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Anna Helhoski’s Author Page

Anna Helhoski

Senior Writer & Content Strategist | Economic news and policy, Consumer trends

Anna Helhoski is a senior writer covering economic news and trends in consumer finance at NerdWallet. She cohosts and produces Money News segments of NerdWallet's Smart Money podcast. She is also an authority on student loans. She joined NerdWallet in 2014. Her work has been syndicated in news outlets nationwide including The Associated Press, The New York Times, The Washington Post and USA Today. She previously covered local news in the New York metro area for the Daily Voice and New York state politics for The Legislative Gazette. She holds a bachelor's degree in journalism from Purchase College, State University of New York.

Education:
B.A. in journalism from Purchase College, State University of New York
Awards:
SABEW’s 2023 Goldschmidt FRED Fellowship
Organizations:
The Society for Advancing Business Editing and Writing, Online News Association, Society of Professional Journalists — Deadline Club
Previous experience:
Daily Voice, The Legislative Gazette

Featured video

Junk Fees Explained: Removing The "Hidden" In Hidden Fees

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Junk Fees Explained: Removing The "Hidden" In Hidden Fees

Junk fees, or hidden fees, are costs that are added at the end of checkout that can really add up and increase total costs. Anna Helhoski details what exactly junk fees are and current laws to increase transparency on these fees.

Anna's picks

Egg Prices Are Still Falling. Will It Last?

by Taryn Phaneuf

Retail prices fell again in May, but are still up 41.5% in the past year. Bird flu remains a threat — and so do tariffs.

Current U.S. Inflation Rate is 2.4%: Why It Matters

by Tiffany Lam-Balfour, Alieza Durana

Inflation increased 0.1% in the 12 months ending May 2025, putting the current inflation rate at 2.4%. Understanding inflation, why it matters and how to handle it can help when making financial decisions.

What Is a Union and How Does a Union Work?

by Anna Helhoski, Taryn Phaneuf

A union is a group of workers who join together to negotiate pay, benefits, scheduling and other workplace policies and conditions.

Anna has also nerded out in...

Quotes and interviews

NBC Los Angeles. Student Loan Borrower Says He Was Duped Into Pricey Consolidation Service.
Check Your Balances. Student Loans with Anna Helhoski.
CNBC. Biden will extend payment pause for student loan borrowers. Yet timeline remains unclear.
CNBC. Debt balances rise as the debate over extending student loan forgiveness continues in Congress.
CNN Business. You don't have to pay your federal student loans right now, but here's why you should.
Center for Retirement Research at Boston College. Parent PLUS Debt Relief: the Good and Bad.
Boston 25 News. Debt forgiveness? How Mass. leaders feel about the student loan burden.
Newsweek. Are Student Loan Payments Deferred? Trump Executive Order on Student Loans Explained.
ABC: Start Here podcast. April 7.

Other publications

The Associated Press, The New York Times, The Washington Post, Bloomberg, CBS News, ABC News, CNBC, San Francisco Chronicle, Time, The Independent

The latest from Anna

Shelf, Adult, Female

How Is Inflation Measured?

There are three indexes that measure the inflation rate: CPI, PCE and PPI.

Buy American billboard

Facing Tariffs, Should Shoppers Seek ‘Made in USA’ Goods?

American shoppers may be enthusiastic for U.S.-made products, but they may also have a tough time finding and affording them.

Clothing, Footwear, Shoe

Get Ready to Pay More for Your Favorite Brands

Clothing and textiles are most vulnerable to price increases due to tariffs.

Medication, Pill, Alcohol

Pharmaceutical Tariffs And Drug Shortages: How Costs Could Rise

Tariffs, compounded by existing drug shortages, could increase costs for medications in the U.S.

Art, Porcelain, Pottery

What Is the U.S. Trade Deficit and Why Is Trump Focused On It?

A trade deficit means that imports are greater than exports from one country to another.

Money, Person, Dollar

Value of the U.S. Dollar, Explained

The U.S. dollar is assessed by its purchasing power and exchange rate relative to other currencies.

Aisle, Indoors, Adult

Why Is Consumer Confidence Tanking?

Consumer sentiment indexes have shown sharp declines since January.

Lighting, Adult, Male

Federal Job Cuts By Numbers: Will Layoffs Affect the Economy?

DOGE has fired tens of thousands of federal workers since the beginning of Trump’s term.

Water, Waterfront, Construction

What Is a Trade War and How Could It Raise Prices?

A trade war is an economic conflict in which countries engage in a cycle of retaliatory tariffs that drive up prices.

Appliances in warehouse

Trump’s Latest Tariffs Will Make Home Appliances More Expensive

The 50% steel tariff, previously announced, will now extend to “steel derivative products."

Shelf, Shop, Adult

What Is the Feb. 28 ‘Economic Blackout’?

A viral social media initiative calls for no spending on Friday to flex consumers’ economic power.

Smart Money Podcast: Marriage and Money Myths — and Why the Economy Feels ‘Off’

Understand the financial pros and cons of marriage, from taxes to credit scores, and how it impacts your future.

Smart Money Podcast: Cross-Country Moving Tips and What a CFPB Shutdown Could Mean for You

Learn what a CFBP shutdown could mean for consumers, plus how to financially manage a cross-country move — including whether to rent or sell your home.

Flag, Accessories, Formal Wear

House GOP Passes Its Reconciled ‘One Big, Beautiful Bill’

The House GOP’s reconciled budget bill has passed and now moves on to the Senate.

Clothing, Glove, Footwear

Department of Labor: News and Status

The DOL, whose main role is to protect workers’ rights and safety, is the latest federal agency to face scrutiny.