Joel O'Leary

Full-Time Personal Finance Writer |

Expertise

Credit cards, banking, investing, insurance, personal loans

NUMBER OF PUBLICATIONS: 558 | LAST PUBLISH DATE: 05-09-2026

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 Simplicity Card Review
  Mar 20, 2026
  Citi Simplicity offers no annual fee and a generous 0% APR intro period -- perfect for paying off debt. Learn how this card works and …
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• Citi Simplicity Card vs. Citi Diamond Preferred
  Mar 19, 2026
  Trying to choose between Citi Simplicity and Citi Diamond Preferred? Here's a breakdown of fees, perks, and which card is better for your balance transfer …
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• Citi Diamond Preferred Review
  Mar 19, 2026
  Enjoy 0% APR for 21 months with the Citi Diamond Preferred. Learn if it's the right move to save on interest and crush your debt.
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• Discover it® Chrome vs. Discover it® Cash Back
  Mar 19, 2026
  Both the Discover it Chrome and Discover it Cash Back cards offer strong rewards with no annual fee, but here's how they compare on earnings, …
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• Best Credit Cards for Home Repairs
  Mar 19, 2026
  Find the best credit cards for home repairs. Earn cash back on materials and labor, or finance big projects with a long 0% intro APR.
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• Here's What to Do With Your Old or Expired Credit Cards (Please Don't Microwave Them)
  Mar 19, 2026
  Before you pull the scissors out, here's exactly what to do with your old credit cards -- from safe disposal to surprisingly creative second uses.
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• 3 Reasons Travel Cards Beat Cash Back Cards
  Mar 19, 2026
  Travel credit cards can offer bigger sign-up bonuses, more perks, and more valuable rewards than cash back cards. Here's when they're worth it -- and …
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• 3 Things My Wife and I Do With Money That Most Couples Don't
  Mar 18, 2026
  Nearly half of couples argue about money. Here are three simple habits my wife and I use to stay on the same financial team -- …
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• Cash Sitting Around? Here's Where It Should Be
  Mar 18, 2026
  Your cash doesn't have to sit idle. Here's where to put it to earn more interest without any extra risk -- including HYSAs, CDs, and …
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• Here's How Much a $10,000 Credit Card Balance Can Really Cost You
  Mar 18, 2026
  A $10,000 credit card balance costs you way more than interest. Here's the full financial, emotional, and opportunity cost -- and how to pay it …
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• Best Mortgage Refinance Lenders
  Mar 16, 2026
  Our experts reviewed countless refinance companies to come up with a list of the best mortgage refinance lenders. Check out our picks and find the …
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• 6 Reasons You Should Give Your Teenager a Credit Card
  Mar 16, 2026
  Giving your teenager a credit card as an authorized user can help build their credit score and teach real money skills. Here's why it works.
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• This Is Why Some Credit Card Payments Take Days to Post
  Mar 16, 2026
  Paid your credit card on the due date but still got hit with a late fee? Here's why payments take time -- and how to …
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• Here's Why Americans Are Switching Back to Simple Credit Cards
  Mar 15, 2026
  More Americans are skipping premium high-fee credit cards for simple, no-annual-fee options -- and the math often backs them up. Here's why simpler cards win.
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• The Quiet Way Banks Make Billions From Checking Accounts
  Mar 14, 2026
  Banks earn billions from checking accounts through fees and interest rate gaps. Here's how that works -- and how you can get a piece of …
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• Best Financial Advisors This Month, March 2026: Vetted Picks for Every Portfolio Size
  Mar 14, 2026
  This month's top financial advisors, ranked and reviewed. Find the right fit for your money goals and rest well knowing your investments are in good …
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• I Made $800 Last Year Just From My Savings Account
  Mar 14, 2026
  Last year my high-yield savings account earned over $800 in interest. Here's how the math worked and why it's one of the easiest money moves …
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• Why I'd Pick Stocks Over Real Estate if I Were Starting From Scratch
  Mar 13, 2026
  I owned seven rental properties by my early 30s. Here's why I sold most of them -- and why I'd put every dollar into index …
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• Your Savings Account Might Be Costing You Hundreds in 2026
  Mar 10, 2026
  Many savings accounts pay just 0.01% APY. High-yield savings accounts offer up to 4.00% APY with zero added risk. Here's what you could be earning.
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• Here's How Much $20,000 Would Earn in High-Yield Savings in 2026
  Mar 10, 2026
  A top high-yield savings account could earn you $800+ in a year if rates hold steady. Here's the math -- and how to make the …
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• Here's What Happens When You Keep a Credit Card Open Forever
  Mar 9, 2026
  People with 850 credit scores keep accounts open for 30 years on average. Here's what happens when you keep a credit card open forever -- …
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• I Retired Early and Then Went Back to Work. Here's Why I Have Zero Regrets
  Mar 8, 2026
  I hit financial independence in my 30s, quit my job, and eventually chose to return to work. Here's what that decision actually looked like in …
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• My Wife and I Have 8 Credit Cards Between Us. Here's Why That's Not Crazy
  Mar 8, 2026
  Having multiple credit cards isn't reckless -- it can be smart. Here's how to build a card setup that protects your credit and maximizes rewards.
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• 3 Ways to Get Rid of That Pesky $95 Annual Fee on Your Credit Card
  Mar 7, 2026
  Paying a $95 credit card annual fee you can't justify is a money leak. Here are three ways to get rid of it -- starting …
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• Here's the Average American's Credit Card Debt. How Do You Compare?
  Mar 7, 2026
  The average American carries $6,523 in credit card debt -- and it's rising. See how you compare by generation, plus ways to start paying it …
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