David Rodeck
As seen in:
Forbes Advisor,
Senior Executive,
CNN,
Forbes,
MSN,
MSN Ireland,
MSN UK,
Forbes Advisor UK,
Yahoo Finance,
Chicago Tribune,
Investopedia,
MarketWatch
and
Financial copywriter, content marketing specialist
Is this you? As a journalist, you can create a free Muck Rack account to customize your profile, list your contact preferences, and upload a portfolio of your best work.
Claim your profile
Articles by David Rodeck
10 things you should know about tapping home equity
Homeowners age 62 and older hold almost $15 trillion in home equity, nearly double the total of early 2020, according to data from the National Reverse Mortgage Lenders Association . If you own your home or another property, you have another financial resource for renovations, debt consolidation, extra income or even a business investment. But accessing that value is not as simple as withdrawing cash from the bank or selling shares in a retirement account.
10 Things You Should Know About Tapping Home Equity
Follow us Add us as a preferred source on Google Subscribe to our newsletter Homeowners age 62 and older hold almost $15 trillion in home equity, nearly double the total of early 2020, according to data from the National Reverse Mortgage Lenders Association. If you own your home or another property, you have another financial resource for renovations, debt consolidation, extra income or even a business investment.
10 Things You Should Know About Estate Planning
Estate planning isn’t necessarily about how much you have. Instead, it’s about protecting what you’ve spent a lifetime building. You’ve worked for years to pay down debt, pay off your home and grow your investments and savings. A solid estate plan ensures none of that disappears in probate, long-term care costs or excessive taxes. It keeps you and your spouse in the home you’ve shared for decades and makes certain your grandkids receive the inheritance you intended, not the IRS.
10 Things You Should Know About Estate Planning
An estate plan can also explain your wishes when you have a serious medical condition or can't make decisions yourself by naming a family member or trusted friend to decide for you. You can create specific instructions, like whether you want to be an organ donor or want to refuse treatment when on life support with no chance of recovery, in an advance directive.
Estate planning for singles: 10 things to know
Estate planning for singles is crucial for your long-term peace of mind. It lays out what you want to happen to your assets after death and during situations when you can't make decisions. But if you've never married or were married a long time ago and have no children, don't assume estate planning is a breeze. It's not. "People often think estate planning will be simpler in this situation, [but] it's a lot more complicated," said James C. Bartholomew , an estate planning attorney in Bend, Oregon.
Estate Planning for Singles: 10 Things to Know
When you buy through links on our articles, Future and its syndication partners may earn a commission. Credit: Getty Images Estate planning for singles is crucial for your long-term peace of mind. It lays out what you want to happen to your assets after death and during situations when you can't make decisions. But if you've never married or were married a long time ago and have no children, don't assume estate planning is a breeze. It's not.
7 estate planning best practices
An estate plan is one of the most important elements of your financial life. The estate plan directs what happens with your wealth after you pass; effectively, a good estate plan ensures that your legacy is left in the way you want it to be left. A complete estate plan includes several parts. This includes a will, but also, potentially, a financial power of attorney, beneficiary designations, trusts and more.
5 Key Components of an Estate Plan — and 7 Others to Consider
When you buy through links on our articles, Future and its syndication partners may earn a commission. Credit: Getty Images No one likes to imagine getting seriously ill, injured or worse, but these occurrences are a reality of life. Although you can't prevent every catastrophic scenario, you can better manage the consequences by figuring out what you want to happen if you become incapacitated or pass away. Who should manage your money when you can't? What are your preferences for health care?
7 Estate Planning Best Practices
An estate plan is one of the most important elements of your financial life. The estate plan directs what happens with your wealth after you pass; effectively, a good estate plan ensures that your legacy is left in the way you want it to be left. A complete estate plan includes several parts. This includes a will, but also, potentially, a financial power of attorney, beneficiary designations, trusts and more.
7 Estate Planning Best Practices
When you buy through links on our articles, Future and its syndication partners may earn a commission. Credit: Getty Images An estate plan is one of the most important elements of your financial life. The estate plan directs what happens with your wealth after you pass; effectively, a good estate plan ensures that your legacy is left in the way you want it to be left. A complete estate plan includes several parts.
