Michelle Singletary: The Authority Behind the Advice
Michelle Singletary writes the nationally syndicated personal finance column “The Color of Money,” which appears in The Washington Post on Wednesdays and Sundays. Her award-winning column is syndicated by The Washington Post News Service and Syndicate and carried in dozens of newspapers.
What sets Singletary apart is her credibility and track record. In 2021, she won the Gerald Loeb award for commentary, one of journalism’s most prestigious honors for financial reporting. She has written four personal finance books, including, “What to Do With Your Money When Crisis Hits: A Survival Guide” and “The 21-Day Financial Fast.”
Her approach combines practical advice with personal understanding. She has spent her career — 30-plus years writing about personal finance — helping consumers make smart money decisions. This extensive experience shows in her ability to address complex financial situations with clarity and empathy.
The Interactive Element
What makes The Post’s personal finance coverage unique is its interactive approach. If you have a personal finance question for Washington Post columnist Michelle Singletary, please call 1-855-ASK-POST (1-855-275-7678). This direct access to expert advice sets it apart from publications that only offer one-way communication.
Regular live chat sessions provide additional opportunities for readers to get personalized guidance. Personal finance columnist Michelle Singletary kicks off the 2025 tax season by answering your questions on Monday, Feb. 3, at 2 p.m. Eastern time. These sessions address current financial concerns with timely, relevant advice.
Current Coverage Areas and Topics
The Washington Post’s personal finance section addresses every major aspect of money management, from basic budgeting to complex investment strategies.
Market Volatility and Investment Guidance
Recent coverage reflects current economic concerns. Michelle Singletary’s updated column on what to do with your 401(k) when the stock market is turbulent provides timely guidance for nervous investors. The coverage emphasizes practical strategies over emotional reactions to market movements.
Investment advice focuses on long-term principles rather than speculation. Buying stocks when they’re cheap is fine, as long as it’s a minor tactical shift on top of a steady investing strategy, reflecting a disciplined approach to market timing and investment decisions.
Tax Season Support
Tax-related coverage provides crucial guidance during filing season. With the April 15 deadline closing in, our personal finance columnist answered your queries during a live chat, offering real-time assistance when readers need it most.
The coverage extends beyond basic filing tips to address complex situations. Articles cover topics like fraudulent W-2s and tax debt management, providing comprehensive support for various tax challenges.
Federal Employee Financial Guidance
Given Washington D.C.’s location, The Post provides specialized coverage for federal workers. Experts are offering advice to federal workers affected by the upheaval in the government, addressing unique challenges facing this significant reader demographic.
Recent coverage includes analysis of the Deferred Resignation Program 2.0 and its implications for federal employees, demonstrating the publication’s ability to address timely, sector-specific financial concerns.
Consumer Protection and Fraud Prevention
The Post’s personal finance section takes consumer protection seriously. With data breaches becoming rampant, fraudulent W-2s and 1099s are a growing problem. Here’s what you can do shows the publication’s commitment to protecting readers from financial fraud.
The coverage includes in-depth investigations into scams and fraud tactics. In my seven-part series “Scammed,” I deconstructed how one woman lost her life’s savings to a government impersonation scam, providing valuable education through real-world case studies.
Unique Perspectives and Approaches
What distinguishes The Washington Post’s personal finance coverage is its nuanced, individualized approach to financial advice.
Challenging Conventional Wisdom
Singletary isn’t afraid to challenge popular financial advice when it doesn’t serve readers’ best interests. Personal finance advice is not one-size-fits-all. Here’s why addresses the limitation of generic financial guidance and emphasizes personalized strategies.
For example, she advocates paying off student loans before investing for retirement in certain circumstances, contrary to conventional wisdom that prioritizes immediate retirement investing. Her reasoning considers individual debt levels, interest rates, and psychological factors that generic advice often ignores.
Focus on Financial Psychology
The coverage recognizes that financial problems often stem from deeper issues. Facing financial truths and mending broken relationships should be part of your resolution-making this year demonstrates understanding that money management involves emotional and relationship factors.
This psychological approach appears throughout the coverage. Perhaps your shop-till-you-drop spending has its roots in some childhood trauma or drama. Have you accumulated credit card debt trying to erase the memories of not having enough? This insight helps readers address root causes rather than just symptoms.
Practical Implementation
The Post’s coverage emphasizes actionable advice over theoretical concepts. The typical borrower financed $42,113 of their new-vehicle purchase, Edmunds data shows, with the average payment hitting $754 a month provides specific, current data that helps readers make informed decisions.
The coverage includes specific tools and resources. Money moves for life: Test yourself and take this quiz for my wealth-building tips provides interactive elements that help readers assess their financial situation and identify improvement areas.
Coverage of Current Economic Issues
The Washington Post’s personal finance section addresses major economic developments and their personal finance implications.
Inflation and Cost of Living
Current coverage addresses inflation’s impact on personal finances. Thanks to tariff-induced inflation and cutbacks in social services, a “perfect storm” looms for people trying to make ends meet provides realistic assessment of economic challenges facing Americans.
The coverage connects macro economic trends to personal financial strategies, helping readers understand how broader economic forces affect their individual financial planning.
