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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

Social Security Seniors' Benefits Cuts - What You Must Know
Social Security Seniors' Benefits Cuts – What You Must Know
Social Security benefit cuts are on the horizon — here's who this impacts, and what it means going forward for current and future retirees.
6 min readMar 20, 2026
401(k) Hardship Withdrawals Rise as More Workers Tap Retirement Savings — featured image
401(k) Hardship Withdrawals Rise as More Workers Tap Retirement Savings
Written by Brett Holzhauer , Senior Financial Writer and graduate of the Walter Cronkite School of Journalism. Reviewed and edited […]
5 min readMar 07, 2026
2026 Tax Refund Increase
2026 Tax Refund Increase
Americans are seeing higher tax refunds. Here's what you need to know about the 2026 tax refund increase.
6 min readFeb 18, 2026
2026 Investing Outlook — featured image
2026 Investing Outlook
Written by Brett Holzhauer , Senior Financial Writer and graduate of the Walter Cronkite School of Journalism · Edited by […]
6 min readFeb 12, 2026
Are Federal Tax Refunds Taxable? — featured image
Are Federal Tax Refunds Taxable?
Are federal tax refunds taxable? In most cases, no. Federal refunds aren’t taxable income, but state tax refunds can be under certain conditions. Here’s how to tell.
8 min readFeb 05, 2026
Using Retirement Funds for a Down Payment on a House? What to Know
Using Retirement Funds for a Down Payment on a House? What to Know
Housing has become remarkably expensive, leading some homebuyers to dip into their retirement nest eggs for their initial down payment.
9 min readJan 26, 2026
The best tax prep software you've never heard of feature image
Best Tax Prep Software – Top Affordable Alternatives (TaxSlayer, TaxAct, FreeTaxUSA) Reviewed
15 min readDec 26, 2025
5 Ways To Crush Your Finances in 2026 — featured image
5 Ways To Crush Your Finances in 2026
The new year is upon us, and the annual attempt at New Year's resolutions is warming up. This financial checklist […]
8 min readDec 17, 2025
Funeral Debt Is Rising: Here’s Why, and How to Pay for a Funeral with No Money
Funeral Debt Is Rising: Here’s Why, and How to Pay for a Funeral with No Money
Life has become increasingly expensive in recent years. So has dying — and those left behind are shouldering the grief, and the bill.
7 min readDec 13, 2025
Don’t Miss Out - Check If You Qualify For America’s Largest Debt Consolidation Program — featured image
Don’t Miss Out – Check If You Qualify For This Top Debt Consolidation Program
Learn how thousands of Texas residents are getting help lowering their credit card debt with this company.
2 min readNov 11, 2025