Joel O'Leary

Full-Time Personal Finance Writer |

Expertise

Credit cards, banking, investing, insurance, personal loans

NUMBER OF PUBLICATIONS: 672 | LAST PUBLISH DATE: 08-21-2026

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

• Citi Double Cash® Card vs. Wells Fargo Active Cash® Card: Which 0% Intro APR Cash Back Card Wins in August 2026?
  Aug 17, 2026
  These two flat-rate cash back cards look nearly identical until you check what each 0% intro period actually covers. The right pick depends on your …
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• Get 6 Months of up to 4.10%* APY: Best Bank Account Bonuses This Week, Aug. 16, 2026
  Aug 16, 2026
  One of our favorite high-yield savings accounts out there is offering a boosted APY for six months. Here's how to get it, plus some other …
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• How Long Does a Balance Transfer Take?
  Aug 15, 2026
  A balance transfer usually clears in about a week, but new accounts and large balances slow it down. Learn what to expect before you start.
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• Never Pay Full Price on Groceries Again -- Amex Blue Cash Preferred Earns 6% Back
  Aug 15, 2026
  The Blue Cash Preferred rewards grocery-heavy households most. A breakdown of who benefits, how rewards work, and the fee to weigh.
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• 3 Top 0% Intro APR Credit Cards You Can Get Right Now: August 2026
  Aug 15, 2026
  Moving high-interest debt to a 0% intro APR card can save you hundreds. Learn how the intro windows differ and what to check before you …
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• Best Credit Cards for Home Improvement
  Aug 14, 2026
  Find the best credit cards for home improvement. Earn cash back on materials and labor, or finance big projects with a long 0% intro APR.
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• Have Too Many Credit Cards? Here's Which Ones You Should Cancel
  Aug 14, 2026
  Canceling a credit card can hurt your credit score if you time it wrong. Here's when to cancel a card and which ones to cut …
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• Wells Fargo Reflect® Card Review
  Aug 14, 2026
  The Wells Fargo Reflect Card pairs a long 0% intro APR with no annual fee -- but no rewards. See who it's best for and …
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• Can You Withdraw $5,000 From an ATM? Here's What Banks Actually Allow
  Aug 14, 2026
  Daily ATM limits and per-transaction caps decide how much cash you can pull in one trip, and both vary by bank and account type.
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• The Best High-Yield Savings Account of August 2026, Hands Down
  Aug 14, 2026
  The right account for an emergency fund keeps your cash safe, easy to reach, and earning far more than an ordinary savings account.
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• The Best Flat-Rate Cash Back Card for August 2026
  Aug 14, 2026
  A 2% flat rate is simple and hard to beat for everyday spending, but a couple of catches decide if it belongs in your wallet.
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• Best High-Yield Savings Accounts (Up to 4.15%)
  Aug 13, 2026
  Our expert picks for the best high-yield savings accounts earn up to 4.15% APY -- 10x more than the national average. Most accounts here are …
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• The 3 Best High-Yield Savings Accounts With No Minimum Deposit for August 2026
  Aug 13, 2026
  These no-minimum savings accounts skip the monthly fees and pay far more than most big banks, so every dollar earns a competitive rate from day …
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• Freelancers, This Is Your Card: The Ink Business Unlimited
  Aug 13, 2026
  A flat-rate cash back business card can fit freelancers who want rewards without tracking categories. Here's who it works for and who should skip it.
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• 0% Intro APR Plus Cash Back: The Chase Freedom Unlimited Card Has Both
  Aug 13, 2026
  Most 0% intro APR cards get forgotten after the intro period. The Chase Freedom Unlimited keeps paying cash back for years. Here's how it works.
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• The No-Annual-Fee Card Built for Supermarket Runs: Amex Blue Cash Everyday
  Aug 13, 2026
  For households with steady grocery, gas, and online spending, the no-annual-fee Blue Cash Everyday from American Express turns it into cash back.
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• 6 Underrated Perks of the Chase Freedom Flex Card
  Aug 12, 2026
  The Chase Freedom Flex is known for its rotating 5% categories, but its lesser-known benefits may be the real reason to keep it in your …
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• Blue Cash Preferred vs. Blue Cash Everyday: Which Grocery Card Is Better for You?
  Aug 12, 2026
  Choosing between the Blue Cash Preferred and Blue Cash Everyday comes down to how much you spend on groceries. See where you land.
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• Capital One Savor Cash Rewards Credit Card Review
  Aug 11, 2026
  The Capital One Savor card earns bonus cash back on dining, entertainment, and groceries. Find out all about it in this Capital One Savor review.
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• Get 5% Cash Back on Gas Now With the Chase Freedom Flex
  Aug 11, 2026
  Gas is a 5% bonus category on the Chase Freedom Flex right now. Learn how to activate, how much you'll earn, and when a flat-rate …
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• Hands Down the Best Grocery Card for Most Families: Amex Blue Cash Preferred
  Aug 11, 2026
  Groceries are a family's biggest everyday expense. See why the Blue Cash Preferred is built to earn on them and who should carry it.
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• 3 Best High-Yield Savings Accounts With a Debit Card
  Aug 11, 2026
  Most high-yield savings accounts skip the debit card. See which accounts pay a top rate and still let you pull cash when you need it.
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• Buy Stocks, ETFs, and Options From Your Phone: The Best Trading Apps of August 2026
  Aug 11, 2026
  The best trading apps let you buy stocks, ETFs, and options from your phone with no commissions and research tools built in.
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• Your First 90 Days With the Amex Platinum: Grab These Credits in This Order
  Aug 11, 2026
  A 90-day playbook for new Amex Platinum cardholders: which credits to claim first, which to automate, and how to time the rest so none go …
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• These Streaming Subscriptions Could Be Earning You 6% Cash Back With Amex Blue Cash Preferred
  Aug 10, 2026
  The Blue Cash Preferred rewards streaming subscribers with strong cash back. Here's how the card works and who gets the most value from it.
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