A Smart Guide to Borrowing
When cash is tight, choosing the right way to borrow can save you thousands in interest and fees. Choosing the right loan can lower costs and reduce financial stress when money gets tight. By David Rodeck From Kiplinger’s Personal Finance As Americans face rising costs on just about everything, the amount of debt they’re taking on is going up, too. Credit card balances recently reached a record $1.28 trillion.
A Practical Guide to Credit and Loans Original
Follow us Add us as a preferred source on Google Subscribe to our newsletter As Americans face rising costs on just about everything, the amount of debt they're taking on is going up, too. Credit card balances recently reached a record $1.28 trillion. And according to credit-reporting company Experian, 38% of U.S. consumers now have a personal loan, with the number of these loans on credit reports reaching 67.5 million.
Save on Driving Costs
While high gas prices are the most obvious pain point, there are other ways to save on driving costs besides staying home and avoiding the pump. Whether you are looking for budget travel or sticking close to home, David Rodeck of Kiplinger’s Personal Finance has tips for you. Summer is just around the corner, and with it comes peak driving season as Americans plan vacations, road trips and family get-togethers.
Should You Make a Home Insurance Claim?
Michelle Kondrich Key takeaways Filing a home insurance claim can raise premiums, increase deductibles or cost you opportunities for discounts. Generally, you want to file a claim only if the cost of repairs exceeds your deductible. Claims typically remain on your insurance record for five to seven years. You pay for home insurance with the expectation that the insurer will help cover the costs when something happens to your property.
When Your Wireless Network and Rewards Card Work Together
Wireless service has become a necessity in modern life, with 91% of Americans owning a smartphone in 2025, according to Pew Research. Wireless service helps people work, navigate, stream, and stay connected throughout the day. For most households, the wireless bill is another mandatory part of the monthly budget, sitting alongside electricity and heat. But in most cases, the way people pay this bill doesn’t add any value. That’s starting to change.
Microsoft Cares About Your Privacy How — and why — to give to your grandkids
David Rodeck Over the next couple of decades, Americans — mostly aging baby boomers and Gen Xers — are expected to pass along about $73 trillion in wealth to their heirs. They will give another $12 trillion to charity. If you will be part of this generous cohort, you could leave everything to be sorted out after you're gone, or you could make financial gifts while you're alive. Either way, who's likely to stand at or near the top of your list?
Investing When the World Feels Crazy: Expert Strategies
Still, every downturn raises the same unsettling questions. What if this time is different? What if the next downturn looks less like a brief stumble and more like the extended, painful recovery that followed the financial crisis, or worse? "Each crisis feels like the worst one, because it's the one you're living through right now." — Ben Howarth Those worries pop up every time markets dip, says Ben Howarth, a financial adviser in Wethersfield, Conn.
Investing When the World Feels Crazy: Expert Strategies
Follow us Add us as a preferred source on Google Get Kiplinger Today newsletter — free Profit and prosper with the best of Kiplinger's advice on investing, taxes, retirement, personal finance and much more. Delivered daily.
What is a 'good' inheritance? 6 high-value assets to keep an eye on
David Rodeck Imagine your family's peace of mind when they see an estate plan that reflects your values, your vision, and your sincere care for their future. What is a good inheritance? By carefully considering this question, you'll build a legacy that echoes through generations. Consolidating your accounts and simplifying your estate now will significantly ease the burden on your family later, says Michael Romero , President of Argent Trust Oklahoma at Argent Financial Group.
7 Tips to Save on Driving Costs This Summer Original
Follow us Add us as a preferred source on Google Get Kiplinger Today newsletter — free Profit and prosper with the best of Kiplinger's advice on investing, taxes, retirement, personal finance and much more. Delivered daily.
10 things you should know about estate planning
David Rodeck Estate planning isn't about how much you have. Instead, it's about protecting what you've spent a lifetime building. You've worked hard for years to pay down debt, pay off your home and grow your savings. A solid estate plan ensures none of that disappears in probate fees, long-term-care costs or excessive taxes. It keeps you and your spouse in the home you've shared for decades and makes certain your grandkids receive the inheritance you intended, not the IRS.
