Tara Siegel Bernard

I am a New York Times reporter who writes about personal finance, from saving for college to paying for retirement and everything in between.

What I Cover

I cover all aspects of our financial lives. My business card says personal finance, but I define that very broadly. I’m interested in topics that many Americans find frustrating: the sheer complexity of our finances as well as the systems, products and safety nets we are required to navigate with little guidance.

My Background

I joined The Times in 2008, just as the financial crisis was unfolding, and have more than 20 years of experience covering finance and consumer issues. Before The Times, I was an editor at CNBC and a deputy managing editor of FiLife, a personal finance website published by IAC and Dow Jones, where I also wrote a weekly personal finance column and regularly contributed to The Wall Street Journal. Before that, I covered the banking and credit card industries.

I graduated from Hofstra University, where I caught the journalism bug from a larger-than-life journalism professor and investigative reporter, Robert Greene. I live in Brooklyn, with my family.

Journalistic Ethics

I’m a fair, thorough and empathetic reporter who strives for accuracy and adheres to The Times’s high journalistic standards. When individuals and families entrust me with personal details of their lives, I take that privilege very seriously. My retirement savings are largely invested in index funds, where I don’t directly control which stocks are invested, and I don’t actively trade any stocks that I might write about.

Contact Me

Email: [email protected]
X: @tarasbernard (DMs open)
Instagram: @tsbreports
Threads: @tsbreports
WhatsApp: email, NYT tips, or DM to get my number
Signal: email, NYT tips, or DM to get my number
LinkedIn: Tara Siegel Bernard
Anonymous tips: nytimes.com/tips

Latest

The DOGE Playbook Targeting Federal Agencies
The cost-cutting strategy of the group, led by billionaire Elon Musk, has played out at more than 30 agencies so far.
By Eli Murray, June Kim and Jeremy White
Trump’s Pick to Lead Social Security Administration Is Grilled About Privatization
Frank Bisignano, who pledged to improve customer service, told Senate Democrats he had “never thought about” making the agency private.
By Tara Siegel Bernard and Alexandra Berzon
Social Security, Buffeted by Turmoil, Awaits a New Leader
The billionaire Elon Musk has become fixated on finding fraud inside the agency, which provides retirement, survivor and disability payments to 73 million Americans each month.
By Andrew Duehren, Alexandra Berzon and Tara Siegel Bernard
Social Security Leader Warns of Halt to Agency’s Work, Before Backtracking
The head of the Social Security Administration pulled back his startling warning after a judge said he had misinterpreted a court order restricting DOGE access.
By Alexandra Berzon, Zach Montague and Tara Siegel Bernard
What the Fed’s Rate Policy Means for Your Finances
Here’s how the central bank’s interest rate stance influences car loans, credit cards, mortgages, savings and student loans.
By Tara Siegel Bernard and Ron Lieber
How to Shop for a Home That Won’t Be Upended by Climate Change
Deciding where to live has always been a high-stakes financial decision, but a changing climate makes it even more critical. This guide will get you started.
By Ron Lieber and Tara Siegel Bernard
Social Security Administration Will No Longer Allow Changes Made by Phone
The new rule would require people who want to make changes to first verify their identity online or in person.
By Tara Siegel Bernard
Social Security Employees Warn of Damage From DOGE
Current and former employees, both Republican and Democratic, are raising alarms about the damage cost-cutting efforts could do to the agency’s ability to serve the public.
By Tara Siegel Bernard
19 Ways Congressional Tax Action (or Inaction) Could Hit Your Wallet
Brackets may change. The standard deduction could fall. And President Trump will probably not remove taxes on Social Security income.
By Ron Lieber and Tara Siegel Bernard
Swindled Savings
Scammers Stole Their Savings, and Then the Tax Bill Arrived
The victims pulled money out of their retirement accounts. The withdrawals had inflated their taxable income, even though the funds quickly disappeared.
By Tara Siegel Bernard