Joel O'Leary

Full-Time Personal Finance Writer |

Expertise

Credit cards, banking, investing, insurance, personal loans

NUMBER OF PUBLICATIONS: 552 | LAST PUBLISH DATE: 05-06-2026

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

• America's Top 2026 Money Goal Is Eliminating Credit Card Debt -- Here's How to Speed It Up
  Mar 3, 2026
  37% of Americans want to pay off credit card debt in 2026. Here are three proven strategies to pay it off faster -- including one …
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• My Dumbest Investing Mistake Cost Me $154,858 -- Here's What I Learned
  Feb 28, 2026
  I thought I was being smart when I sold my shares for a quick profit. Turns out I left $154,858 on the table. Here's what …
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• Here's the Average 401(k) Balance by Age vs. What You Actually Need
  Feb 28, 2026
  Here's how the average 401(k) balance stacks up against what experts recommend -- broken down by generation, with tips to close the gap.
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• SoFi Active Investing Review
  Feb 27, 2026
  SoFi Active Investing is a favorite for stock brokers among our experts. Find out why it made the list in our full SoFi Active Investing …
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• Retirement Savings in Your 50s: Here's What 'On Track' Actually Looks Like
  Feb 27, 2026
  Here's what the benchmarks look like for ideal retirement savings at age 50 -- and what to do if you're behind.
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• Dear Wife, Here's What to Do With Our Money if I Die Early
  Feb 27, 2026
  If you manage the household finances and die unexpectedly, your spouse could be left scrambling. Here's a practical roadmap to help them take over without …
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• Forget Big Banks: Here's Why I Moved My Savings to an Online Bank
  Feb 27, 2026
  My old bank paid 0.01% APY on savings, and charged a monthly fee. Here's how switching earned thousands more -- with zero extra risk.
  Read More
• Amex Hilton Honors Surpass Review
  Feb 26, 2026
  Earn free Hilton stays faster with this hotel-branded card. Big welcome bonus, high earning rates, and automatic Gold elite status.
  Read More
• 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.
  Read More
• 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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