As personal finance experts at Kiplinger, we often review products and services based on fees, interest rates, rewards, online tools and other concrete factors that we can evaluate from the outside. Using that information, we pass along recommendations to our readers, sharing our beliefs on which providers stand above the rest.
But as readers, you have valuable insights, too. Customers who use credit cards, banks, brokers, insurance companies and other financial entities have everyday experiences that we can't replicate when we make our judgments, and we want to tap your expertise. With that in mind, we are introducing the Kiplinger Readers' Choice Awards. Earlier this year, we conducted a survey, asking readers to rate several financial products and services based on such criteria as their experience with customer service representatives, how likely they are to recommend the providers to others and how satisfied they are overall with the companies or services.
More than 2,600 readers responded to our survey, and we're sharing the results here. For each category, we've listed an overall winner that earned the highest score. We've also highlighted other products and services that earned above-average scores for various criteria we asked readers to assess. (For more, see the methodology on page 77.) And we offered survey respondents the option to leave comments about their experiences with the products and services they use. We didn't receive comments for every financial provider, but for those that did garner reader remarks, we have shared some of the commentary below.
Read on to see which financial providers our readers ranked as outstanding-and thank you to all of you who took our survey.
CASH-BACK CREDIT CARDS
Esta historia es de la edición July 2023 de Kiplinger's Personal Finance.
Comience su prueba gratuita de Magzter GOLD de 7 días para acceder a miles de historias premium seleccionadas y a más de 9,000 revistas y periódicos.
Ya eres suscriptor ? Conectar
Esta historia es de la edición July 2023 de Kiplinger's Personal Finance.
Comience su prueba gratuita de Magzter GOLD de 7 días para acceder a miles de historias premium seleccionadas y a más de 9,000 revistas y periódicos.
Ya eres suscriptor? Conectar
EMPOWERING FAMILIES WITH FINANCIAL PLANNING
Through her pro bono work, this CFP provides free help with budgeting, saving and more.
THE ALLURE OF SHOULDER SEASON TRAVEL
SHOULDER season can be a great time for a vacation.
A TOOL 10 ADD 10 YOUR ID THEFT ARSENAL
Credit-monitoring services can help you detect fraud quickly.
Give the Gift of Life Insurance
Show your love for your sweetheart by protecting against disaster.
WATCH OUT FOR NUDGES THAT STEER YOU TO TRADE TOO MUCH
ANYONE who has shopped for groceries with a toddler knows to be on high alert for the impulse items the store has thoughtfully placed at a child's eye height.
Lessons for Retirement Success
CHRISTINE Benz is director of personal finance and retirement planning for Morningstar and author of How to Retire: 20 Lessons for a Happy, Successful, and Wealthy Retirement (see a related podcast at Morningstar .com).
GET THE RIGHT ADVICE IN RETIREMENT
If you've saved up a decent-size nest egg with a financial services firm, chances are good it has offered you financial advice-for a price. Is it worth it?
SHIELD YOURSELF FROM FRAUD
RECENTLY, one of my clients shared a harrowing experience.
CHECK YOUR COLLEGE'S FINANCIAL HEALTH
Declining enrollment has forced a growing number of small colleges to shut down.
ESTATE PLANNING - Protect Your Wishes and Your Legacy
NO one likes to imagine getting seriously ill, injured or worse, but these occurrences are a reality of life.