How the T-Mobile Visa helps you save on your next trip
If you're planning a trip, expect to pay more than you would have just a few years ago. Travel costs are up over 26% compared to 2019, driven by higher prices for gas, flights, hotels, and food, according to the U.S. Travel Association’s Travel Price Index. That doesn’t mean you have to scale back your plans. How you choose to pay can make a real difference in bringing those costs down, even for travelers who already use some of the best loyalty programs for flights and hotels.
How this rewards card turns everyday spending into wireless savings
Cellphones have become a necessity for most people, making the wireless bill as much a part of the household budget as electricity, heat, and other utilities. According to a J.D. Power 2024 U.S. Wireless Retail Experience Study, the average customer paid $141 per month, nearly $1,700 per year, for cell phone service. For shoppers who like to make the most of their spending, a regular expense like this can be an earnings opportunity with the right loyalty program.
9 types of insurance you probably don't need
These days, it seems like every other TV commercial is for yet another insurance product. While consumer choice can be a good thing, not all insurance is as essential as the ads make it seem.Although insurance plays an important role in anyone's financial plan, some products might be more about protecting the insurance company's bottom line rather than yours. Insurance decisions shouldn't be made in a vacuum.You should consider your entire financial picture.
How to cut your home and auto insurance bills this year
Consumers have been battling higher prices everywhere, but rate hikes for automobile and homeowners insurance have been especially nasty. Premiums in both markets skyrocketed over the past couple of years. Some states, including New Jersey, Utah and Vermont, still have relatively cheap home insurance markets, but others, such as Colorado, New Mexico and Texas, are dealing with much more expensive premiums. In California and Florida, homeowners are struggling just to find coverage.
What to Do If You Plan to Make Catch-Up Contributions in 2026
A mature man is using a laptop at home, he is drinking morning coffee and surfing the Net. In a shift that could spur broader adoption of Roth retirement accounts by both employers and workers, higher-income employees who make catch-up contributions to a workplace plan in 2026 will see a big difference in how those extra dollars are taxed.
What to Do If You Plan to Make Catch-Up Contributions in 2026 Original
Share this article Add us as a preferred source on Google Newsletter In a shift that could spur broader adoption of Roth retirement accounts by both employers and workers, higher-income employees who make catch-up contributions to a workplace plan in 2026 will see a big difference in how those extra dollars are taxed.
9 Types of Insurance You Probably Don't Need
Although Howard believes insurance plays an important role in anyone's financial plan, some products are more about protecting the insurance company's bottom line rather than yours. Insurance decisions shouldn't be made in a vacuum. They should consider your entire financial picture. That way, you can identify the gaps and figure out the coverage you truly need, along with any you could do without.
5 Simple Fixes to Save on Heat Bills This Winter
Little wooden house wrapped in brown scarf on a radiator. As winter approaches, home heating bills are giving Americans chills across the country. Driven by a projected 20% rise in wholesale natural gas prices for 2026, the cost of keeping your home toasty could rise sharply, depending on where you live and the type of fuel you use.
5 Simple Fixes to Save on Heat Bills This Winter
As winter approaches, home heating bills are giving Americans chills across the country. Driven by a projected 20% rise in wholesale natural gas prices for 2026, the cost of keeping your home toasty could rise sharply, depending on where you live and the type of fuel you use. Electricity is expected to lead the price hikes, with double-digit jumps in some parts of the country, followed by more modest increases in the cost of residential natural gas.
10 Things You Should Know About Buying a Car Today, Even if You've Bought Before
Buying a car. An older couple meets with a car salesman in the showroom. . If you drive, chances are you’ve been buying cars your entire life. You already know the buying experience inside and out. “At this stage of life, most of my clients just want everything to be convenient and hassle-free,” says Adam Rex, a financial planner with Cornerstone Financial Services in Virginia Beach.
