Joel O'Leary

Full-Time Personal Finance Writer |

Expertise

Credit cards, banking, investing, insurance, personal loans

NUMBER OF PUBLICATIONS: 647 | LAST PUBLISH DATE: 10-24-2026

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

• Rate Cuts Don't Scare Me. Why My HYSA Still Beats a CD
  Nov 1, 2025
  CDs lock in your rate, but a flexible HYSA still wins for me. Here's how I'm earning over 4% and staying nimble as the Fed …
  Read More
• How Much Will a $10,000 Credit Card Balance Transfer Cost?
  Nov 1, 2025
  Most balance transfers cost 3%-5%, so that's between $300 and $500 on a $10,000 transfer. Here's why that fee is small compared to potential interest …
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• 4 Things Millionaires Do With Every Paycheck
  Oct 31, 2025
  Millionaires pay themselves first, invest like robots, scale up with raises, and put every dollar to work its hardest. Here's how to adopt these habits.
  Read More
• Are Balance Transfer Fees Worth It? Here's the Math
  Oct 31, 2025
  Most of the time, balance transfer fees are worth it. Here's how the math works, and the rare times when they don't make sense.
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• Pros and Cons of High-Yield Savings Accounts
  Oct 29, 2025
  Learn about all the goods and bads of high-yield savings accounts and how they work before deciding if you should open one.
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• I'm a Millionaire, but I Still Do These 5 Frugal Things
  Oct 28, 2025
  Here's why I still cut my own hair, wear decade-old clothes, and wash my own car even though I've crossed millionaire status.
  Read More
• Act Fast: The Top 2 CDs of October 2025 (Up to 4.40% APY)
  Oct 28, 2025
  CD rates are still holding strong right now. You can lock in up to 4.10% APY or explore high-yield savings accounts still paying over 4.00%.
  Read More
• Here's Why I Pay My Credit Card Bill Every Week
  Oct 28, 2025
  Paying your credit card bill every week might sound obsessive, but it can boost your credit score and help you avoid ever paying interest.
  Read More
• Here's How Much You Need to Save Each Month to Retire With $2 Million
  Oct 28, 2025
  Starting at age 30, you'd need to invest $968 every month to retire at 65 with $2 million. Here's how much you need if you …
  Read More
• 3 Easy Credit Habits That Could Add 50+ Points to Your Score
  Oct 28, 2025
  Learn how fixing credit report errors, always paying on time, and lowering your utilization can seriously improve your credit score.
  Read More
• CDs in October 2025: Here's What $10,000 Can Earn You Right Now
  Oct 26, 2025
  Top 12-month CDs are still paying 4.00% APY in October 2025. Here's how much $10,000 could earn in interest, and why timing matters.
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• I've Earned Over $15,000 in Credit Card Rewards. Here's How
  Oct 26, 2025
  I've earned $15K+ in rewards by opening two to three cards a year, matching spend to perks, and playing two-player mode with my wife. Here's …
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• When It Actually Pays to Cash Out a CD Early
  Oct 26, 2025
  When rates rise, cash runs short, or better opportunities come up, breaking a CD early can actually make you more money.
  Read More
• Should You Split Your Debt Across Multiple Balance Transfer Cards?
  Oct 26, 2025
  Splitting debt across multiple balance transfer cards rarely helps and often adds risk. Here's why one solid balance transfer card usually wins.
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• How to Calculate Your True Balance Transfer Savings -- Fees and All
  Oct 25, 2025
  Easily calculate your true savings from a balance transfer by factoring in fees, interest, and payoff timing. Here's the math.
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• CD Rates Are Dropping, but It's Not Too Late to Lock In a Great One
  Oct 25, 2025
  Top 12-month CDs are still paying around 4.00% APY right now. Here's how much your savings can earn before rates fall further.
  Read More
• I'm a Millionaire, but I Still Do These 5 Frugal Things
  Oct 23, 2025
  Here's why I still cut my own hair, wear decade-old clothes, and wash my own car even though I've crossed millionaire status.
  Read More
• Why I'm Putting My $25,000 in an HYSA Instead of a CD
  Oct 23, 2025
  CDs have decent rates right now, but here's why I'm sticking with a high-yield savings account for my $25K emergency fund.
  Read More
• Balance Transfer Fee vs. Interest: Which Costs More?
  Oct 23, 2025
  Balance transfer fees can easily be cheaper than paying months of high interest. Here's how to compare the true costs.
  Read More
• What I've Learned After Opening 30+ Credit Cards
  Oct 22, 2025
  I opened 30+ credit cards and earned over $10K in sign-up rewards alone. Here are six lessons that could help you earn more (without going …
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• Would You Pay a $300 Fee to Save $1,000 in Interest? Here's Why It Actually Makes Sense
  Oct 21, 2025
  Paying a balance transfer fee might sound like a waste, but in many cases it can save you hundreds or even thousands in interest. Here's …
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• Here's How Much Money the Average American Has in Their Checking Account
  Oct 19, 2025
  The average American checking balance might surprise you. But keeping too much cash in checking could be costing you hundreds in lost interest.
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• 6-Month or 5-Year CDs: Which Are Better Right Now?
  Oct 19, 2025
  CD rates near 4.00% APY make saving easy. See whether a 6-month or 5-year CD is the smarter move heading into late 2025.
  Read More
• The Real Difference Between a 680 and a 740 Credit Score (and What It'll Cost You)
  Oct 18, 2025
  A 680 vs. 740 credit score might not sound like a huge difference -- but it could cost you thousands in higher interest rates, insurance …
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• Are You Upper, Middle, or Lower Class? Here's the Income Cutoff
  Oct 18, 2025
  To land in the top 20% of U.S. households, you'll need to earn $153,001 or more. Here's where your income puts you, plus what really …
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