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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How to Beat Pesky Fees
spending No matter how much you try to swat them away, pesky fees keep nibbling at your travel bookings, wireless plans, bank accounts, investments and pretty much every other part of your financial life.
By Lisa Gerstner Published
spending -
Your Financial Planning Calendar for 2020
Financial Planning Whether or not you make financial New Year’s resolutions, you no doubt want to improve your bottom line in the coming year.
By Lisa Gerstner Published
Financial Planning -
How Much Allowance Should My Kid Get?
savings A weekly allowance can be an important tool to help teach your son or daughter about how to manage money.
By Lisa Gerstner Published
savings -
Find Free Checking With Benefits
credit & debt It’s getting more difficult to find free checking. Here are some workarounds.
By Lisa Gerstner Published
credit & debt -
Consumers Will Keep Access to Complaint Database
credit & debt An online collection of consumer beefs about financial services will remain publicly accessible.
By Lisa Gerstner Published
credit & debt -
Find the Best Savings Account
savings Are you willing to walk for a higher return? There’s an app (and account) for that.
By Lisa Gerstner Published
savings -
Should You Get a Loan From Your Credit Card?
credit & debt The convenience can come at a steep cost. But there are options.
By Lisa Gerstner Published
credit & debt -
How to Build a Credit History
credit & debt Credit newbies can take advantage of both tried-and-true methods and new alternatives.
By Lisa Gerstner Published
credit & debt -
What You Should Know About Open Enrollment
insurance You may have more health insurance options. But you’ll need to work harder to find the one that’s right for you.
By Lisa Gerstner Published
insurance -
Battle the Credit Bureaus ... and Win
credit & debt Whether you’re contesting an error or combating fraud, use our guide to give yourself the best shot at success.
By Lisa Gerstner Published
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Don't Get Burned by Falling Rates
savings The Federal Reserve’s latest rate cuts mean some savers will have to think outside-the-box when it comes to stashing their cash.
By Lisa Gerstner Published
savings -
What Being an "Authorized User" Does to Your Credit Score
credit & debt An adult child's credit score may dip–or even rise–after he or she is removed as an authorized user of a parent's credit card.
By Lisa Gerstner Published
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Credit Card Perks Are Being Squeezed
credit & debt It pays to shop around to find which companies still offer the best perks.
By Lisa Gerstner Published
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What Your Financial Adviser Isn't Telling You
Financial Planning This consumer advocate says new rules to protect investors don’t go far enough.
By Lisa Gerstner Published
Financial Planning -
Capital One Data Breach: 5 Steps to Avoid Identity Theft, Fraud
credit & debt Be proactive to protect your sensitive personal information from scammers.
By Lisa Gerstner Published
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How to Opt Out of Forced Arbitration
credit & debt Some Chase credit card holders will have a binding arbitration clause added to their card agreement. Here's what you need to know.
By Lisa Gerstner Published
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Best National Banks, 2019
savings
By Lisa Gerstner Published
savings -
Best Regional Banks, 2019
savings Many regional banks (by our definition, those with branches in fewer than 15 states) offer accounts and services that are just as robust as those of nationwide institutions—and they may be more involved in their communities.
By Lisa Gerstner Published
savings -
What Grandparents Need to Know About Using Savings Bonds for a Grandchild’s Education
Tax Breaks It’s not easy, but grandparents can avoid a tax bill when redeeming savings bonds to pay for a grandchild’s college costs.
By Lisa Gerstner Published
Tax Breaks -
Your Boss May Help You Save for College
Paying for College Some employers allow payroll deduction into 529 plans.
By Lisa Gerstner Published
Paying for College -
Better Protections for Prepaid Debit Cards
credit & debt Register your card to ensure you’re covered.
By Lisa Gerstner Published
credit & debt -
Why Your Credit Score May Drop When You Shop for a New Phone Plan
credit & debt Wireless carriers often use a scoring system that differs from the traditional credit score when it reviews new mobile customers.
By Lisa Gerstner Published
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Rewards Cards: Watch Out for These Category Catches
credit & debt Playing the rewards-card game is not without some pitfalls. We warn you about the biggest.
By Lisa Gerstner Published
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Make the Most of Steady Interest Rates
credit & debt The Fed is putting a pause on rate hikes. Here’s what borrowers and savers should do now.
By Lisa Gerstner Published
credit & debt