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Live a richer life.
Authors
Vawn Himmelsbach
Vawn Himmelsbach

Vawn Himmelsbach

Contributor

Vawn Himmelsbach is a veteran journalist who covers tech, business, finance and travel. Her work has been featured in publications such as The Globe and Mail, Toronto Star, National Post, CBC News, Yahoo Finance, MSN, CAA Magazine, Travelweek, Explore Magazine and Consumer Reports.

Beyond journalism, she has written content for major consulting and tech firms globally. Earlier in her career, she spent three years as an Asian correspondent, including a stint editing in China. When not moderating industry panels or lecturing, Vawn travels extensively—from old Tbilisi to the ancient Guge Kingdom in Tibet. A personal highlight was publishing a short story in the anthology Emails From India: Women Write Home.

Their Top Finance Tip Once we understand the role our emotions play in managing money, we can start making better decisions.

Vawn Himmelsbach's Expertise

An EV charges at an EVgo electric charger in California.

Auto • Apr 06

Electric cars look tempting as gas prices skyrocket from the Iran war. Should you switch to an EV or wait it out?

By Vawn Himmelsbach
Middle-aged couple smiling next to new car at dealership.

Auto • Mar 02

Car buyers are paying $1K extra to avoid haggling. These negotiating tactics could save you big money on your next car

By Vawn Himmelsbach
You’ll want to steer clear of these pricey car brands.

Auto • Dec 18

Automotive pros warn against buying these 5 luxury car models. Are you eyeing 1 of them?

By Vawn Himmelsbach
President Donald Trump has bipartisan support for his proposal to cap credit card interest rates at 10%.

Credit Cards • Feb 24

Congress is mulling credit card reforms that could hit your loyalty rewards. Why to redeem (and not hoard) your points

By Vawn Himmelsbach
Man sitting at desk while on the phone, holding a credit card in one hand and looking at the back of it.

Credit Cards • Feb 20

Millions of Americans are trapped in credit card debt. Here's why asking for a lower interest rate is worth a try

By Vawn Himmelsbach
Your credit card rewards are shrinking

Credit Cards • Nov 03

You're not imagining things — your credit card rewards are shrinking. Here’s what’s behind the alarming slide

By Vawn Himmelsbach
Group of young people discussing their salaries.

Employment • Mar 17

Who knows your annual salary (other than your boss)? Why talking about it can help secure your financial future

By Vawn Himmelsbach
Reese Witherspoon posted an inspirational message on her Instagram.

Employment • Mar 16

Reese Witherspoon's advice offers hope in the bleak 2026 job market — what she says to chase instead of your dreams

By Vawn Himmelsbach
Experts are calling this job market "frozen" because there's very little hiring or firing.

Employment • Feb 26

‘Reverse recruiting’: With employment at a standstill, job seekers are paying recruiters to find their next gig

By Vawn Himmelsbach
For certain life events, liquid assets are essential.

Loans • Nov 27

Washington money writer can afford to pay off his student loans, but he won't. How to know if his logic works for you

By Vawn Himmelsbach
Dave Ramsey explains to a caller why he needs to pay back a $10,000 loan that he took out from his uncle.

Loans • Oct 30

Houston man’s uncle loaned him $10K — but the funds came from fraud. Dave Ramsey says he still owes the money back

By Vawn Himmelsbach
Man speaking in video (left), a calculation on piece of paper (right).

Loans • Sep 13

Florida man reveals that he still owes $100 more than original student loan after years of paying — here’s why

By Vawn Himmelsbach
A photo of a woman signing a will

Real Estate • Aug 10

A caregiver niece lost the family home to an absent cousin in her aunt's will — here are her real options

By Vawn Himmelsbach
San Francisco California Russian Hill colorful Victorian houses on Hyde and Broadway Streets in sunshine with abstract windows.

Real Estate • Apr 30

A Bay Area banker won't take cash for his $4.85 million estate — only Anthropic stock

By Vawn Himmelsbach
A woman sits on the steps in front of her home drinking a cup of coffee.

Real Estate • Mar 02

Mortgage holders fall into 3 groups, from those with rock-bottom rates to over 6%, report says. Why your group matters

By Vawn Himmelsbach
An adult woman looking over her finances.

Retirement • Sep 02

Your Social Security check is on track for an automatic 22% cut in 2032 — what it means for your budget

By Vawn Himmelsbach
You may not have control over what your company retirement plan provider does with your information.

