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Live a richer life.
Authors
Brian O’Connell
Brian O’Connell

Brian O’Connell

Contributor

A former Wall Street bond trader, Brian O'Connell is the author of two best-selling books: “The 401k Millionaire” and “CNBC’s Creating Wealth.” His work is featured on national finance and business platforms like TheStreet.com, CBS News, CNN, The Wall Street Journal and Forbes.

A former Wall Street bond trader, Brian O'Connell is the author of two best-selling books: “The 401k Millionaire” and “CNBC’s Creating Wealth.” His work is featured on national finance and business platforms like TheStreet.com, CBS News, CNN, The Wall Street Journal, U.S. News & World Report, Forbes, Fox News, and many others. Mr. O’Connell writes a weekly stock market column for Benzinga and he’s served as chief insurance analyst for Insurance Quotes since 2019.

Brian O’Connell's Expertise

A photo of a diverse group of people sitting in a circle

Loans • Aug 03

Lending circles offer no interest and no collateral — here's why millions still use them to bypass banks

By Brian O’Connell
Two columns featuring the contractor named Jason, left, and Liz Pereira, the homeowner.

Real Estate • Aug 23

A smooth-talking contractor can cost you thousands — here are key ways to help you hire the right handyman

By Brian O’Connell
Workers assemble a newly manufactured 1,200-square-foot accessory dwelling unit for members of the Van Dalm family, who are Eaton Fire survivors.

Real Estate • Aug 21

Factory-built homes are springing up across US suburbs — and the average price can be less than $100,000

By Brian O’Connell
Contractor installs new shingles on roof on a rainy day.

Real Estate • Aug 01

Nearly 75% of new homeowners spend $10,000 on surprise repairs within 2 years — and some never budgeted for them

By Brian O’Connell
seniors

Retirement • Sep 01

Boomers are paying hundreds of thousands to live in luxe ‘resort-style’ communities — and redefining retirement

By Brian O’Connell
Sullen looking couple look squarely at the camera.

Retirement • Jul 26

76% of American retirees have big savings regrets — and younger workers now plan to put off retirement to avoid them

By Brian O’Connell
Happy older couple pose smiling outside in front of yellow sports car.

Retirement • Jun 14

Focus on these 3 expenses if you want to retire early — trimming them will keep your cash flowing through retirement

By Brian O’Connell
trump

News • Sep 01

Trump wants to 'fill up' US stockpiles with Venezuelan oil after taking a stake in it — but gas prices won't be dropping

By Brian O’Connell
Walgreens and CVS

News • Aug 31

200,000 Medicare users sprint to CVS and Walgreens to snatch up $50 obesity drugs — millions more are still missing out

By Brian O’Connell
Garrett Langley, CEO and co-founder of Flock Safety.

News • 16418 views

Flock CEO Garrett Langley promises to end crime with his surveillance cameras - but the tech is raising privacy concerns

By Brian O’Connell
Woman browsing gold jewels in window

Investing • Jul 23

Gold crashes from $5,500 to $4,160 since the Iran conflict began, but experts see a massive buying opportunity

By Brian O’Connell
A couple stands embracing on a grassy lawn in front of a white, suburban home, their backs to the camera.

Investing • Jul 11

Real estate is no longer the wealth builder it once was — but is it a bad investment?

By Brian O’Connell
A closeup of U.S. President Donald Trump, smiling.

Investing • Jul 04

Trump drops love-bomb on Micron while holding the stock — up 209% this year. Experts say it ‘undermines’ the system

By Brian O’Connell
People lined up at CVS pharmacy

Insurance • Jul 27

'Job lock' hits 24% of U.S. workers — staying in jobs they hate because losing health insurance terrifies them

By Brian O’Connell
Several headstones are captured side by side in a cemetary.

Insurance • Jul 13

A damaged or stolen headstone could be covered by insurance. What families need to know before paying out of pocket

By Brian O’Connell
Hurricane Helene caused massive flooding and home insurance nightmares across the Southeastern U.S. in 2024.

Insurance • Jul 10

Here’s why NASA may help determine what you pay for home insurance as climate disasters climb

By Brian O’Connell
Woman stressed while talking on the phone.