10 Things You Should Know About Buying a Car Today, Even if You've Bought Before
Follow us Add us as a preferred source on Google Get the Kiplinger Newsletter Profit and prosper with the best of Kiplinger's advice on investing, taxes, retirement, personal finance and much more. Delivered daily. Enter your email in the box and click Sign Me Up. Contact me with news and offers from other Future brands Receive email from us on behalf of our trusted partners or sponsors By submitting your information you agree to the Terms & Conditions and Privacy Policy and are aged 16 or over.
Beat the heating bill
As winter grows near, home heating bills are giving Americans chills around the country. kAmsC:G6? 3J 2 AC@;64E65 a_T C:D6 :? H9@=6D2=6 ?2EFC2= 82D AC:46D 7@C a_ae[ E96 4@DE @7 <66A:?8 J@FC 9@>6 E@2DEJ 4@F=5 C:D6 D92CA=J[ 56A6?5:?8 @? H96C6 J@F =:G6 2?5 E96 EJA6 @7 7F6= J@F FD6] t=64EC:4:EJ :D 6IA64E65 E@ =625 E96 AC:46 9:<6D[ H:E9 5@F3=6\5:8:E ;F>AD :? D@>6 A2CED @7 E96 4@F?ECJ[ 7@==@H65 3J >@C6\>@56DE :?4C62D6D :?
Prepare for Tariffs to Impact Holiday Shopping Prices
AARP (Getty Images,3) Key Takeaways Start holiday shopping early to avoid price hikes and inventory shortages caused by tariffs and supply chain disruptions. Expect higher costs on toys, clothing and holiday decorations. Stretch your budget by exploring thrift stores, consignment shops and refurbished video game consoles. Rising consumer prices due to tariffs are putting pressure on older Americans’ wallets as the holidays approach.
Deciding on Senior Living? 10 Things You Should Know
Happy senior woman toasting with her husband while having a meal at dining table. the scene could be at a fancy restaurant or an upscale senior living community. The number of Americans 85 and older is expected to nearly double by 2035, according to the U.S. Census Bureau. With age often comes the need for help with driving, medical care and daily tasks, sometimes making living alone no longer safe or practical. That’s when families consider moving to a retirement home.
Deciding on Senior Living? 10 Things You Should Know
The number of Americans 85 and older is expected to nearly double by 2035, according to the U.S. Census Bureau. With age often comes the need for help with driving, medical care and daily tasks, sometimes making living alone no longer safe or practical. That’s when families consider moving to a retirement home. “For the typical person, the thought of going to a retirement home is terrible,” says Patrick Simasko, an elder law attorney in Mount Clemens, Michigan.
Bonds Pay in Good and Bad Times
Bonds spelled out by wooden blocks in front of financial charts. The 2025 stock market has been a rollercoaster with more uncertainty on the horizon. Rebalancing your portfolio to include more fixed-income assets, which pay ongoing interest or dividends, can help reduce losses during a future downturn.
Bonds Pay in Good and Bad Times
The 2025 stock market has been a rollercoaster with more uncertainty on the horizon. Rebalancing your portfolio to include more fixed-income assets, which pay ongoing interest or dividends, can help reduce losses during a future downturn. “If you held on through the spring and into the summer rebound, you likely haven’t lost money and have a freebie to revisit,” says David Rosenstrock, a financial planner with Wharton Wealth Planning in New York City.
From Exchange Rates to ATM Fees: A Guide to Handling Foreign Cash While Traveling
Woman taking a picture of a view abroad. There’s nothing like the thrill of traveling abroad and enjoying different cultures, delicious foods, and unforgettable sights. As you plan your itinerary, be sure to consider how you’ll pay for everything. While U.S. dollars and credit cards are generally accepted worldwide, having foreign cash on hand can be more convenient and, in some cases, the only way to pay.
From Exchange Rates to ATM Fees: A Guide to Handling Foreign Cash While Traveling
There’s nothing like the thrill of traveling abroad and enjoying different cultures, delicious foods, and unforgettable sights. As you plan your itinerary, be sure to consider how you’ll pay for everything. While U.S. dollars and credit cards are generally accepted worldwide, having foreign cash on hand can be more convenient and, in some cases, the only way to pay.