Retirement • Aug 29

Only 2 of 31 401(k) providers prohibit selling your personal data to third parties, GAO finds

By Vawn Himmelsbach
Older people enjoying a party

Retirement • Aug 08

'Like starting college all over again': Retirees are partying harder than ever as young people ditch booze and hookups

By Vawn Himmelsbach
Dan and Carol Webster

Taxes • Apr 29

Montana couple built their dream home 21 years ago — now a 107% spike to their property taxes could push them out

By Vawn Himmelsbach
A middle-aged woman hugs her mother at home.

Taxes • Mar 14

Inherit an IRA? If you don't follow the latest tax rules, it could cost you thousands — here's how to limit the damage

By Vawn Himmelsbach
Millionaires use tax tricks many of us have never heard of to minimize their liability.

Taxes • Mar 08

Millionaires use hacks to keep more money. Here’s how you can, too — and take advantage of new tax tricks in 2026

By Vawn Himmelsbach
family and caretaker

News • Sep 02

She went to check on her elderly dad — he was gone and his caretaker had moved in. How this could happen to you

By Vawn Himmelsbach
Diane Keaton

News • Aug 29

Diane Keaton spent decades renovating 'The House that Pinterest Built' — it just sold for $10 million under asking

By Vawn Himmelsbach
L: Capital One Bank exterior building, R: President Donald Trump pointing his finger

News • Aug 19

Capital One shut down 385 Trump accounts over money-laundering flags after its own $390M FinCEN penalty

By Vawn Himmelsbach
A sign is seen in front of a foreclosed home.

Mortgages • 11850 views

Michigan woman to dip into her $50,000 in stocks to cover her brother-in-law's unpaid HOA fees or face foreclosure

By Vawn Himmelsbach
Happy dad picking up his 3 kids from their mom's house.

Mortgages • Mar 11

I pay my ex’s mortgage to protect my kids. Will lenders count that against me?

By Vawn Himmelsbach
Wondering whether to pay off your mortgage early or keep extra savings on hand? Dave Ramsey weighs in on a Boston couple's dilemma.

Mortgages • Sep 08

'Insanity': Dave Ramsey tells Boston couple to sell stocks and put $250K into their mortgage. Is that wise?

By Vawn Himmelsbach
Close up of teenage boy holding $100 bills outside.

Investing • Jul 18

Meet the 17-year-old who's helping his parents retire — but is it risky to put your finances in a kids hands?

By Vawn Himmelsbach
Two HBM4 chips on display, along with a photo of Jim Cramer.

Investing • Jul 16

‘You don’t want to be left holding the bag’: Jim Cramer is bullish on SK Hynix, but warns of a boom-and-bust risk

By Vawn Himmelsbach
A photo of Donald Trump

Investing • Jul 11

Bitcoin dropped 2% then rebounded after Trump said he's 'a big crypto guy' — here are experts takes on buying the dip

By Vawn Himmelsbach
This Illinois man’s wife wants to keep $75K in a safe at home — here’s why The Ramsey Show says this is risky and what they should do instead.

Banking • Oct 18

Illinois man’s wife wants to keep $75K in a home safe — but Ramsey Show says her scarcity mindset only creates more risk

By Vawn Himmelsbach
Seemingly annoyed woman at a bank ATM.

Banking • Mar 03

After 20 years, my wife’s irrevocable trust account was locked when her trustee died. How can we access the funds?

By Vawn Himmelsbach
A father and mother take their daughter to school.

Banking • Sep 26

Should you move your 529 to a Roth IRA?

By Vawn Himmelsbach
An older woman meets with her doctor.

Insurance • Aug 17

Health insurers are dropping Medicare Advantage plans — and nearly 3 million older Americans will be affected

By Vawn Himmelsbach
Eric Tennant, seen here in hospital before his death, had been a candidate for a relatively new treatment that was denied four times by his insurer.

Insurance • Apr 14

West Virginia dad dies waiting for $50,000 cancer treatment his insurer ruled 'not medically necessary'

By Vawn Himmelsbach
Even a one-cent difference can trigger an insurance nightmare.

Insurance • Apr 02

‘This is just ridiculous’: An unpaid 5-cent bill ended one woman’s health plan

By Vawn Himmelsbach
Financial advisor talking to his client.

Managing Money • Aug 29

A 2% advisor fee on a $300,000 portfolio could cost $220,000 over a decade — here's how to tell if you're overpaying

By Vawn Himmelsbach
A concerned couple reviewing bills at home at their kitchen table.

