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Erin El Issa

Erin El Issa is a credit cards expert and studies writer for NerdWallet. She writes data-driven content about credit cards, investing and banking, and her work has been featured by USA Today, U.S. News and MarketWatch. When she’s not obsessing over combining words and numbers to help consumers make better money decisions, she's reading novels or updating her financial spreadsheets. Email: [email protected]

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Posts by Erin El Issa:

Piles of Points, Miles Could Ease the Return to Travel

Erin El Issa
March 30, 2021

Nonessential travel may be a distant memory for many of us, but as COVID-19 vaccines roll out, some are making plans to get away. For people with travel rewards credit…

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When Choosing Investment Funds, Look at 3 Factors, Ignore 1

Erin El Issa
March 30, 2021

More than half of Americans (53%) say they’re currently invested in exchange-traded funds, mutual funds or index funds, according to a new NerdWallet survey. This same group of respondents shared…

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How to Adjust Your Credit Card Strategy for 2021 Travel

Erin El Issa
March 30, 2021

Over a year into the COVID-19 pandemic, many are ready to get out of town. In fact, more than half of Americans (56%) say they plan to take their next…

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Do You Know What Your Investments Are? Most Americans Don’t

Erin El Issa
March 22, 2021

Mutual funds and exchange-traded funds, or ETFs, can often be relatively low-cost investments that allow investors to diversify their financial portfolios without having to do the research to pick individual…

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3 Money Habits to Carry Forward From the Pandemic Era

Erin El Issa
Feb. 18, 2021

After a year of financial precariousness for so many, those who have the means may be setting 2021 money resolutions to get back on track. According to a new survey…

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NerdWallet and Marcus Survey: 22% of Savers Opened Online Savings Account Amid Pandemic

Erin El Issa
Feb. 18, 2021

According to a new survey by NerdWallet and Marcus by Goldman Sachs, 39% of savers have opened a savings account since the pandemic began.

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How to Make Debt Less Costly When You Need It in a Crisis

Erin El Issa
Jan. 12, 2021

The coronavirus pandemic that upended the U.S. economy has resulted in widespread job and income losses and added to the debt load for millions of Americans. More than 2 in…

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American Household Credit Card Debt Statistics: 2020

Erin El Issa
Jan. 11, 2021

Average household income is up and credit card debt is down, the data show. But our survey finds some Americans are doing better financially but many aren’t.

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Change of Plans: How the Pandemic Disrupts Holiday Travel

Erin El Issa
Dec. 14, 2020

The holiday season is here, but it’s likely that your traditions won’t be quite so traditional this year. The coronavirus pandemic has impacted many facets of our lives, and the…

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How Urgent Is Life Insurance for Americans? That Depends on COVID

Erin El Issa
Dec. 10, 2020

The coronavirus pandemic has aimed a harsh spotlight on life’s precarity, and some Americans have responded by buying life insurance to provide their loved ones with financial support in the…

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