Joel O'Leary

Full-Time Personal Finance Writer |

Expertise

Credit cards, banking, investing, insurance, personal loans

NUMBER OF PUBLICATIONS: 366 | LAST PUBLISH DATE: 12-18-2025

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

• 5 Mistakes That Keep You Stuck in Economy Class Seats
  Aug 12, 2025
  
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• I Got Denied for 2 Credit Cards -- Even With an 820+ Credit Score. Here's Why
  Aug 11, 2025
  A perfect credit score isn't a golden ticket. Here's why I got rejected by Amex and Citi, and how you can avoid the same mistakes.
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• I Maxed Out Our Roth IRAs for 9 Years Straight. Here's What They're Worth Now
  Aug 11, 2025
  Contributing consistently to a Roth IRA boosted my retirement savings. Learn how you can easily start your own wealth-building journey, too.
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• Why I Sold 6 Rental Properties and Moved Everything to Index Funds
  Aug 10, 2025
  Real estate investments sounded great, but I swapped my rentals for index funds. Here's why I made the switch and what I learned.
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• 5 Habits of Travelers Who Always Fly Business Class
  Aug 9, 2025
  Want to fly business class without paying sky-high prices? Learn about these five smart travel habits that can help you upgrade your seat for less.
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• 3 Surprising Reasons You Can Be Denied a Credit Card, Even With an 800+ Credit Score
  Aug 6, 2025
  Even with a perfect credit score, you can still be denied a credit card. Find out why it can happen and how to bounce back.
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• The High-Yield Savings Trend Is Exploding -- Don't Miss Out
  Aug 1, 2025
  Some high-yield savings accounts are paying over 4.00% APY right now. See why this savings trend is exploding and how you can start earning more …
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• Why I'm Prioritizing My 401(k) Over Everything Else in 2025
  Jul 29, 2025
  This year I'm planning to max out my 401(k) contributions. Here's why it's the smartest, simplest investment move I can make right now.
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• How My $1,000 Bonus Could Grow Into $17,449 -- if I Invest It Right
  Jul 28, 2025
  I got a $1,000 investment bonus from work. Instead of chasing hot stocks for a quick win, I'm aiming for long-term growth with boring index …
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• I'm Cheating on My Bank and Making 3.90% APY on the Side
  Jul 24, 2025
  I still love my big bank -- but I've been secretly earning 3.90% APY in an online savings account. Here's how much extra that's made …
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• Revenge Saving Helped Me Save $10,000 -- Here's How
  Jul 21, 2025
  I saved $10,000 in just six months using a "revenge saving" mindset. Here's how it worked -- and how you can use it to change …
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• Why Robinhood Is Still One of the Best Brokers for Beginners
  Jul 20, 2025
  Robinhood has its flaws, but for new investors looking to start small and grow long term, it remains one of the easiest platforms to get …
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• Should You Downgrade Your Chase Sapphire Reserve? Here's How to Decide
  Jul 18, 2025
  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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• How I Double My Net Worth Every 10 Years
  Jul 18, 2025
  Here's how I use index funds and a simple math rule to double my net worth every decade -- without doing anything fancy.
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• Why I'm Not Opening Any CDs in July 2025 -- Even With Rates Over 4%
  Jul 14, 2025
  CD rates are still quite high, but I've got better places to park my money to meet my short-term and long-term money goals. Here's why …
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• Here's What Really Happens When You Withdraw $10,000 From Your Bank Account
  Jul 14, 2025
  Thinking of taking out $10K in cash? Here's what to expect, how banks handle it, and why it might trigger some extra scrutiny.
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• Should You Open a 6-Month CD in July 2025?
  Jul 14, 2025
  Here's why opening a 6-month CD in July 2025 could be a smart, low-risk move for savers -- and how to tell if it's the …
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• Forget CDs, Even With Rates Over 4%. Here's Where to Put Your Money Instead
  Jul 14, 2025
  CDs offer decent yields today, but there are better options for both short-term savings and long-term growth. Here's where to put your money instead.
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• What if You Invested Every Dollar You Spent on Subscriptions?
  Jul 12, 2025
  Could you cut some (or all) of your subscriptions and supercharge your savings instead? Here's how much the average person could earn by redirecting those …
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• This Personal Loan Mistake Could Cost You Thousands in 2025
  Jul 10, 2025
  Use this smarter strategy instead of a personal loan to avoid interest charges and potentially save thousands in 2025.
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• The Hidden Costs of Personal Loans (and How to Avoid Them)
  Jul 9, 2025
  Personal loans can be helpful, but surprise fees can add up fast. Here's how to spot hidden costs and keep more money in your pocket.
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• Watch Out for These 4 Hidden Fees Lurking in Personal Loan Offers
  Jul 7, 2025
  Personal loans can be helpful, but hidden fees can sneak up on you. Here's how to spot them before they drain your wallet.
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• 7 Red Flags When Shopping for a Personal Loan Online
  Jul 7, 2025
  Watch out for these big red flags before accepting an online personal loan. Protect your money and avoid costly traps.
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• Saving Just $12 Per Day Can Make You Rich. Here's How
  Jul 6, 2025
  A small daily habit of saving and investing can snowball into $1 million or more. Here's how to put compound interest to work for you.
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• 5 Credit Card Myths That Could Hurt Your Score
  Jul 5, 2025
  Believing these common credit card myths could drag down your score. Learn the truth and build your credit the smart way.
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