Lisa Gerstner
Lisa has been with Kiplinger Personal Finance magazine for more than 15 years and became editor in June 2023. She started with Kiplinger as an American Society of Magazine Editors intern in 2006, was hired as a copy editor in 2007 and later began reporting and writing on a range of personal-finance topics, including credit, banking and retirement. For several years, she compiled the magazine’s annual rankings of the best rewards credit cards and the best banks, and she assembled the survey and results for Kiplinger’s first Readers’ Choice Awards in 2023.
Lisa has shared her expertise as a guest with many media outlets around the nation, including the Today Show, CNN, Fox, NPR and Cheddar.
Lisa was an Honors College student at Ball State University, in Muncie, Ind., and graduated summa cum laude with a degree in magazine journalism and history. During her time as a student, she was editor-in-chief of the campus magazine and an intern at the Indianapolis Business Journal as well as her hometown newspaper, the Wapakoneta Daily News. She received Ball State’s “Graduate of the Last Decade” award in 2014.
A military spouse, Lisa experiences firsthand the financial challenges and opportunities for military families. Born and raised in Ohio, she has moved around the U.S. - from Washington, D.C., to Las Vegas to southern New Mexico – and currently lives in the Philadelphia area with her husband and two sons. When she finds free time, she loves to travel (especially to national parks), hike, try new recipes in the kitchen, and get on the mat to practice yoga.
Latest articles by Lisa Gerstner
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Farewell Paper I-Bonds: Savings Bonds Are Going Online-Only
The last remaining way to buy a paper savings bond in the U.S. (with your income tax refund) won't be available from January 2025. Tax filers will still be able to buy I-bonds online, however.
By Lisa Gerstner Published
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How to Add Treasury Bonds, Bills and Notes to an IRA
investing If you are wondering how to add Treasury bills, bonds and notes to an IRA, there are ways to do so.
By Lisa Gerstner Last updated
investing -
How to Freeze Your Credit in Three Steps
credit & debt Freezing your accounts at the three major credit bureaus is the best way to prevent thieves from opening new credit accounts in your name.
By Lisa Gerstner Last updated
credit & debt -
Kiplinger's Best Banks for Retirees
banking Retirees should be able to find a suitable account with one of these banks. They offer full-service branches, free personal checks and some attractive savings options, too.
By Lisa Gerstner Last updated
banking -
Kiplinger's Best Banks for High-Net-Worth Clients
wealth management These banks welcome customers who keep high balances in deposit and investment accounts, showering them with fee breaks and access to financial-planning services.
By Lisa Gerstner Last updated
wealth management -
Kiplinger's Best Credit Unions
credit union Credit unions are nonprofit institutions that are owned by their members. Many of them keep fees down and offer respectable interest rates on at least some of their accounts.
By Lisa Gerstner Last updated
credit union -
Kiplinger's Best Internet Banks 2024
online banking Internet banks forgo branches in favor of operating fully online. They tend to offer higher yields and lower fees than brick-and-mortar banks, thanks to lower overhead costs.
By Lisa Gerstner Last updated
online banking -
Kiplinger's Best National Banks
Banking National banks offer a wide variety of accounts and services, including wealth and investment management. Here's Kiplinger's pick of the best.
By Lisa Gerstner Last updated
Banking -
Kiplinger's Best Banks for Travelers
Banking The best banks for travelers cut the cost of trips at home and abroad, and come with handy perks for those on the go. Read on for our top two choices.
By Lisa Gerstner Published
Banking -
Kiplinger's Best Banks of 2024
Making Your Money Last Kiplinger's list of the best banks, based on interest rates, fees and other features.
By Lisa Gerstner Last updated
Making Your Money Last -
How to Increase Credit Scores — Fast
How to increase credit scores quickly, starting with paying down your credit card debt.
By Lisa Gerstner Last updated
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Kiplinger Readers' Choice Awards 2024 Results
Kiplinger Readers' Choice Awards The results are in for the 2024 Kiplinger Readers’ Choice Awards — celebrating the best products and services in personal finance.
By Lisa Gerstner Published
Kiplinger Readers' Choice Awards -
Six Steps to Appeal Your Property Tax Bill
Property Tax As home values increase nationwide, property taxes are also on the rise.
By Lisa Gerstner Last updated
Property Tax -
2024 Kiplinger Readers' Choice Awards
Kiplinger Readers' Choice Awards The Kiplinger Readers’ Choice Awards celebrate the best products and services in personal finance. Read on to learn more about this year's awards.
By Lisa Gerstner Last updated
Kiplinger Readers' Choice Awards -
Still Have FSA Money to Spend?
Still have FSA money to spend from your healthcare flexible spending account? Here are some ideas to use it up.
By Lisa Gerstner Last updated
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Best Business Credit Cards of November 2024
Credit Cards Small business credit cards can be great tools to earn hundreds of dollars of rewards.
By Lisa Gerstner Last updated
Credit Cards -
6 Smart Ways to Cut Your Utility Bills
Tax Breaks Tax breaks and potentially lower home energy costs make these green projects worth a look.
By Lisa Gerstner Last updated
Tax Breaks -
Best Credit Cards for Bad Credit
If used wisely, these credit cards can help you dig out of bad credit; you may even earn 2% cash back.
By Lisa Gerstner Last updated
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Best 0% APR Credit Cards
Kiplinger's guide to the best 0% APR credit cards. Pay no interest on large purchases for up to 21 months.
By Lisa Gerstner Last updated
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The Best Balance Transfer Credit Cards
Balance transfer credit cards have the power to drastically cut your payments with 0% APR. But there’s a cost, and rules to follow.
By Lisa Gerstner Last updated
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21 Great Ways To Use $1,000
Kiplinger experts present over 20 ways to use $1,000, from long-term investing to smart vacation planning.
By Anne Kates Smith Published
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Get Free Credit Reports Weekly
Check your credit report weekly for free as the three major credit bureaus make a pandemic-era initiative permanent.
By Lisa Gerstner Last updated
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Best Student Credit Cards
Students can get hundreds of dollars in cash back while they build credit with these offers from popular issuers.
By Lisa Gerstner Last updated
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Airline Ticket Prices Are Coming Down to Earth
Domestic airline prices are on the decline in fall 2023, finally retreating after spiking just a year ago. International fares are still high.
By Lisa Gerstner Published