Alana Benson is an investing writer who joined NerdWallet in 2019. She covers a wide variety of investing topics including stocks, socially responsible investing, cryptocurrency, mutual funds, HSAs and financial advice. She is also a frequent contributor to NerdWallet's "Smart Money" podcast. Alana has appeared on FOX Houston and the "PennyWise" podcast and has been quoted in MarketWatch and The Sun. Before joining NerdWallet, she wrote two books on identity theft and several young adult nonfiction titles. Her work has been featured in The New York Times, The Washington Post, The Associated Press, MSN, Yahoo Finance and MarketWatch. She is based in Wyoming.
Reviewed by Jody D’Agostini Certified Financial Planner® Jody D’Agostini
Certified Financial Planner® | financial planning, investing, family investing, retirement, wealth management
Jody D’Agostini, financial advisor with Equitable Advisors, focuses her practice in the areas of comprehensive financial planning and wealth management for individuals and closely held businesses using a goal-based, holistic approach to their finances. She specializes in the areas of retirement and estate planning, having obtained a certificate in retirement planning from the Wharton School at the University of Pennsylvania. D’Agostini has been working with family law attorneys and mediators for over 15 years providing insight into the financial issues surrounding divorce to assist individuals in achieving a fair and equitable settlement, but most importantly to assist in making decisions that give them a clear view of their future and a path toward achieving their life goals. She helps them feel empowered to move forward towards a brighter future.
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Lead Assigning EditorArielle O'Shea
Lead Assigning Editor | Retirement planning, investment management, investment accounts
Arielle O’Shea leads the investing and taxes team at NerdWallet. She has covered personal finance and investing for over 15 years, and was a senior writer and spokesperson at NerdWallet before becoming an assigning editor. Previously, she was a researcher and reporter for leading personal finance journalist and author Jean Chatzky, a role that included developing financial education programs, interviewing subject matter experts and helping to produce television and radio segments. Arielle has appeared on the "Today" show, NBC News and ABC's "World News Tonight," and has been quoted in national publications including The New York Times, MarketWatch and Bloomberg News. She is based in Charlottesville, Virginia.