Ella Vincent

Chicago

Personal Finance Staff Writer at Kiplinger

I'm a finance writer who loves books, saving money, TV, and music. I'm loyal and dislike injustice. Views expressed are my own. She/her

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Articles

How to Cancel a Check

1 week ago | kiplinger.com | Ella Vincent

If you write a check and later regret handing it off to the recipient — say, because you suspect you’re the victim of a scam, you entered the wrong amount or you mailed it to an incorrect address — you may be able to cancel it with a stop-payment order, as long as it isn’t being processed yet. First, review your account transactions online or call your bank to see whether the recipient has cashed the check. If it hasn’t cleared, act quickly to request a stop payment.
How to thaw a freeze

1 week ago | bismarcktribune.com | Ella Vincent

A credit freeze can be a pivotal step to protect yourself from identity theft. When you have a freeze on your credit reports, lenders can’t view them in response to an application for new credit — and that helps prevent criminals from opening credit card or loan accounts in your name. However, as long as a freeze is in place, you can’t access new lines of credit, either.
Take these steps to thaw a credit freeze

1 week ago | oanow.com | Ella Vincent

A credit freeze can be a pivotal step to protect yourself from identity theft. When you have a freeze on your credit reports, lenders can’t view them in response to an application for new credit — and that helps prevent criminals from opening credit card or loan accounts in your name. However, as long as a freeze is in place, you can’t access new lines of credit, either.
Take these steps to thaw a credit freeze

1 week ago | tucson.com | Ella Vincent

A credit freeze can be a pivotal step to protect yourself from identity theft. When you have a freeze on your credit reports, lenders can’t view them in response to an application for new credit — and that helps prevent criminals from opening credit card or loan accounts in your name. However, as long as a freeze is in place, you can’t access new lines of credit, either.
Take these steps to thaw a credit freeze

1 week ago | theeagle.com | Ella Vincent

Secure transaction. Cancel anytime. Have an account? Log In Your account has been registered, and you are now logged in. Check your email for details. An email message containing instructions on how to reset your password has been sent to the email address listed on your account. CAPTCHA Send Email × × Secure & Encrypted What's your email address? What's your name? Who is this gift for?
Take these steps to thaw a credit freeze

1 week ago | nwitimes.com | Ella Vincent

Secure transaction. Cancel anytime. Have an account? Log In Your account has been registered, and you are now logged in. Check your email for details. An email message containing instructions on how to reset your password has been sent to the email address listed on your account. CAPTCHA Send Email × × Secure & Encrypted What's your email address? What's your name? Who is this gift for?
Take these steps to thaw a credit freeze

1 week ago | madison.com | Ella Vincent

A credit freeze can be a pivotal step to protect yourself from identity theft. When you have a freeze on your credit reports, lenders can’t view them in response to an application for new credit — and that helps prevent criminals from opening credit card or loan accounts in your name. However, as long as a freeze is in place, you can’t access new lines of credit, either.
You Can Get Better Yield with a Jumbo CD or Money Market Account

2 weeks ago | kiplinger.com | Ella Vincent

Since the Federal Reserve started cutting short-term interest rates last September, yields on bank accounts have been falling. Savers who have significant sums to stash away may be able to earn a little extra interest by putting their money in “jumbo” certificates of deposit or money market deposit accounts, which have larger minimum balance requirements than standard accounts but offer higher yields.
How to Organize Your Financial Paperwork for Your Heirs

2 weeks ago | theepochtimes.com | Ella Vincent

By Ella Vincent From Kiplinger’s Personal FinanceEven if your estate plan is in order, it won’t be of much help to your heirs if they can’t locate important documents when you’re no longer around. Organizing your financial and estate-planning documents—and letting your family know where you’ve stored them—will make it easier for your loved ones to care for you if you become incapacitated, and it will smooth the process of settling your estate after you’re gone.
Reminder: The Basics of Using HSA Funds

3 weeks ago | kiplinger.com | Ella Vincent

A health savings account is a remarkable tool to help pay for out-of-pocket medical expenses. HSAs offer a triple tax advantage: Contributions are tax-deductible (up to $4,300 for self-only coverage and $8,550 for family coverage in 2025, plus an extra $1,000 if you’re 55 or older), growth from the account’s investments is tax-deferred, and withdrawals are tax-free for eligible expenses. You must have a qualifying high-deductible health insurance plan to fund an HSA.