How to Cut Your Auto Insurance Bills This Year
The average price of car insurance spiked more than 20 percent over the 12 months ending in February 2024 and more than 38 percent since 2020. By David Rodeck From Kiplinger’s Personal Finance Consumers have been battling higher prices everywhere, but rate hikes for automobile insurance have been especially nasty. Premiums have skyrocketed over the past couple of years.
Your Online Security: 10 Things You Should Know
Illustration of banking scams or data breach - hacker and cyber criminals phishing or stealing private personal data using a computer. A breach of online security happens in an instant. A misclicked link, a reply to a stranger’s message or a purchase on the wrong site. Uh oh. Another case of cyberfraud. “Fraud happens to everyone, even the smartest people,” says Phillip Reed, an asset protection attorney in Kalamazoo, Mich.
Your Online Security: 10 Things You Should Know
A breach of online security happens in an instant. A misclicked link, a reply to a stranger’s message or a purchase on the wrong site. Uh oh. Another case of cyberfraud. “Fraud happens to everyone, even the smartest people,” says Phillip Reed, an asset protection attorney in Kalamazoo, Mich. “The tactics have gotten so sophisticated.” The Federal Trade Commission says 2.6 million consumers were victims of fraud in 2024, with losses of over $12.5 billion, a 25% increase from the previous year.
Your Online Security: 10 Things You Should Know
I replaced my Microsoft account password with a passkey - and you should, too You can make your Microsoft account far more secure if you ditch your password. But if you plan to do so, there's a step you absolutely must not skip. …
Actively Managed Portfolios: What Are They and How Do They Work?
Mobile investment apps revolutionized investing by allowing users to trade from anywhere, not just from their computer screens. That said, while mobile investing is convenient, there are still advantages to trading on a more powerful desktop platform. For this reason, Robinhood launched a browser-based platform in 2024 called Robinhood Legend to complement its mobile app. Here are the top three benefits active traders gain from using a desktop platform versus their smartphones. 1.
Now Is the Time for a Tax Checkup
During the lazy dog days of summer, taxes are probably the last thing on your mind. But the middle of the year is an ideal time to review your 2024 tax return and look for ways to lower your 2025 taxes before the months fly by.
Four things you can do today to up your financial preparedness
No one can predict the future. That’s why a successful financial plan prepares you for the unexpected. TD Bank’s 2025 Financial Preparedness Survey found that 86% of respondents think about their financial preparedness at least monthly. However, many also admitted feeling like they could not handle future problems as they come up. For example, 36% of Americans said they are not confident they have enough savings to pay for an unexpected bill.
10 Things You Should Know About Buying a Boat
Buying a boat is a major commitment. By David Rodeck From Kiplinger’s Personal Finance It’s that time of year again when boaters swarm their favorite bays, lakes, rivers and oceans. “It’s a lifestyle; they don’t golf, they don’t have a cottage, they’re out on the water every weekend,” says Patrick Simasko, an elder law attorney in Mount Clemens, Michigan.
Easy, Proven Ways to Lower Your Car Insurance
Car insurance has gone up and could continue to climb. Here's how to get a more affordable rate. Rob Dobi Facebook Twitter LinkedIn You aren’t alone if you’re frustrated about your car insurance bill. Rates spiked after the COVID-19 pandemic created high inflation and drove up the price of vehicles, parts and repairs.
Thinking About Buying a Boat? 10 Things to Know First Original
It’s that time of year again when boaters swarm their favorite bays, lakes, rivers and oceans. Many a would-be skipper may be considering whether a boat fits into their retirement plan. “It’s a lifestyle; they don’t golf, they don’t have a cottage, they’re out on the water every weekend,” says Patrick Simasko, an elder law attorney in Mount Clemens, Mich. That said, buying a boat is a major commitment with a fair share of headaches.
Show More
loading
Actions
Is this you?
As a journalist, you can create a free Muck Rack account to customize your profile, list your contact preferences, and upload a portfolio of your best work.Get in touch with David
Contact David, search articles and posts on X, monitor coverage, and track replies from one place.
Learn more about Muck Rack