Managing Money • 44049 views

My mom wants 6 visits a year, costing us $4,800 — here's how to know when to say no

By Brian O’Connell
Older couple stand in front of window at home, looking uncertain and unhappy.

Managing Money • 99996 views

Our son recently cut us out of his life over politics — should we cut him out of his $5 million inheritance?

By Brian O’Connell
Retired couple looking at smartphone together in their backyard

Managing Money • Aug 15

Retirees with $2.5 million want to pay off their $200K mortgage — but a hidden tax hit could cost them $60K

By Brian O’Connell
A photo of YouTuber Ryan Walker

Life • Aug 14

Aman's $6,000-a-night resort blocked a YouTuber at the gate — experts say hotels face an impossible influencer dilemma

By Brian O’Connell
large sunflowers

Life • Jul 06

Seed scam promises supersized, technicolor flowers — and people are buying them by the thousands

By Brian O’Connell
A traveler received their headphones back after four years — and it was thanks to the US-Iran war.

Life • Jun 22

A traveler lost headphones on a flight to the 2022 FIFA World Cup. Qatar Airways just returned them one World Cup later

By Brian O’Connell
More articles from Brian O’Connell

More from Brian O’Connell

LATEST

trump

News • Sep 01

Trump wants to 'fill up' US stockpiles with Venezuelan oil after taking a stake in it — but gas prices won't be dropping

For Team Trump, it’s ‘top off’ time with Venezuela crude, with some patience in play for oil consumers.

By Brian O’Connell
seniors

Retirement • Sep 01

Boomers are paying hundreds of thousands to live in luxe ‘resort-style’ communities — and redefining retirement

Seniors are warming up to plush senior home communities but they’ll have to pay a steep price.

By Brian O’Connell
Walgreens and CVS

News • Aug 31

200,000 Medicare users sprint to CVS and Walgreens to snatch up $50 obesity drugs — millions more are still missing out

Weight loss drug consumers get a Medicare cost break, but it has a deadline.

By Brian O’Connell
Garrett Langley, CEO and co-founder of Flock Safety.

News • 16418 views

Flock CEO Garrett Langley promises to end crime with his surveillance cameras - but the tech is raising privacy concerns

Americans may have to decide where the line is drawn between safety and privacy, or risk having technology make that call for them.

By Brian O’Connell
President Trump joins American farmers for a roundtable on "American Agriculture"

News • 13266 views

U.S. farmers face $31 billion in losses as Iran war drives diesel and fertilizer costs up

The Iran conflict is not helping already struggling U.S. farmers, and here’s why.

By Brian O’Connell
Woman stressed while talking on the phone.

Managing Money • 44049 views

My mom wants 6 visits a year, costing us $4,800 — here's how to know when to say no

When a retired parent lives far from family, the cost of flying them in for visits can quietly drain a household budget. Financial experts say your needs come before their wants.

By Brian O’Connell
Older couple stand in front of window at home, looking uncertain and unhappy.

Managing Money • 99996 views

Our son recently cut us out of his life over politics — should we cut him out of his $5 million inheritance?

Family friction can change estate planning decisions significantly, but it doesn’t have to be that way.

By Brian O’Connell
People shopping at Walmart.

News • Aug 25

Walmart says its AI assistant, Sparky, is leading to customers spending 40% more than those who shop without it

“We believe AI will improve nearly every part of our business by making shopping better and our associates’ work easier."

By Brian O’Connell
A man comforts a distressed older woman.

News • Aug 24

AI scammers are scouring obituaries to target widows — one lost $7,000 after being told her late husband evaded taxes

Fraudsters are turning to a grisly new grift, and it’s paying off.

By Brian O’Connell
Two columns featuring the contractor named Jason, left, and Liz Pereira, the homeowner.

Real Estate • Aug 23

A smooth-talking contractor can cost you thousands — here are key ways to help you hire the right handyman

No-shows and poor-performing fraudsters are giving home contractors a bad name.

By Brian O’Connell
Workers assemble a newly manufactured 1,200-square-foot accessory dwelling unit for members of the Van Dalm family, who are Eaton Fire survivors.

