Joel O'Leary

Full-Time Personal Finance Writer |

Expertise

Credit cards, banking, investing, insurance, personal loans

NUMBER OF PUBLICATIONS: 370 | LAST PUBLISH DATE: 12-19-2025

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

• Here's How Much You Need to Save Each Month to Retire With $2 Million
  Oct 28, 2025
  Starting at age 30, you'd need to invest $968 every month to retire at 65 with $2 million. Here's how much you need if you …
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• 3 Easy Credit Habits That Could Add 50+ Points to Your Score
  Oct 28, 2025
  Learn how fixing credit report errors, always paying on time, and lowering your utilization can seriously improve your credit score.
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• CDs in October 2025: Here's What $10,000 Can Earn You Right Now
  Oct 26, 2025
  Top 12-month CDs are still paying 4.00% APY in October 2025. Here's how much $10,000 could earn in interest, and why timing matters.
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• I've Earned Over $15,000 in Credit Card Rewards. Here's How
  Oct 26, 2025
  I've earned $15K+ in rewards by opening two to three cards a year, matching spend to perks, and playing two-player mode with my wife. Here's …
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• When It Actually Pays to Cash Out a CD Early
  Oct 26, 2025
  When rates rise, cash runs short, or better opportunities come up, breaking a CD early can actually make you more money.
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• Should You Split Your Debt Across Multiple Balance Transfer Cards?
  Oct 26, 2025
  Splitting debt across multiple balance transfer cards rarely helps and often adds risk. Here's why one solid balance transfer card usually wins.
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• How to Calculate Your True Balance Transfer Savings -- Fees and All
  Oct 25, 2025
  Easily calculate your true savings from a balance transfer by factoring in fees, interest, and payoff timing. Here's the math.
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• CD Rates Are Dropping, but It's Not Too Late to Lock In a Great One
  Oct 25, 2025
  Top 12-month CDs are still paying around 4.00% APY right now. Here's how much your savings can earn before rates fall further.
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• Citi Simplicity Card vs. Citi Diamond Preferred
  Oct 24, 2025
  Trying to choose between Citi Simplicity and Citi Diamond Preferred? Here's a breakdown of fees, perks, and which card is better for your balance transfer …
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• Chase Sapphire Preferred vs. Amex Blue Cash Preferred
  Oct 24, 2025
  The Chase Sapphire Preferred® Card and Amex Blue Cash Preferred both offer big value -- see which card gives you more savings and fits your …
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• Here's What Happens When You Pay Your Credit Card Bill Every Week
  Oct 24, 2025
  Paying your credit card weekly can help lower utilization, reduce interest costs, and strengthen your money habits. Here's why it works.
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• I'm a Millionaire, but I Still Do These 5 Frugal Things
  Oct 23, 2025
  Here's why I still cut my own hair, wear decade-old clothes, and wash my own car even though I've crossed millionaire status.
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• Why I'm Putting My $25,000 in an HYSA Instead of a CD
  Oct 23, 2025
  CDs have decent rates right now, but here's why I'm sticking with a high-yield savings account for my $25K emergency fund.
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• Balance Transfer Fee vs. Interest: Which Costs More?
  Oct 23, 2025
  Balance transfer fees can easily be cheaper than paying months of high interest. Here's how to compare the true costs.
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• What I've Learned After Opening 30+ Credit Cards
  Oct 22, 2025
  I opened 30+ credit cards and earned over $10K in sign-up rewards alone. Here are six lessons that could help you earn more (without going …
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• Would You Pay a $300 Fee to Save $1,000 in Interest? Here's Why It Actually Makes Sense
  Oct 21, 2025
  Paying a balance transfer fee might sound like a waste, but in many cases it can save you hundreds or even thousands in interest. Here's …
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• Merrill Edge Review
  Oct 20, 2025
  Merrill Edge offers $0 ATM fees, hands-on support, and powerful investing tools. Read our full review to see if it's the right broker for you.
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• Here's How Much Money the Average American Has in Their Checking Account
  Oct 19, 2025
  The average American checking balance might surprise you. But keeping too much cash in checking could be costing you hundreds in lost interest.
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• 6-Month or 5-Year CDs: Which Are Better Right Now?
  Oct 19, 2025
  CD rates near 4.00% APY make saving easy. See whether a 6-month or 5-year CD is the smarter move heading into late 2025.
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• The Real Difference Between a 680 and a 740 Credit Score (and What It'll Cost You)
  Oct 18, 2025
  A 680 vs. 740 credit score might not sound like a huge difference -- but it could cost you thousands in higher interest rates, insurance …
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• Are You Upper, Middle, or Lower Class? Here's the Income Cutoff
  Oct 18, 2025
  To land in the top 20% of U.S. households, you'll need to earn $153,001 or more. Here's where your income puts you, plus what really …
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• This Is How Much You Should Have Saved by Age 40 in 2025
  Oct 18, 2025
  Turning 40? Here's how much you should have saved, plus smart ways to grow your money faster in 2025.
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• Discover it® Chrome vs. Discover it® Cash Back
  Oct 17, 2025
  Both the Discover it Chrome and Discover it Cash Back cards offer strong rewards with no annual fee, but here's how they compare on earnings, …
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• My Friend Found $40,000 Sitting in an Old 401(k) -- You Might Have One Too
  Oct 17, 2025
  A friend just rediscovered a 401(k) from his first job, and realized he's missed out on years of growth. Here's how to avoid the same …
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• Here's How Much the Average 60-Year-Old Has in Their 401(k)
  Oct 17, 2025
  The median 401(k) balance for 60-somethings is $187,957 (Empower) or $95,642 (Vanguard). Here's how to catch up if you're behind on savings.
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