three low-fee picks for paying it down.
  Read More
• The 4 Best Business Cards for LLCs in October 2026
  Oct 7, 2026
  How to match a business rewards card to the way a company actually spends, from simple cash back to premium travel perks.
  Read More
• What Credit Score Do You Need for a Bank of America Business Credit Card?
  Oct 5, 2026
  You'll generally need good credit for a Bank of America business credit card -- and excellent credit for the top cards. Here's the breakdown.
  Read More
• Chase Freedom Rise Review
  Jun 16, 2026
  Earn cash back with $0 annual fee, easy approval odds, and more with the Chase Freedom Rise® card. Here's who this starter card is actually …
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• Wells Fargo Signify Business Cash® Card Review
  Feb 2, 2026
  This no-annual-fee business credit card offers easy flat-rate rewards, a 0% intro APR offer, and flexibility designed to support growing businesses.
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• American Express Graphite Business Cash Unlimited Card Review
  Apr 17, 2026
  The new Amex Graphite Business Cash Unlimited Card offers unlimited 2% cash back with no category limits. Is the annual fee worth it? We break …
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