Jane Bryant Quinn
Jane Bryant Quinn
MoneyWatch contributor Jane Bryant Quinn is a nationally known commentator on personal finance, with books and columns read and trusted by millions. In her long career, she has established herself as America's most reliable voice for people trying to manage their money well. In her public policy writings, she addresses matters of top concern to everyone, including investor protection, health insurance, Social Security, and the sufficiency of retirement plans.
- Read Jane Bryant Quinn's blog: Make the Most of Your Money
Jane's best-selling book, Making the Most of Your Money, is a comprehensive guide to personal finance, named by Consumers Union as the best personal finance book on the market. The first edition, published in 1991, has been in print and popular ever since. The third edition, Making the Most of Your Money NOW, was published in December, 2009. In 2006, she wrote Smart and Simple Financial Strategies for Busy People, her personal list of the best, low-cost strategies for saving more money, finding good insurance, planning for college tuition, investing for retirement, and other personal financial topics.
Jane is married and has two children and six stepchildren. She was born in Niagara Falls, N.Y., and lives in New York City.
Read more from Quinn:
- What credit cards do I need?
- How can I protect myself from identity theft?
- Should I pay bills online?
- Should I get an online bank account?
- Are rewards cards worth the cost?
- Is it smart to pay off my mortgage faster?
- What are the best ways to raise my credit score?
Your Money
Low-rate credit cards can turn into high-rate nightmares if you're just one day late in paying your bill.
- I’m ready to start investing. What’s the first step?
- What are the most common investing mistakes?
- What kind of investments should I have in my portfolio?
- Should I buy mutual funds rather than stocks?
- What are the best sources of information on savings bonds?
- Why bother with bonds when I could just buy a bank CD?
- Do I need a professional financial advisor?
- How can I find a good fee-only financial planner?
Investing
Before you set foot in the office of a stockbroker or financial planner, learn the basics yourself.
- Can you trust online retirement calculators?
- Can I rely on my Social Security income? Shouldn’t we just privatize it?
- I am counting on my inheritance for my retirement. How much will I need?
- How can I get the best deal on a reverse mortgage?
Retirement
Using an online retirement calculator shows a commitment to finding out what you're going to need to retire on.
- What’s the best kind of life insurance to buy?
- How do I find the best homeowners insurance?
- What’s the best way to save on car insurance?
- How can I get the best deals on disability insurance?
Insurance
In any city, the most expensive insurer may charge 50 percent more than the least expensive for the very same policy. You might waste hundreds of dollars if you can't be bothered to shop around.
Kids and Education
Make a clear distinction between what you can't afford and what you don't think is worth paying for.