Student Loan Crisis
The Post provides comprehensive coverage of the ongoing student debt crisis. After a five-year pandemic-related payment freeze, the Education Department announced it will resume collections of its defaulted federal student-loan portfolio in May addresses a critical issue affecting millions of Americans.
The coverage goes beyond policy announcements to provide practical guidance for affected borrowers, including payment strategies and forgiveness program navigation.
Housing Market Challenges
Real estate coverage reflects current market realities while providing practical guidance. Think hard about your finances and your life situation before deciding on whether to buy a car shows how the publication addresses major purchase decisions in the context of current economic conditions.
Digital Integration and Modern Approaches
The Washington Post’s personal finance coverage has evolved to address modern financial challenges and digital trends.
Social Media Financial Advice Evaluation
The publication addresses the proliferation of financial advice on social media platforms. Social media is full of financial influencers — or “finfluencers” — dispensing advice. How credible would you rate their recommendations? helps readers evaluate information quality in the digital age.
This coverage includes interactive tools to help readers identify reliable versus questionable financial advice, particularly important as younger generations increasingly turn to social media for financial guidance.
Technology and Financial Planning
Coverage addresses how technology affects personal finance, from digital banking to investment apps. The publication helps readers navigate the benefits and risks of financial technology while maintaining focus on fundamental principles.
Newsletter and Digital Resources
The Post offers “The Color of Money” newsletter providing Advice on how to save, spend and talk about your money for the short and long term from Michelle Singletary. This digital distribution ensures readers receive timely financial guidance directly.
How to Access and Utilize the Coverage
Maximizing the value of The Washington Post’s personal finance coverage requires understanding how to access and apply the available resources.
Regular Column Schedule
Michelle Singletary writes the nationally syndicated personal finance column “The Color of Money,” which appears in The Washington Post on Wednesdays and Sundays. This consistent schedule helps readers incorporate financial education into their routine.
Interactive Opportunities
Live chat sessions provide direct access to expert advice. Washington Post personal finance columnist Michelle Singletary answered questions about retirement planning during a live chat on Tuesday, Jan. 7, at 12 p.m. Eastern time shows the regularity of these interactive opportunities.
Book and Extended Resources
Singletary has written several books that expand on her column topics. For a sweeping overview of my timeless money advice, see Michelle Singletary’s Money Milestones. You can also purchase a copy for yourself or as a gift provides additional depth beyond the regular column coverage.
Educational Series
The Post creates comprehensive educational content around major topics. Join personal finance columnist Michelle Singletary on today, Jan. 6, from 6 to 7 p.m. Eastern as she hosts a free virtual discussion around her “Scammed” series demonstrates the publication’s commitment to in-depth financial education.
Comparison to Other Financial Media
The Washington Post’s personal finance coverage differs significantly from other major financial publications in several key ways.
Practical vs. Theoretical Focus
While many financial publications focus on market analysis and investment theory, The Post emphasizes practical application. Coverage addresses real-world financial challenges facing typical families rather than sophisticated investment strategies for wealthy individuals.
Individual vs. Institutional Perspective
The coverage maintains focus on individual financial decision-making rather than institutional or corporate finance. This perspective helps readers apply advice to their specific situations rather than trying to adapt institutional strategies.
Long-term vs. Short-term Approach
The Post’s coverage emphasizes building sustainable financial habits over quick-fix solutions. This approach helps readers develop lasting financial skills rather than chasing temporary gains.
For comprehensive personal finance resources and additional money management strategies, explore insights available at financial planning guidance.
Making the Most of Washington Post Personal Finance Coverage
Successfully leveraging The Washington Post’s personal finance resources requires strategic approach and consistent engagement.
Regular Reading Habits
Establish a routine for consuming the twice-weekly columns. Wednesday and Sunday publications provide consistent financial education that compounds over time when absorbed regularly.
Active Participation
Take advantage of interactive opportunities like live chats and call-in options. The direct access to expert advice represents significant value unavailable from most financial publications.
Implementation Focus
The Post’s coverage emphasizes practical application. Readers benefit most when they implement suggested strategies rather than passively consuming information.
Long-term Perspective
The publication’s approach focuses on building lasting financial success rather than quick fixes. Readers who adopt this long-term mindset typically see better results from the advice provided.
Your Financial Education Resource
The Washington Post’s personal finance coverage represents one of the most comprehensive, accessible, and practical financial education resources available to consumers. Michelle Singletary’s decades of experience, combined with the publication’s commitment to interactive education and practical advice, creates unique value for readers seeking to improve their financial situation.
The coverage addresses both fundamental principles and current challenges, helping readers build solid financial foundations while navigating today’s complex economic landscape. The emphasis on individual circumstances over generic advice ensures relevance for diverse reader situations.
Most importantly, the resource remains consistently available and regularly updated, providing ongoing financial education rather than one-time information consumption. This approach supports the development of lasting financial skills and informed decision-making capabilities.
Whether you’re dealing with debt, planning for retirement, navigating market volatility, or simply trying to budget more effectively, The Washington Post’s personal finance coverage offers authoritative guidance grounded in decades of experience and current market realities.
What specific financial challenge are you facing that could benefit from expert guidance, and how will you incorporate regular financial education into your money management routine? Share your thoughts in the comments below – sometimes the best financial insights come from community discussions where different perspectives and experiences combine to create comprehensive understanding.