Sandra Block
Sandra Block, senior editor for Kiplinger’s Personal Finance magazine, has covered personal finance for more than 20 years. In her current role at Kiplinger’s, she covers retirement, taxes and a range of other personal finance issues. She also edits the Ahead section of Kiplinger’s Personal Finance magazine and contributes to Kiplinger’s.com and Kiplinger’s Retirement Report.
Before joining Kiplinger, Sandy was a personal finance reporter and columnist for USA TODAY. During that time, she was a regular guest on CNN, Fox Business News and NPR. Before joining USA TODAY, Sandy worked as a business reporter for the Akron Beacon-Journal, where she covered businesses in northeastern Ohio and assisted in the newspaper’s coverage of the 1995 World Series. While Cleveland lost in six games, Sandy still considers this the highlight of her journalism career.
In her early years, Sandy was a reporter for Dow Jones News Service in Washington, DC, where she covered the Securities and Exchange Commission, the Treasury and the Federal Reserve.
Sandy graduated cum laude from Bethany College in Bethany, West Virginia., and was a fellow in the Knight-Bagehot Fellowship in Economics and Business at Columbia University. She is co-author of the “Busy Family’s Guide to Money” and “Easy Ways to Lower Your Taxes: Simple Strategies Every Taxpayer Should Know.”
Sandy divides her time between Arlington, Va., and her home state of West Virginia. In her spare time, Sandy is a voracious reader and tries to keep her rescue border collie from getting into trouble.
Latest articles by Sandra Block
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No Cash? No Problem
More and more Americans have abandoned paper money and coins, but there are risks to using peer-to-peer digital payments.
By Sandra Block • Published
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12 States That Tax Social Security Benefits
social security You may have dreamed of a tax-free retirement, but if you live in one of these states, your Social Security benefits may be subject to state taxes.
By Rocky Mengle • Last updated
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33 States with No Estate Taxes or Inheritance Taxes
retirement Even with the federal exemption from death taxes raised, retirees should pay more attention to estate taxes and inheritance taxes levied by states.
By Rocky Mengle • Last updated
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The Basics of Estate Planning
If you have a will or trust, congratulations. But you’re not done with estate planning.
By Sandra Block • Last updated
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15 States That Tax Military Retirement Pay (and Other States That Don't)
retirement Taxes on military retirement pay vary from state-to-state. How generous is your state when it comes to helping retired veterans at tax time?
By Sandra Block • Published
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18 States With Scary Death Taxes
inheritance Federal estate taxes are no longer a problem for all but the extremely wealthy, but several states have their own estate taxes and inheritance taxes that could still hit your heirs.
By Sandra Block • Last updated
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Minimizing Taxes When You Inherit Money
Financial Planning Some inherited assets are tax-friendly, but under new rules, others come with a hefty tax bill. We help you get the most out of a legacy.
By Sandra Block • Last updated
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Defusing the Retirement “Tax Bomb” with David McClellan
Tax Breaks If you’ve dutifully socked away money in a 401(k) or IRA for years, you could be in for an unpleasant shock when it comes time to take money out of those accounts. Also, the IRS is sending out a surprise round of checks.
By David Muhlbaum • Published
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Protect Your Retirement Income from Inflation
Making Your Money Last Costs are rising, and the market is bearish, but that doesn’t have to jeopardize your long-term security.
By Sandra Block • Published