Managing Money • Aug 23

Rocket Mortgage pushes home equity loans to wipe out credit card debt — here's how that could backfire on homeowners

By Vawn Himmelsbach
Sad young woman sitting on a couch.

Managing Money • Aug 23

A 22-year-old inherited $1.7 million after her mom's sudden death. These are the tax and IRS rules she needs to know now

By Vawn Himmelsbach
Woman on vacation beside cruise ship

Life • Aug 26

Cruises are now charging automatic tips as high as $25 per day, per person — you can get out of paying, but should you?

By Vawn Himmelsbach
A photo of a couple at a waterpark

Life • Aug 15

Groupon's $199 mystery vacations give only 6 out of every 2,000 buyers a gold-tier trip — the rest get weekend getaways.

By Vawn Himmelsbach
Vintage fine china tea cups and tea sets.

Life • Jul 25

$36 trillion in boomer wealth is changing hands, but their fine china, furniture and collections aren't as sought after

By Vawn Himmelsbach
More articles from Vawn Himmelsbach

Vawn's favorite resources

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Forbes

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Fortune

5

Reuters

6

The Globe and Mail

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The New York Times

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The Toronto Star

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Yahoo Finance

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More from Vawn Himmelsbach

LATEST

family and caretaker

News • Sep 02

She went to check on her elderly dad — he was gone and his caretaker had moved in. How this could happen to you

Putting protections in place while your loved one is still mentally capable can protect them from future cases of financial fraud and exploitation.

By Vawn Himmelsbach
An adult woman looking over her finances.

Retirement • Sep 02

Your Social Security check is on track for an automatic 22% cut in 2032 — what it means for your budget

If Congress fails to intervene, a depleted trust fund could trigger an automatic benefit cut averaging about $500 a month for recipients.

By Vawn Himmelsbach
A sign is seen in front of a foreclosed home.

Mortgages • 11850 views

Michigan woman to dip into her $50,000 in stocks to cover her brother-in-law's unpaid HOA fees or face foreclosure

While cosigning a loan can help a loved one establish better credit, it does come with a significant amount of risk — here’s how to protect yourself.

By Vawn Himmelsbach
You may not have control over what your company retirement plan provider does with your information.

Retirement • Aug 29

Only 2 of 31 401(k) providers prohibit selling your personal data to third parties, GAO finds

Not all plans allow you to opt out of third-party data sharing. Here’s how to find out if your plan is one of those and what you can do to protect yourself.

By Vawn Himmelsbach
Financial advisor talking to his client.

Managing Money • Aug 29

A 2% advisor fee on a $300,000 portfolio could cost $220,000 over a decade — here's how to tell if you're overpaying

Understanding different advisor fee structures is crucial to understanding your personal needs and what fees you're willing to pay.

By Vawn Himmelsbach
Diane Keaton

News • Aug 29

Diane Keaton spent decades renovating 'The House that Pinterest Built' — it just sold for $10 million under asking

You might want to sell an inherited house sooner rather than later to avoid ongoing holding costs and extra capital gains taxes.

By Vawn Himmelsbach
Woman on vacation beside cruise ship

Life • Aug 26

Cruises are now charging automatic tips as high as $25 per day, per person — you can get out of paying, but should you?

If you think you’re getting a great deal on a cruise, it’s important to check the fine print — because extra costs like gratuities can quickly add up.

By Vawn Himmelsbach
A concerned couple reviewing bills at home at their kitchen table.

Managing Money • Aug 23

Rocket Mortgage pushes home equity loans to wipe out credit card debt — here's how that could backfire on homeowners

If you’re borrowing against the equity in your home to cover recurring essential expenses, it could create a risky proposition where you ultimately lose your home.

By Vawn Himmelsbach
Sad young woman sitting on a couch.

Managing Money • Aug 23

A 22-year-old inherited $1.7 million after her mom's sudden death. These are the tax and IRS rules she needs to know now

If you inherit a windfall, here’s what to consider before making any money moves.

By Vawn Himmelsbach
If you're up late worried you've put off retirement savings for too long, you're not alone.

Managing Money • Aug 23

Citibank exec says every 10-year delay in retirement savings means saving 3x as much monthly to catch up

When you start saving is just as important as how much you’re saving. But if you’re off to a late start, you can still boost your savings.

By Vawn Himmelsbach
Capital One Bank exterior

News • Aug 19

Capital One shut down 385 Trump accounts over money-laundering flags after its own $390M FinCEN penalty

Debanking isn’t new — and, according to one study, it’s government debanking that’s the bigger problem.

