Joel O'Leary

Full-Time Personal Finance Writer |

Expertise

Credit cards, banking, investing, insurance, personal loans

NUMBER OF PUBLICATIONS: 675 | LAST PUBLISH DATE: 08-22-2026

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

• 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.
  Read More
• 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.
  Read More
• 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.
  Read More
• 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 …
  Read More
• 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.
  Read More
• I Asked 5 Travel Pros the No. 1 Lounge Access Card -- and They All Picked The Same One
  Aug 10, 2026
  The Amex Platinum is the card travel pros pick for airport lounge access. Here's what it unlocks, what else it offers, and when to skip …
  Read More
• The Best HYSA if You're Starting With Less Than $1,000
  Aug 10, 2026
  You don't need a big balance to open a high-yield savings account. Here's how to start with less than $1,000, with no fees and no …
  Read More
• The 0% Intro APR Card That Wins for Almost Every Type of Borrower
  Aug 10, 2026
  A look at why one no-annual-fee card fits big purchases, debt payoff, and surprise bills alike, with real examples of how borrowers put it to …
  Read More
• What Is a Good APY for a Savings Account in August 2026?
  Aug 9, 2026
  A good APY is 3.00% to 4.00% for high-yield savings accounts, far above the 0.38% national average. See how to grade any rate and where …
  Read More
• Should You Close Your Balance Transfer Card After Paying Off Your Debt?
  Aug 9, 2026
  Closing a balance transfer card after payoff can lower your credit score by raising utilization and cutting account age. Here's when canceling makes sense.
  Read More
• Here's How Much $10,000 Would Earn in a High-Yield Savings Account vs. a CD Right Now
  Aug 9, 2026
  Top savings accounts and CDs pay nearly the same on $10,000 right now, so there's little reason to lock your cash away in a CD.
  Read More
• 3 Credit Cards That Come With 0% Intro APR Until 2028
  Aug 9, 2026
  A 0% intro APR can pause interest until 2028, long enough to clear an average balance. These three cards give you the longest runway right …
  Read More
• Earn up to $400 Bonus Cash and a Boosted APY: Best Bank Account Bonuses This Week, Aug. 9, 2026
  Aug 9, 2026
  My favorite high-yield savings account is offering a boosted APY for up to six months, plus as much as $400 in bonus cash. Here's how …
  Read More
• Here's What $20,000 in Credit Card Debt Costs You at 24% APR vs. 0% APR
  Aug 8, 2026
  A large credit card balance racks up serious interest at a typical rate, but the right move can cut that interest all the way to …
  Read More
• Ted Lasso Season 4 Is Here -- Watch It Free With This Chase Sapphire Preferred Perk
  Aug 8, 2026
  A year of Apple TV comes free with a top travel card, so streaming the buzzed-about new season doesn't have to cost you anything extra.
  Read More
• 5 Things to Check Before You Apply for a Balance Transfer Card
  Aug 8, 2026
  Before applying for a balance transfer card, these five checks help you avoid surprise fees, a denial, and interest that hits when the 0% window …
  Read More
• Is a 3% Balance Transfer Fee Worth It? Here's the Math.
  Aug 7, 2026
  A 3% balance transfer fee sounds steep, but the interest it saves usually dwarfs the cost. Here's how the numbers actually shake out.
  Read More
• The 3 Best No-Annual-Fee Travel Cards of August 2026
  Aug 7, 2026
  See how no-annual-fee travel cards earn rewards, who each one suits, and when paying a fee for extra perks is worth it instead.
  Read More
• How Much Should You Have in an Emergency Fund? Here's the Honest Answer by Income Level
  Aug 7, 2026
  Your emergency fund target is three to six months of expenses. See how much that is at every income level, plus when to aim low …
  Read More
• The 3 Fastest Ways to Get Your Credit Score From 700 to 750
  Aug 7, 2026
  Going from 700 to 750 mostly comes down to one number. These are the three fastest moves to raise your credit score, and how to …
  Read More
• Here's How a Balance Transfer Affects Your Credit Score
  Aug 6, 2026
  A balance transfer usually dips your score at first, then lifts it as you pay down debt. Here's the short-term hit and the long-term payoff.
  Read More
• The Best Online Brokerages of August 2026: $0 Trades and No Account Minimums
  Aug 6, 2026
  The leading commission-free brokerages differ on research, apps, and account types. Here is which one suits which kind of investor.
  Read More
• We Asked 5 Money Experts the No. 1 Balance Transfer Card -- and They All Picked the Same One
  Aug 6, 2026
  The Citi Diamond Preferred wins on math, not perks. See how a 0% intro APR window and a low transfer fee beat carrying a balance …
  Read More
• Best Financial Advisors This Month, August 2026: Stop Guessing and Get a Pro in Your Corner
  Aug 6, 2026
  Browse the best financial advisors for August 2026. Updated monthly with vetted picks to help you stop guessing and start making smarter money moves.
  Read More
• A $1,000 Bonus for No Annual Fee: The Best Business Credit Cards This Month, August 2026
  Aug 6, 2026
  These top Chase business cards are offering huge welcome bonuses for no annual fee. Here's what to know, plus a few other top options.
  Read More