Joel O'Leary

Full-Time Personal Finance Writer |

Expertise

Credit cards, banking, investing, insurance, personal loans

NUMBER OF PUBLICATIONS: 554 | LAST PUBLISH DATE: 05-07-2026

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

• How a Series of Small Deposits in Your Bank Account Could Cause You Some Financial Problems
  Dec 21, 2025
  Making multiple small cash deposits seems harmless, but it can raise red flags with the government. Here's what to know before heading to the bank.
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• 3 Little-Known Perks of Opening a Business Credit Card
  Dec 21, 2025
  Business credit cards can simplify expenses, boost points, and build credit. Learn which card might be the best fit for your business.
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• Here's What Happens When You Keep a Credit Card Open for Over 10 Years
  Dec 21, 2025
  Keeping a credit card for 10+ years can help your credit score, shape your spending habits, and even change rewards over time. Here's what to …
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• Here's What Happens When You Try to Open Too Many Bank Accounts at Once
  Dec 21, 2025
  Opening too many bank accounts too fast can trigger denials, missed bonuses, and surprise fees. Here's what actually happens behind the scenes.
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• Passive Income Isn't Just for the Rich. Here Are 3 Ways Everyone Can Earn More Money
  Dec 20, 2025
  Savings accounts, dividend stocks or REITs, and credit card rewards are three easy ways anyone can earn passive income.
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• Here's What Happens When You Tip With a Credit Card
  Dec 19, 2025
  Tipping with a credit card works a little differently than cash. Here's where your tip goes, how workers get paid, and what most people don't …
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• 3 Ways the 1% Maintain Their Wealth
  Dec 19, 2025
  The 1% stay wealthy by investing long term, keeping emergency cash, and avoiding high-cost debt. Here's why those habits work for anyone.
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• Here's What Happens When You Withdraw Cash With a Credit Card
  Dec 18, 2025
  Withdrawing cash using a credit card (aka cash advance) can trigger instant fees, high interest, and credit risks. Here are smarter alternatives to consider.
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• 4 Reasons You Should Actually Pull From Your Savings Account
  Dec 18, 2025
  A savings account is usually for emergencies, but here's when tapping it is actually the smartest financial move you can make.
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• You Might Not Realize What Happens When You Spend More Than $10,000 on Your Credit Card
  Dec 18, 2025
  Charging $10,000+ to a credit card can trigger fraud checks, raise utilization, and rack up interest. Here's what happens, and how to avoid the downsides.
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• These 3 Changes Are Coming to IRAs in 2026
  Dec 18, 2025
  IRA rules are shifting slightly in 2026. Here are three key changes, including higher income and contribution limits, and how to use them to your …
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• Here's What Happens When You Only Use Credit Cards
  Dec 17, 2025
  Credit cards offer rewards and protection, but using them exclusively has downsides. Here's what to know before going all-in on credit.
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• Don't Keep Cash at Home. Here Are 3 Dead Simple Places to Put It Instead
  Dec 17, 2025
  High-yield savings, short-term CDs, and index funds beat hiding cash at home. Here's why these places are safer and smarter to put your money instead.
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• The 4 Biggest Mistakes You Can Make When Paying Off Credit Card Debt
  Dec 16, 2025
  Don't let these four mistakes wreck your debt payoff plans in 2026. Learn how to outsmart them and ditch your balance faster.
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• Citi Double Cash Review
  Dec 15, 2025
  Earn 2% back on every purchase with no annual fee. See why the Citi Double Cash card is a top pick in our in-depth Citi …
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• The No. 1 Mistake People Make With High-Yield Savings Accounts
  Dec 12, 2025
  Keeping too much in your high-yield savings account can hurt your long-term financial growth. Here's what to do with the extra cash.
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• Put $25,000 in a High-Yield Savings Account and Here's What 4.00% APY Does Over a Year
  Dec 12, 2025
  See how much $25,000 can grow in a high-yield savings account and why these accounts are the smartest place to store short-term savings.
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• CDs Are More Risky Than You Think. Here's Why
  Dec 12, 2025
  Here's why early withdrawal penalties, limited access, and slow growth can actually make CDs more costly than you first think.
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• 3 Reasons to Open a LendingClub Savings Account Before the Fed Changes Rates
  Dec 11, 2025
  LendingClub's high-yield savings account offers a top APY, no fees, and easy access. Here's why it's worth opening before interest rates fall.
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• Here's How Many Americans Have a Perfect 850 Credit Score in 2025
  Dec 11, 2025
  Only 1.76% of Americans have a perfect 850 FICO® Score in 2025. Here's who they are, what they do differently, and why perfection doesn't actually …
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• Here's What Happens When You Have More Than $250,000 in Savings
  Dec 10, 2025
  Here's how FDIC insurance works, what's actually protected, and why holding over $250,000 in cash can hold you back long term.
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• 3 Steps to Grow Your Savings by $10,000 in 2026
  Dec 10, 2025
  Hit your 2026 savings goals by opening a dedicated savings account, automating deposits, and reducing one major expense.
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• Here's What Happens When You Pay for Everything in Cash
  Dec 10, 2025
  Paying only in cash can change how you spend, save, and even think about money. Here's both the real-world upside and some sneaky downsides.
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• If a Recession Hits in 2026, How Much Cash Should You Have on Hand?
  Dec 9, 2025
  If you're worried about a 2026 recession, start saving up three to six months' worth of living expenses in a high-yield savings account. Here's how …
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• 3 Little-Known Perks of Having Multiple Credit Cards
  Dec 8, 2025
  Learn how you can earn more rewards, boost your credit score, and protect yourself if one issuer freezes your account by carrying multiple credit cards.
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