Sandra Block
Sandra Block, senior editor for Kiplinger’s Personal Finance magazine, has covered personal finance for more than 20 years. In her current role at Kiplinger’s, she covers retirement, taxes and a range of other personal finance issues. She also edits the Ahead section of Kiplinger’s Personal Finance magazine and contributes to Kiplinger’s.com and Kiplinger’s Retirement Report.
Before joining Kiplinger, Sandy was a personal finance reporter and columnist for USA TODAY. During that time, she was a regular guest on CNN, Fox Business News and NPR. Before joining USA TODAY, Sandy worked as a business reporter for the Akron Beacon-Journal, where she covered businesses in northeastern Ohio and assisted in the newspaper’s coverage of the 1995 World Series. While Cleveland lost in six games, Sandy still considers this the highlight of her journalism career.
In her early years, Sandy was a reporter for Dow Jones News Service in Washington, DC, where she covered the Securities and Exchange Commission, the Treasury and the Federal Reserve.
Sandy graduated cum laude from Bethany College in Bethany, West Virginia., and was a fellow in the Knight-Bagehot Fellowship in Economics and Business at Columbia University. She is co-author of the “Busy Family’s Guide to Money” and “Easy Ways to Lower Your Taxes: Simple Strategies Every Taxpayer Should Know.”
Sandy divides her time between Arlington, Va., and her home state of West Virginia. In her spare time, Sandy is a voracious reader and tries to keep her rescue border collie from getting into trouble.
Latest articles by Sandra Block
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How to Find the Right Life Insurance Policy for You
life insurance Policygenius.com CEO and co-founder Jennifer Fitzgerald joins our Your Money's Worth podcast to offer advice on choosing a life insurance policy. Also, our hosts Sandy Block and Ryan Ermey discuss pandemic-related fees and changes to the Dow Jones Industrial Average.
By Sandra Block Published
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How to Catch a Rock-Bottom Rate
Buying & Leasing a Car Rates on everything from home mortgages to car loans are at record lows. We’ll tell you how to qualify for the best rates.
By Sandra Block Published
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How to Lower Your Required Minimum Distributions
retirement Got a big retirement stash? You’ll want to start planning now so you don’t get hit with a huge tax bill later.
By Sandra Block Published
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Beware Crooked Contact Tracers
Scams If someone claiming to be a contact tracer asks you for money or requests your Social Security number, that’s a red flag.
By Sandra Block Published
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How to Create Income for Life
Financial Planning Having a paycheck you can depend on in retirement is more important than ever.
By Sandra Block Published
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How to Manage Your Annuity
annuities If you’ve got an annuity as part of your retirement savings plan, here’s what you need to know.
By Sandra Block Published
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Preparing for Retirement: Financial Surprises You May Not Have Anticipated
retirement Retired Kiplinger's Personal Finance editor Janet Bodnar joins our Your Money's Worth podcast to talk about how to prepare for choppy waters in retirement, as well as the lessons she’s learned along the way. Also, our hosts Ryan Ermey and Sandy Block go over rules for reversing required minimum distributions.
By Sandra Block Published
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Amending Your Tax Return Just Got Easier
tax returns The IRS is now accepting electronically filed amended tax returns.
By Sandra Block Published
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Check Under the Couch Cushions to Help With U.S. Coin Shortage
Coronavirus and Your Money An increase in online shopping and e-payments has led to a coin crunch.
By Sandra Block Published
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The Pros and Cons of Buying an RV in Retirement
retirement RV Dealers Association president Phil Ingrassia joins our "Your Money's Worth" podcast to break down the advantages and pitfalls of owning a recreational vehicle or RV. Also, our hosts Sandy Block and Ryan Ermey answer listener questions.
By Sandra Block Published
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How to Hire a Financial Planner You Trust
personal finance CFP Board CEO Kevin Keller joins our Your Money's Worth podcast to offer best practices for hiring a financial planner. Also, our hosts Ryan Ermey and Sandy Block discuss the nationwide coin shortage and the basics of hedging for inflation.
By Sandra Block Published
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Stock Market Winners, Losers and Lessons Learned
investing Kiplinger.com senior investing editor Kyle Woodley joins our Your Money's Worth podcast to discuss what we can learn about investing from the stock market's winners and losers. Also, our hosts Ryan Ermey and Sandy Block clear up confusion around paying back stimulus checks.
By Sandra Block Published
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How COVID-19 Is Changing the Way Families Save for College Costs
college CollegeFinance.com's Kevin Walker joins our Your Money's Worth podcast to discuss how the global health pandemic is impacting the way families plan and save for college. Also, our hosts Sandy Block and Ryan Ermey chat about tax refunds and paying for a home in retirement.
By Sandra Block Published
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Get Your Retirement Plan Back on Track
Making Your Money Last Whether the damage to your savings was self-inflicted or unavoidable, we’ll help you revive your retirement plan.
By Sandra Block Published
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Can Your Boss Make You Go Back to Work?
Coronavirus and Your Money Even if you don’t have legal protections, you may be able to negotiate with your boss.
By Sandra Block Published
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Turning 60 in 2020? Expect Lower Social Security Benefits
Coronavirus and Your Money When you file for Social Security, the amount you receive may be lower.
By Sandra Block Published
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Travel Is Cheap: Where to Go, What to Expect
travel Kiplinger's staff writer Emma Patch joins the Your Money's Worth podcast to talk about travel deals, cancellation policies, new sanitation protocols on the road, and more. Also, our hosts Sandy Block and Ryan Ermey break down the Kiplinger Dividend 15 and dish on get-rich-quick schemes.
By Sandra Block Published
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Still Need to File Your Taxes? The Deadline Is July 15
tax filing H&R Block's chief tax officer Kathy Pickering joins our Your Money's Worth podcast to offer advice for last-minute tax filers. Also, our hosts Ryan Ermey and Sandy Block break down the latest news on stimulus checks.
By Sandra Block Published
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Where Should You Retire?
retirement planning This week, our Your Money's Worth podcast host Ryan Ermey interviews co-host Sandy Block about her recent story about the best retirement destinations. Also, the pair discuss "headline" stock market indexes, missing stimulus checks and interest on tax refunds.
By Sandra Block Published
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Find a Great Place to Retire
happy retirement Our cities provide plenty of space to spread out without skimping on health care or other amenities.
By Stacy Rapacon Published
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If You're Using Cash Less Often, You're Part of a Trend
Technology The pandemic is speeding up the use of digital payments.
By Sandra Block Published
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How to Navigate Returning to the Office in the COVID-19 Era
career planning Askamanager.org's Alison Green joins our Your Money's Worth podcast to discuss the challenges workers face when returning to the office as local economies start to re-open.
By Sandra Block Published
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Where to Invest Right Now
Becoming an Investor Kiplinger's executive editor Anne Smith joins the show to chat about her mid-year outlook for the economy and the stock market. Also, our hosts Ryan Ermey and Sandy Block break down what marks a recession and answer listeners' questions.
By Sandra Block Published
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Shopping Deals and Discounts to Take Advantage of This Summer
Smart Buying Our hosts Sandy Block and Ryan Ermey share deals and discounts for new grads, Father's Day and newlyweds that you don't want to miss out on. The pair also discusses money-smart ways to contribute to charity.
By Sandra Block Published
Smart Buying