Joel O'Leary

Full-Time Personal Finance Writer |

Expertise

Credit cards, banking, investing, insurance, personal loans

NUMBER OF PUBLICATIONS: 544 | LAST PUBLISH DATE: 05-01-2026

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

• Here's What Happens When Your Emergency Fund Is Too Big
  Feb 26, 2026
  Keeping too much cash in savings can hurt your long-term wealth. Here's how to find the right emergency fund size and what to do with …
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• There's Only One Place Your Emergency Fund Should Be. Here's Why
  Feb 26, 2026
  Your emergency fund needs more than safety -- it needs to earn interest. A high-yield savings account offers both. Here's where to keep yours and …
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• Here's What Investing $500 a Month for 10 Years Would Actually Get You
  Feb 26, 2026
  Investing $500 a month for 10 years could grow to over $100,000 -- even starting from zero. Here's what compound growth looks like and how …
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• Who Is Responsible for Credit Card Debt After You Die?
  Feb 25, 2026
  Credit card debt doesn't disappear when you die. Learn who's actually responsible -- your estate, joint holders, or family -- and what steps to take …
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• Here's My Roth IRA Balance After 10 Years of Maxing It Out
  Feb 25, 2026
  I've maxed out my Roth IRA every year since 2017. Here's my real balance after 10 years -- and what it could grow to by …
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• Here's the Average American's Credit Limit. How Do You Compare?
  Feb 25, 2026
  The average American has a $29,855 credit limit, but Gen Z averages just $13K and boomers nearly $42K. Here's how to compare -- and raise …
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• Here's What Happens When You Dispute a Charge on Your Credit Card
  Feb 25, 2026
  Disputing charges is easier than most people think. Here's what actually happens behind the scenes -- and when to contact the merchant first.
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• 4 Ways to Invest $1,000 Right Now
  Feb 25, 2026
  Have $1,000 to invest? Here are four smart moves -- from paying off debt to index funds and high-yield savings -- that can grow your …
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• Fidelity vs. E*TRADE
  Feb 24, 2026
  While Fidelity and E*TRADE are similar, one is better for active traders and the other is better for trading on the international market. Compare them …
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• I Love Credit Cards -- but Here Are 3 Times I Recommend Against Them
  Feb 24, 2026
  Credit cards aren't always the right move. Here are three situations where using your debit card (or cash) is the smarter financial choice.
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• 3 Ways to Know if You Should Open Another Bank Account
  Feb 24, 2026
  The best savings accounts today charge no fees and pay up to 4.00% APY. Here's how to know if your current bank is making the …
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• I've Covered the Best (and Worst) Savings Accounts for Years. Here Are My Top 3 Takeaways
  Feb 24, 2026
  Your bank might be paying you 0.01% APY, while top accounts pay 4.00%. Here's what I've learned covering savings accounts for years.
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• J.P. Morgan Investing Review
  Feb 23, 2026
  J.P. Morgan Self-Directed Investing allows unlimited trades with $0 commissions. Find out all the details in our full J.P. Morgan Self-Directed Investing review.
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• Balance Transfer Fee vs. Interest: Which Costs More?
  Feb 23, 2026
  Balance transfer fees are usually a fraction of what you'd pay in interest. Here's how to do the math and decide if a transfer makes …
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• Why High-Yield Savings Accounts Beat CDs Right Now
  Feb 23, 2026
  High-yield savings accounts offer rates as competitive as top CDs right now -- with no lock-up period. Here's why flexibility wins in today's rate environment.
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• Here's the Safest, Easiest Way to Earn More on Your Savings Right Now
  Feb 22, 2026
  Earning almost nothing on your savings? A high-yield savings account could help you earn significantly more with zero investing risk. Here's how to make the …
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• Need to Deposit $10,000+ in Cash? The Government Will Know About It
  Feb 22, 2026
  Depositing $10,000 or more in cash triggers an automatic government report. Here's what a Currency Transaction Report is, why it exists, and what it means …
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• How Much Cash Is Too Much to Keep in Checking?
  Feb 22, 2026
  Keeping too much cash in checking could be costing you. Here's how much to actually keep -- and where the rest should go.
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• 83% of Americans Admit to Wasteful Spending. Here's the Fix That Works in 2026
  Feb 22, 2026
  Approximately 83% of Americans admit to wasteful spending. A simple savings account trick -- one my mom taught me -- is the fix that actually …
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• Why Americans Waste So Much Money Without Realizing It
  Feb 21, 2026
  83% of Americans admit to wasteful spending. Learn the hidden triggers behind impulse buys and the simple system that protects your savings.
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• Here's How Much $5,000 Would Earn in a 6-Month CD Now
  Feb 20, 2026
  A $5,000 CD at 3.50% APY would earn about $87 in six months. Find out if locking in your cash today makes sense for your …
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• Charles Schwab vs. E*TRADE
  Feb 19, 2026
  Both Charles Schwab and E*TRADE are well-known, but not identical. Here, we compare Schwab vs. E*TRADE to help you determine which broker is right for …
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• This Is the Easiest Financial Win This Month
  Feb 19, 2026
  Opening a high-yield savings account takes 10 minutes and could earn you hundreds more per year. Here's why it's the easiest financial win right now.
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• I'm 41 and Have Never Used Buy Now, Pay Later -- Here's Why
  Feb 19, 2026
  Buy now, pay later is popular with younger shoppers, but credit cards offer better rewards, protections, and credit building.
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• Here's What Happens to Your Joint Savings Account When You Pass Away
  Feb 19, 2026
  Joint savings accounts usually transfer automatically to the surviving owner -- no probate required. Here's what actually happens and what to double-check now.
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