Joel O'Leary

Full-Time Personal Finance Writer |

Expertise

Credit cards, banking, investing, insurance, personal loans

NUMBER OF PUBLICATIONS: 653 | LAST PUBLISH DATE: 10-21-2026

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

• Best Checking and Savings Account Combos
  Jun 23, 2026
  Simplify your banking. The best checking and savings combos of 2025 give you one bank, easy transfers, overdraft protection, and solid rates.
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• Here's How to Pick the Right Balance Transfer Card for Your Debt Amount
  Jun 23, 2026
  How much you owe can change which balance transfer card is right for you. Here's how to match the intro period, fee, and credit limit …
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• Earn 4.20% APY While You Sleep With This Set-and-Forget Savings Account
  Jun 22, 2026
  This award-winning savings account earns an impressive APY after setting up direct deposit, perfect for building steady savings on autopilot.
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• 3 Dead Simple Reasons I Moved All My Savings to Happen Bank This Month
  Jun 22, 2026
  I switched my $25K to LendingClub for its high APY, debit card access to savings, and an easy, no-fee experience. Here's why it beats most …
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• 3 Reasons to Open a Happen Bank Savings Account Before the Fed Changes Rates
  Jun 22, 2026
  Happen Bank's high-yield savings account offers a top APY, no fees, and easy access. Here's why it's worth opening before interest rates fall.
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• 5 Places You Should Never Use a Debit Card
  Jun 22, 2026
  At gas stations, restaurants, and online, a credit card beats a debit card on safety and rewards. Here are five places where it matters most.
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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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• 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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• 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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• 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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• 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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• 38% of $100K+ Earners Are Still Financially Stressed -- and Suze Orman Says It's Not About the Money
  Jun 1, 2026
  A bigger paycheck doesn't always mean less stress. Here's why so many high earners are still anxious about money -- and what actually helps.
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• How to Decide if a Credit Card's Annual Fee Is Worth It
  May 31, 2026
  Here's a practical framework for deciding if a credit card's annual fee pays off, plus a personal take on running the real math before applying.
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• 5 Reasons (Besides Rewards) to Buy Nearly Everything With a Credit Card
  May 30, 2026
  The bigger wins when using credit cards are fraud protection, purchase coverage, payment flexibility, dispute rights, and travel insurance.
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• Here's One Downside to a High-Yield Savings Account in 2026
  May 30, 2026
  High-yield savings APYs have drifted lower in 2026. Here's the one downside savers overlook -- and where to put long-term money instead.
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• 3 (Perfectly Legal) Hacks to Improve Your Credit Score
  May 29, 2026
  Most credit score hacks are myths or shortcuts that don't work. These three are perfectly legal, free, and can actually move your score upwards.
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• The Trump Accounts App Just Launched. Here's How to Register Before the July 4 Rollout
  May 29, 2026
  The Trump Accounts app launched today. Here's how to download it, sign up your child, and who qualifies for the $1,000 Treasury contribution.
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• I Have a 4.25% Mortgage and Enough Cash to Pay It Off. Here's Why I'm Keeping the Debt
  May 28, 2026
  Not all debt is bad debt. Here's how I think about a low fixed-rate mortgage versus keeping that money invested for the next 20 years.
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• 3 Reasons Americans Can't Stop Living Paycheck to Paycheck in 2026
  May 28, 2026
  Three big forces -- rising essentials, record household debt, and slowing wage growth -- are keeping most Americans living paycheck to paycheck in 2026.
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