By Vawn Himmelsbach
An older woman meets with her doctor.

Insurance • Aug 17

Health insurers are dropping Medicare Advantage plans — and nearly 3 million older Americans will be affected

One in 10 Medicare Advantage policyholders face disenrollment as insurers exit markets citing financial pressures.

By Vawn Himmelsbach
A photo of a couple at a waterpark

Life • Aug 15

Groupon's $199 mystery vacations give only 6 out of every 2,000 buyers a gold-tier trip — the rest get weekend getaways.

With the rising cost of travel, some Americans are choosing to roll the dice on their travel plans — but it’s important to consider all the costs.

By Vawn Himmelsbach
A photo of Peabody, Massachusetts

News • Aug 11

A town outside of Boston is the hottest ZIP code in the US — you may need $50,000 over asking price to buy a home there

Here are the areas where competition is fierce and homes are selling well above listing price.

By Vawn Himmelsbach
A photo of a woman signing a will

Real Estate • Aug 10

A caregiver niece lost the family home to an absent cousin in her aunt's will — here are her real options

If you’re considering contesting a will, there are a few other options to consider before it gets to that point.

By Vawn Himmelsbach
A woman looking worried

Managing Money • Aug 09

Far more Americans are filing for bankruptcy — but maybe not enough, as people don't get 'how good of a deal' it can be

“Given that combination of rising debt and sky-high interest rates, it’s not surprising that more people are turning to bankruptcy for relief.”

By Vawn Himmelsbach
Older people enjoying a party

Retirement • Aug 08

'Like starting college all over again': Retirees are partying harder than ever as young people ditch booze and hookups

There’s nothing wrong with enjoying your golden years as long as you’re not putting your nest egg at risk.

By Vawn Himmelsbach
Young man giving medicine to elderly relative

News • Aug 07

72% of Gen Zers plan to care for aging parents — but most don't realize it costs $50,000 to $70,000 a year

For Gen Z, caregiving is taking a financial and emotional toll — but having a plan for long-term care can help.

By Vawn Himmelsbach
Woman in green coat looks off to the side of the camera, appears unhappy.

Retirement • Aug 03

Baby boomers get all the attention — but Gen X ‘faces an even greater retirement crisis.’ How to prep your ‘war chest’

The “forgotten generation” will have to rely heavily on their own investments for retirement. That makes the prospect of a market crash even more daunting.

By Vawn Himmelsbach
Woman on a beach with a hat with design inspiration from the Panama flag

Retirement • Aug 02

Panama ranks No. 1 for expats again as 90% say they live comfortably in the country and others already retired there

While cost of living is a key factor to consider when moving abroad, so is quality of life. It makes a huge difference in your happiness level.

By Vawn Himmelsbach
Ted Benna speaking on stage.

Retirement • Aug 02

Ted Benna built the 401(k) 40 years ago — now he says it fails lower-income workers and is pushing a simpler alternative

If you don’t have time to wait for an alternative to the 401(k), here’s how you can start saving for retirement when your budget is stretched thin.

By Vawn Himmelsbach
African-American mother hugs daughter on a bridge in Europe.

Retirement • Aug 01

The 2 IRS rules that allow you to continue making IRA contributions when you move abroad

An American expat can hold onto their traditional or Roth IRA while living abroad. But tax exclusions and credits, as well as local tax laws, make it more complicated.

By Vawn Himmelsbach
Suze Orman speaks on stage, looking serious and counting on her fingers.

Retirement • Aug 01

Suze Orman says couples are losing as much as $14,000 in 'free money' by failing to save smart as a team

“They could have boosted their retirement savings without contributing an extra dollar of their own money.”

By Vawn Himmelsbach
Photo of an older woman looking at her grocery bill

Managing Money • Jul 31

‘Very depressing': Retiree turned to credit cards for groceries and racked up $10,000 in debt — and she’s not alone

As families face higher prices for groceries, some are turning to credit and other strategies to pay for them. Here are tips to help you shop well and dig out of debt.

By Vawn Himmelsbach
A mature couple is meeting with a financial advisor in a bright office. The advisor is gesturing with his hand while looking at the couple.

Retirement • Jul 27

Roth IRAs offer tax-free retirement income — but for some retirees, a traditional IRA saves more money

Your income and tax bracket play a role in determining the best savings strategy to meet your retirement goals.

By Vawn Himmelsbach

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