Joel O'Leary

Full-Time Personal Finance Writer |

Expertise

Credit cards, banking, investing, insurance, personal loans

NUMBER OF PUBLICATIONS: 610 | LAST PUBLISH DATE: 07-06-2026

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

• Earn a 200,000-Point Bonus for a Limited Time With the Chase Sapphire Reserve for Business
  Jun 15, 2026
  Premium travel perks, airport lounge access, and free employee cards make this a strong fit for established businesses with serious monthly spend.
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• The Chase Sapphire Preferred 2026 Update: Everything You Need to Know
  Jun 15, 2026
  The annual fee stays the same, while new travel rewards and a bigger hotel credit rolls out. Here are the full Chase Sapphire Preferred refresh …
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• Best Credit Cards to Transfer Points
  Jun 15, 2026
  Want to get the most value from your rewards? Here are the best credit cards for transferring points to airline and hotel partners.
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• Chase Sapphire Preferred Review
  Jun 15, 2026
  Chase Ultimate Rewards points are some of the most flexible out there. Here's my honest 2026 take on the Chase Sapphire Preferred's perks, fees, and …
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• Chase Sapphire Preferred vs. Amex Blue Cash Preferred
  Jun 15, 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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• Should You Downgrade Your Chase Sapphire Reserve? Here's How to Decide
  Jun 15, 2026
  This premium travel card just got a big overhaul -- along with a huge fee increase. Here's how to tell if it's still worth it, …
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• Here's What It Takes to Get the Best Credit Cards Now
  Jun 13, 2026
  Card issuers weigh income, debt load, and recent activity, not just your score. Here's how banks decide who earns top rewards.
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• Save Thousands in Travel This Year: Best Credit Card Welcome Offers This Week, June 13, 2026
  Jun 13, 2026
  The Amex Platinum is one of the best travel cards out there -- and its welcome bonus offer is just the cherry on top. Here's …
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• Get a $1,000 Bonus for a Limited Time With the Chase Ink Business Cash Card
  Jun 12, 2026
  This award-winning business card pairs category-leading cash back with no annual fee, making it a standout pick for everyday business spending in 2026.
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• Limited-Time Offer: Earn a $1,000 Bonus With the Chase Ink Business Unlimited Card
  Jun 12, 2026
  This no-annual-fee business card rewards every purchase, and it's pairing that with a standout welcome offer worth a serious look in 2026.
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• The 3 Best High-Yield Savings Accounts With No Minimum Deposit for June 2026
  Jun 12, 2026
  These savings accounts have no minimum deposit, no monthly fees, and rates that leave big-bank accounts in the dust. See which fits your goal.
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• Millennials Have an Average 401(k) Balance of $82,600. How Does Your Generation Stack Up?
  Jun 12, 2026
  Maxing out a 401(k) feels responsible, but a huge pretax balance can limit you later. See how a smarter mix of accounts adds flexibility.
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• Where to Buy the SpaceX IPO: 4 Best Brokers for SPCX Access
  Jun 11, 2026
  SpaceX goes public June 12 under the ticker SPCX. Here are four brokers where retail investors can register interest -- and what to know before …
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• Here's the Average 401(k) Balance by Age vs. What You Actually Need
  Jun 11, 2026
  See how generational retirement savings stack up against expert benchmarks, plus simple moves to help you catch up at any age.
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• I Keep 4 Months of Living Expenses in Cash -- Here's Where I Put It to Earn 4.00% APY
  Jun 11, 2026
  Keeping an emergency fund in cash doesn't have to mean losing ground to inflation. Here's how I keep mine liquid, protected, and growing.
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• My Top 3 Balance Transfer Cards for 2026, Ranked
  Jun 11, 2026
  Most issuers block transfers between their own cards, and approval needs good credit. Here is how three top picks for 2026 stack up, ranked.
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• 7 Things Business Owners Should Never Charge on a Personal Card
  Jun 10, 2026
  Mixing company costs into personal credit can muddy tax deductions and create accounting headaches. Here's what belongs on a business account instead.
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• The 400x Gap Between My HYSA and My Chase Checking Account
  Jun 10, 2026
  After 15+ years with Chase, here's how I started earning real money on my emergency fund without giving up easy access to it.
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• Limited-Time Offer: Earn a $250 Bonus With the Capital One Savor Rewards Card
  Jun 9, 2026
  This no-annual-fee cash back card is built around where you already spend -- dining, streaming, and going out -- with a limited-time offer.
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• Our Top 0% Intro APR Card of June 2026: Pay No Interest for 21 Months
  Jun 9, 2026
  Covering a surprise expense or big purchase without touching your emergency fund is possible with the right intro APR offer and a simple payoff plan.
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• Here Are Our 3 Balance Transfer Cards for June 2026: Pay No Interest for up to 21 Months
  Jun 9, 2026
  A few simple rules can make or break your debt payoff -- plus three no-annual-fee picks, from one of the longest runways to lasting cash …
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• I Didn't Open a Roth IRA Until 31. Here's What That Delay Really Cost
  Jun 8, 2026
  Opening a Roth IRA eight years earlier would have left me $280,000 richer today. Here are the current contribution limits and how to start now.
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• You Can Open a Brokerage Account in 10 Minutes. Here's How I Do It for Friends
  Jun 7, 2026
  Opening your first investment account takes less time than most people expect, with no minimum deposit and no monthly fees at most brokers.
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• A $444 Speeding Ticket Broke Me at 17. I've Kept a Cash Cushion Ever Since
  Jun 7, 2026
  A silly teenage mistake taught me to keep months of expenses in cash. Here is why a healthy emergency buffer beats scrambling when life surprises …
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• Americans Are Saving 53% Less Than They Were a Year Ago. Here's How to Make Every Dollar Count
  Jun 6, 2026
  With saving rates falling and prices still climbing, where you park your cash has become one of the few money moves still fully in your …
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