Real Estate • Aug 21

Factory-built homes are springing up across US suburbs — and the average price can be less than $100,000

Is smaller better for price-shocked homebuyers? Maybe, but there are some sizable caveats.

By Brian O’Connell
Bevin and barn

News • Aug 19

A 260-mile high-voltage power line could tear through a 252-year-old family farm — and residents have little say

U.S. power players say the country needs more data power. Will rural Americans pay the price?

By Brian O’Connell
man in gym holding knee

News • Aug 17

Your knee replacement could cost you more than 2X depending on where you live — how hospital ‘mega-mergers’ impact care

With less competition, hospital consolidations are driving up medical procedure prices, leaving consumers with bigger surgical bills.

By Brian O’Connell
Retired couple looking at smartphone together in their backyard

Managing Money • Aug 15

Retirees with $2.5 million want to pay off their $200K mortgage — but a hidden tax hit could cost them $60K

Choosing between using investment cash to pay off a mortgage or holding off entirely means asking the right questions.

By Brian O’Connell
A photo of someone using a weather app

News • Aug 14

Weather app rain icons cut business visits by up to 50% — and could cost venues $185,000 in a single day

Outdoor business owners say bogus weather app emojis cast a cloud over customer visits.

By Brian O’Connell
A photo of YouTuber Ryan Walker

Life • Aug 14

Aman's $6,000-a-night resort blocked a YouTuber at the gate — experts say hotels face an impossible influencer dilemma

In a tug of war over control, the hospitality sector and social media pros are squaring off — all too publicly.

By Brian O’Connell
Co-founder, chairman and CEO of software company Salesforce Marc Benioff attends a session at the Congress centre during the World Economic Forum.

News • Aug 12

Marc Benioff says AI can't replace engineers, but just backed a startup that automates the work of rolling out AI

For some tech icons, issuing labor criticism while expanding an AI agent job-killing strategy is just another day at the office.

By Brian O’Connell
A photo of a millennial looking at an American flag

News • Aug 10

51% of Gen Z have given up saving for a home — and the traditional American Dream is shifting permanently

The younger generations are increasingly living for the here and now.

By Brian O’Connell
Older couple seen on a balcony outside their home, talking to each other and not looking at the camera directly.

News • Aug 10

'Junk' real estate fees cost consumers $2 billion a year — or around $500 when you buy or sell a home. How to spot them

“Consumers deserve to know every cost before they make one of the biggest financial decisions of their lives.”

By Brian O’Connell
U.S. President Donald Trump departs after a Cabinet meeting at Camp David on July 31.

News • Aug 09

Trump's 'Princess of Darkness' Meredith O’Rourke has helped him secure $800 million from private donors

Raising money for a current administration is a long Washington, D.C. tradition. Trump has just taken it to a new level.

By Brian O’Connell
A photo of Jacob Tsimerman

News • Aug 09

Fields Medal winner Jacob Tsimerman warned AI would kill humans 'as pests' — now he's joining OpenAI

A leading AI expert has warned that sufficiently advanced AI could ultimately view humans as obstacles, and humanity needs to prepare accordingly.

By Brian O’Connell
Photo of Nvidia CEO Jensen Huang

News • Aug 05

‘An industrial transformation’: Nvidia CEO Jensen Huang says AI will need '1,000 times more' energy than we have now

With demand for AI data center power rising in 2026, the U.S. energy sector could be pressed severely,

By Brian O’Connell
A photo of a diverse group of people sitting in a circle

Loans • Aug 03

Lending circles offer no interest and no collateral — here's why millions still use them to bypass banks

They’re non-traditional and don’t pay any interest, so why do people use community lending circles?

By Brian O’Connell
A photo of a man getting a tattoo

News • Aug 03

Y Combinator-backed AI startup LemonLime promised interviews to 7 people who got company tattoos — then apologized

This tattoo job interview stunt didn’t stick, but the criticism did.

By Brian O’Connell
Contractor installs new shingles on roof on a rainy day.

Real Estate • Aug 01

Nearly 75% of new homeowners spend $10,000 on surprise repairs within 2 years — and some never budgeted for them

First-time homebuyers can expect an unexpected house bill soon after handing over thousands for a downpayment, inspection, and closing costs.

By Brian O’Connell

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