Joel O'Leary

Full-Time Personal Finance Writer |

Expertise

Credit cards, banking, investing, insurance, personal loans

NUMBER OF PUBLICATIONS: 594 | LAST PUBLISH DATE: 05-24-2026

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

• Here's How Much Your Savings Account Is Losing to Inflation Right Now -- and the Fix
  May 24, 2026
  Inflation jumped to 3.8% in April 2026 while most big-bank savings accounts pay just 0.01% APY. See exactly how much that gap costs you each …
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• The Best Credit Cards for Dining Out in 2026: Ranked by Real Annual Value at $800/Month Spend
  May 24, 2026
  A first-person ranking of three top dining credit cards based on real annual value at $800 a month in restaurant spend. Includes honest tradeoffs and …
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• Earn up to 4.00% APY for 6 Months Plus a Cash Bonus: Best Bank Account Bonuses This Week, May 24, 2026
  May 24, 2026
  With one of my favorite high-yield savings accounts, you can earn bonus cash and a boosted APY for up to six months. Here's what to …
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• Here's Why 'Credit Piggybacking' Can Sometimes Backfire -- and When It's Worth It
  May 23, 2026
  Adding someone as an authorized user can boost their credit score, but only in the right situations. Here's when credit piggybacking works and when it …
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• 56% of Gen Z and 50% of Millennials Don't Have a 1-Month Emergency Fund. Here's Where to Start.
  May 23, 2026
  A new Motley Fool Money survey reveals most younger Americans lack emergency savings. Here's how to build a starter cushion without overhauling your life.
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• I Compared Paying Off $6,700 in Credit Card Debt vs. Investing in the S&P 500. Here's What the Math Says
  May 23, 2026
  Investing for the future is smart, but if you've got lingering credit card debt it's holding you back more than you realize. Here's why paying …
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• Earn $750 With a Top Business Card: The Best Credit Card Sign-Up Bonuses This Week, May 23, 2026
  May 23, 2026
  Want to earn a large sign-up bonus, plus 5% back on all kinds of business expenses? Here's the credit card to get, plus four other …
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• We Compared Opening a CD vs. an HYSA for a $20,000 Emergency Fund. Here's the Right Answer
  May 22, 2026
  A locked-in rate might look better on paper, but flexibility usually wins when comparing a 6-month CD against a high-yield savings account for a $20,000 …
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• The Best Checking Account of 2026: Capital One 360 Just Won Our Top Pick
  May 22, 2026
  Capital One 360 Checking won Motley Fool Money's Best Checking Account of 2026. Here's why it stood out -- and how to pair it with …
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• The 3 Best Cards for Streaming, Dining, and Delivery in 2026
  May 22, 2026
  Most basic credit cards have low rewards for streaming, dining, and delivery. These three are built differently to match how you actually spend money.
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• The Citi Diamond Preferred Won Best Balance Transfer Card of 2026 -- Here's Why
  May 22, 2026
  A long 0% intro APR, low balance transfer fee, and no annual fee make this card our top pick for paying off high-interest credit card …
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• Trump Accounts Are Coming July 4. Here's How They Work, and Who Gets $1,000
  May 21, 2026
  Trump accounts launch July 4, 2026. Here's what they are, who qualifies for the $1,000 federal seed money, and how families can use them to …
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• My Friend Built a $60,000 CD Ladder. Here's How Much It Earns Monthly in 2026
  May 21, 2026
  A simple CD ladder strategy that pays monthly interest, keeps cash accessible, and locks in rates before they drop further.
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• Here's Why the Best Balance Transfer Cards Have No Rewards Programs
  May 21, 2026
  No-rewards balance transfer cards beat the ones offering both 0% intro APR and cash back for most people in heavy debt – here's the math …
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• Ink Business Cash® Credit Card Review
  May 20, 2026
  Learn how this no-annual-fee business card can help you earn more on everyday expenses like office supplies, internet, and gas.
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• The Best High-Yield Savings Account of May 2026, Hands Down
  May 20, 2026
  I'm telling friends and family to open this savings account in May 2026, with no fees, no minimums, and an APY over 8X the national …
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• Here's How Much Using a Debit Card Everywhere Actually Costs You: $708 a Year
  May 20, 2026
  The average American household leaves more than $700 a year on the table by swiping debit instead of a flat-rate cash back card. Here's the …
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• The Best No-Annual-Fee Travel Card of May 2026, Hands Down
  May 20, 2026
  The Wells Fargo Autograph is a no-annual-fee travel card with 3X points on dining, gas, travel, streaming, and transit. Here's why it's an award winner …
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• Chase Sapphire Preferred vs. Amex Blue Cash Preferred
  May 19, 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 Ink Business Premier Review
  May 19, 2026
  The Chase Ink Business Premier® earns 2.5% cash back on purchases of $5,000+. Here's who it's built for -- and whether it's worth it.
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• Flight Costs Are Going Up. These 3 Cards Could Save You $750+
  May 19, 2026
  Jet fuel prices are rising fast and airlines are passing the cost to travelers. These three travel rewards cards can help offset higher airfare in …
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• Here's What 5 Years of Not Investing Has Cost You, in 2026 Dollars
  May 19, 2026
  Investors in the S&P 500 made huge gains over the past five years. Here's what you can still do today to start building long-term wealth.
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• $750 Bonus, $0 Annual Fee: The Chase Ink Business Unlimited Might Be the Perfect Starter Business Card
  May 19, 2026
  The Chase Ink Business Unlimited features flat-rate cash back, a strong welcome offer, no annual fee, and an intro APR offer on new purchases.
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• The 3 Best Cards for People Who Hate Tracking Categories in 2026
  May 18, 2026
  Flat-rate cash back cards skip the category tracking and can easily out-earn most rewards programs for everyday spenders. Here are my top three picks.
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• Capital One Venture vs. Venture X: Which Travel Card Wins in May 2026?
  May 17, 2026
  Both Capital One travel cards earn at least 2X miles on every purchase, every day. But the premium version adds perks that can offset its …
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