Kat Tretina Personal Finance Writer
Portfolio

Personal Finance Should Always Feel Like A No Shame zone.
PERSONAL FINANCE CONTENT WRITER
My Approach
You can expect me to approach the writing assignment with both your needs and the needs of the reader at the forefront of my work. I lead first with an approachable and empathetic voice, avoiding judgmental ‘avocado toast tutorials’ and absolutes that don’t leave room for other lived experiences. My years of experience and specific expertise within personal finance and student loans make me a dependable source for reliable published pieces with vetted stories.
My services include: Web content, Ghostwriting, Print articles, and Workshops.
Areas of Expertise
I’ve written personal finance content for many clients, including well-known outlets like The Buy Side From Wall Street Journal, USA Today, U.S. News, Forbes Advisor and more. If your content falls outside of these areas, we can have a discussion to see if I can assist you or point you to a colleague.
Selected Work:
I’ve written many articles on a variety of topics, but here are a few of my favorites:
Student Loans/Higher Education
- Forbes Advisor: Is College Worth the Cost?
- Earnest: What Can Student Loans Be Used For?
- LendingTree: Financial Aid Disbursement
- Investopedia: How to Pay for Medical School
- Investopedia: How to Pay Off Student Loans Fast
- Money.com: Discover Student Loans Review
- Money.com: Ascent Student Loans Review
- The Balance: Best Student Loans for Bad Credit
- The Balance: Best Student Loans
- ELFI: Financial Aid Options for Student Athletes
- ELFI: How to Spot Student Loan Forgiveness Scams
- Juno: How Much Is an MBA Salary?
- College Ave: What Is Employer Student Loan Repayment?
Insurance
- Buy Side From WSJ: Best Life Insurance Companies
- Buy Side From WSJ: Best Pet Insurance Companies
- Money.com: ASPCA Pet Insurance Review
- Money.com: ManyPets Pet Insurance Review
- Money.com: Lemonade Homeowners Insurance Review
- FinanceBuzz: Is Tesla Insurance Worth the Price?
- MiamiHerald: Life Insurance for Diabetics
- FinanceBuzz: How to Get Insurance for a Car With a Salvage or Rebuilt Title
Auto Loans/Auto Refinancing
- Investopedia: Best Auto Loans for Fair Credit
- Investopedia: Best Auto Loan Refinance Options
- Investopedia: How Much Should I Spend on a New Car?
- Credible: 4 Ways to Get a Loan for a Motorcycle
Personal Loans
- Investopedia: Best Fast Personal Loans
- Investopedia: How to Prequalify for a Personal Loan
- The Balance: Best Personal Loans
- Credible: How to Get a Personal Loan With a 600 Credit Score
Credit and Debit Cards
- Forbes Advisor: What Credit Score Do You Need for the American Express Gold Card?
- CreditKarma: Credit One Bank Platinum Visa for Rebuilding Credit
- CreditKarma: 4 Top Cash-Back Debit Cards
- Investopedia: Deserve Edu Mastercard for Students Review
Mortgages
- FinanceBuzz: Earnest Money Deposits: What Are They, and How Much Do You Need?
- Credible: How to Get a Mortgage Pre-Approval
- The Huffington Post: 4 Ways to Buy a Home With Zero Down
Investing
- U.S. News: How to Invest in Art
- U.S. News: Are There Any Tax-Free Investments?
- Forbes Advisor: How to Hedge Against Inflation
- Forbes Advisor: How to Buy I Bonds With Your Tax Refund
- Acorns: 8 Top Short-Term Investments
- MagnifyMoney: Types of IRA Accounts
- Nasdaq: Secure Act 2.0: How It Impacts the Way You Save for Retirement
General Personal Finance
- Experian: What Is Piggybacking Credit?
- Experian: How Do I Get a Credit-Builder Loan?
- CreditKarma: What Are Crypto Loans?
- CreditKarma: Apple Pay Later Review
- Acorns: How to Start a Side Hustle in 7 Steps
Healthcare
- USA Today/Blueprint: How Much Does Health Insurance Cost in 2023?
- USA Today/Blueprint: Does Medicare Cover Dental Costs?
- Health.com: SmileDirect Club Review
- Healthcare.com: What Are Obamacare Subsidies?