Helaine Olen is an award-winning opinion writer for the Washington Post Opinion section. An expert on money and society with a deep understanding of public policy, she writes, speaks and consults on issues including Social Security, retirement, healthcare, student loans and women’s financial issues.
Helaine has appeared on The Daily Show, Frontline, C-Span, the BBC, MSNBC, All Things Considered, Marketplace and more to share her forward-thinking commentary on politics, economics and consumer and regulatory issues. She also speaks to professional, university and think tank audiences about these topics; her talk on the effects of financial inequality for New America Foundation remains one of the think tank’s most-watched videos on YouTube. Author of the bestselling book “Pound Foolish: Exposing The Dark Side of the Personal Finance Industry” and co-author of “The Index Card: Why Personal Finance Doesn’t Have to be So Complicated,” Helaine’s writing has also been published in many publications including The New York Times, The Atlantic, The Nation, Inc. and more. Previously, Helaine reported on money, business and the economy for Slate, where she originated the highly popular and award-winning “Ask The Bills” advice column.
Named one of Business Insider’s “50 Women Who Are Changing the World” and one of the “Top 30 Most Influential People in Personal Finance and Wealth” by MoneyTips.com, Helaine has earned a number of fellowships and grants, including the National Press Foundation’s Retirement Issues Program, Columbia University Age Boom Academy, and the New York Times Company Foundation Fellowship.