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Brett Holzhauer

Personal Finance Reporter

About the Author

Brett Holzhauer is a senior financial writer and editor with more than a decade of experience covering personal finance, consumer debt, investing, and the U.S. economy. He has written for major national outlets, including Forbes and CNBC, where his reporting has helped readers navigate everything from market volatility and retirement planning to credit, debt, and consumer behavior.

Brett’s perspective is shaped by the realities facing millennials and younger professionals: rising housing costs, student debt, shifting labor markets, and the growing gap between traditional financial advice and modern economic life.

He is particularly interested in opportunity cost, behavioral finance, and how technology is reshaping the way people save, spend, and invest.

A graduate of the Walter Cronkite School of Journalism and Mass Communications at Arizona State University, Brett brings editorial rigor, data fluency, and a strong consumer lens to every piece he publishes. In his off time, he is either traveling or watching college football.

Expertise

  • Personal Finance Research and Reporting

Education

  • Walter Cronkite School of Journalism at Arizona State

Brett's Latest Articles

Average car costs include much more than a monthly payment. Insurance, fuel, maintenance, repairs, depreciation, and other expenses can significantly increase the true cost of owning a vehicle.
Average Car Costs Are Near $6,000 a Year: 5 Ways to Save
Average car costs go far beyond the monthly payment. Learn how insurance, fuel, maintenance, and other expenses add up, plus practical ways to save.
Sep 23, 2026
Seniors looking for an affordable smartphone can save by choosing an older or refurbished iPhone while still getting useful features for calls, texts, FaceTime, and other everyday tasks.
iPhones Can Still Be a Cheap Phone For Seniors To Use: Here's How
A cheap phone for seniors doesn’t have to mean giving up an iPhone. Older models, refurbished devices, trade-ins, and lower-cost carriers can cut costs.
5 min readSep 22, 2026
Judge’s gavel resting on credit cards, representing credit card companies suing consumers over unpaid debt.
Which Credit Card Companies Sue the Most Over Unpaid Debt?
Learn which credit card companies sue the most, when unpaid credit card debt can lead to a lawsuit, and what to do if a creditor sues you.
5 min readSep 09, 2026
A couple reviews financial paperwork together at home while using a laptop, representing HSA planning, healthcare savings, and preparation for future medical expenses.
HSA Contribution Limits Are Increasing in 2027. Here's What You Need to Know
HSA contribution limits are increasing in 2027. Learn the new limits, how HSAs provide tax advantages, and ways to maximize your savings.
5 min readSep 09, 2026
Couple buying a used car and receiving the keys at a dealership while learning how to buy a used car affordably.
How to Buy a Used Car Without Wrecking Your Finances
Learn how to buy a used car without overextending your budget, from choosing the right vehicle age to comparing financing, insurance, and ownership costs.
5 min readSep 08, 2026
Car shopper considering a newer vehicle and how much it may cost to insure.
Are Newer Cars More Expensive to Insure?
Are newer cars more expensive to insure? Usually, but vehicle age isn't the only factor. Learn how value, repair costs, coverage, and safety features can affect your premium.
Sep 01, 2026
A young borrower appears concerned while reviewing finances on a laptop, with student loan debt imagery in the background, illustrating the financial strain facing borrowers who are delinquent or in default.
Student Loan Default Is Rising: Nearly 10 Million Borrowers Are Affected
Nearly 10 million federal student loan borrowers are in default, with millions more behind on payments. Learn why defaults are rising and what options borrowers have.
5 min readSep 01, 2026
A personal finance writer who reached Coast FIRE at age 32 in a bright home office, illustrating the financial flexibility and independence that Coast FIRE can help create.
Coast FIRE: What It Is & How Our Writer Got There
Coast FIRE can put retirement on autopilot years before you stop working. Learn how it works and how our writer reached Coast FIRE at age 32.
7 min readSep 01, 2026
7 Smart Money Moves to Make Before the End of 2026 – A Financial Checklist
7 Smart Money Moves to Make Before the End of 2026 – A Financial Checklist
A mid-year financial checklist can help you finish 2026 on stronger financial footing. Review recent student loan changes, reduce high-interest debt, boost retirement savings, strengthen your emergency fund, and prepare for year-end with these practical money moves.
8 min readJul 16, 2026
What Happens If I Can't Pay a Judgment?
What Happens If I Can’t Pay a Judgment?
If you can't pay a judgment, you still have options. Learn what creditors can legally do to collect, which assets may be protected, and how payment plans, settlements, or debt relief strategies can help you move forward.
10 min readJun 28, 2026