Joel O'Leary

Full-Time Personal Finance Writer |

Expertise

Credit cards, banking, investing, insurance, personal loans

NUMBER OF PUBLICATIONS: 652 | LAST PUBLISH DATE: 10-15-2026

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

• The 3 Most Trusted Banks for Your Savings in 2026, Ranked
  Jul 27, 2026
  How the most trusted banks protect your savings with FDIC insurance, strong rates, and no monthly fees, plus how to pick the right one.
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• How Much Interest Would $10,000 Earn in a High-Yield Savings Account This Year?
  Jul 26, 2026
  In a high-yield savings account paying around 4.00% APY, $10,000 earns about $400 a year, while a typical 0.01% account earns close to $1.
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• Using a Debit Card in These 3 Places Could Be a Big Mistake
  Jul 23, 2026
  Booking travel, making big purchases, and using unknown card readers each expose debit card users to risks a credit card helps avoid.
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• Where to Buy Jersey Mike's IPO: 3 Best Brokers for JMKE Access
  Jul 23, 2026
  Jersey Mike's goes public July 30 on the NYSE under ticker JMKE. Here are three brokers where retail investors can register interest first.
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• How to Build a CD Ladder With $10,000 (and What You'd Earn Each Month)
  Jul 22, 2026
  Building a CD ladder means choosing terms, comparing rates, and planning each maturity. Here is a simple way to do it with $10,000.
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• Chase Ink Business Unlimited Review
  Jul 21, 2026
  Get simple, unlimited cash back with no annual fee. Read our full Chase Ink Business Unlimited review to see if it's the best card for …
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• Nearly Half of Americans Make This Expensive Money Mistake Every Month
  Jul 21, 2026
  A low-interest savings account can cost you hundreds a year in interest you'll never notice missing. Here's how the loss adds up and how to …
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• 4 Reasons to Get Your Credit Score Above 800
  Jul 21, 2026
  An 800 credit score does more than look good. It cuts borrowing costs across loans and insurance, and gives your score room to breathe.
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• 3 Situations Where a High-Yield Savings Account is a Bad Idea
  Jul 21, 2026
  Credit card debt, long-term investing, and frequent transfers are three cases where a high-yield savings account is the wrong place for your money.
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• 3 Best Brokers for Investing in the S&P 500
  Jul 21, 2026
  Fidelity, Charles Schwab, and SoFi® lead the pack for S&P 500 investors, with low fees, no commissions, and easy index fund access.
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• You'll Probably Never Hit 850. Here's the Credit Score That Actually Gets You the Best Rates
  Jul 20, 2026
  The best loan terms and credit perks kick in around a credit score of 780, not a perfect 850. Here's the number to aim for …
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• Is a Trump Account Worth It if Your Child Won't Get the Free $1,000?
  Jul 15, 2026
  Weighing a Trump Account's tax-advantaged head start against the flexibility of other custodial accounts for kids who miss the seed deposit.
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• Best Credit Cards for Lounge Access
  Jul 13, 2026
  Get ready to skip the terminal chaos. These are the best credit cards for airport lounge access this year, from budget-friendly to all-out luxury.
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• Is Cash Safer Than a Card?
  Jul 13, 2026
  A credit card is usually safer than cash for everyday spending because of fraud protection. Cash's only real edge is privacy.
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• What Happens to Your HYSA Rate When the Fed Cuts Rates?
  Jul 12, 2026
  When the Fed cuts rates, your savings APY usually falls too, but not instantly and not at every bank. Here's how the two are connected.
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• Best Business Credit Cards for Travel
  Jul 10, 2026
  Explore the best business credit cards for travel. Maximize rewards, perks, and protection whether you're flying solo or managing employee spending.
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• A Complete Guide to Balance Transfers
  Jul 10, 2026
  Balance transfers can help you pay off credit card debt faster. Learn how they work, how much you can save, and what to avoid.
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• Will the Fed Cut Rates in July 2026? Here's What the Markets Say
  Jul 9, 2026
  A Fed rate cut isn't happening in July 2026. Here's why a hike is on the table instead, and what it means for your savings …
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• Best Credit Card Sign-Up Bonuses
  Jul 8, 2026
  Discover the best credit card bonuses to jumpstart your rewards journey. From travel to cash back, find the ideal card for your lifestyle and start …
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• Can You Do a Balance Transfer More Than Once?
  Jul 7, 2026
  Yes, you can do a balance transfer more than once. But qualifying, transfer fees, and your credit limits all shape whether multiple balance transfers are …
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• Trump Accounts Just Launched. Can You Get a Free $1,000 for Your Child?
  Jul 7, 2026
  Trump Accounts are live as of July 4, 2026. Here's what they are, who gets the $1,000, and what to do if your kid doesn't …
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• How Long Does It Actually Take to Pay Off $10,000 With a Balance Transfer Card?
  Jul 5, 2026
  A balance transfer card stops the interest and starts a clock. Learn how to set a monthly payment that clears $10,000 before the intro window …
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• These 10 States Pay the Most for Gas as Prices Remain Elevated
  Jul 4, 2026
  Drivers in high-mileage states spend the most on gas, not those with the priciest pumps. See the 10 states topping the list in 2026.
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• The 3 Smartest Ways to Withdraw $10,000+ From the Bank
  Jul 2, 2026
  Withdrawing $10,000 or more takes a little planning. ACH transfers, wire transfers, and cashier's checks differ on speed, cost, and safety.
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• My Wife and I Have $140,000 Each in Our Roth IRAs. Here's How
  Jul 1, 2026
  Maxing out a Roth IRA in 2026 takes around $625 a month. Here's how consistent contributions and index funds grew our balances into six figures.
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