Kate Ashford is a Virginia native and a freelance writer who specializes in personal finance and health. She’s been tackling money problems head-on since she got her first credit card bill in college, and she enjoys simplifying money issues for others.

She has held staff positions at both Money and Good Housekeeping, where she covered insurance, travel, and consumer trends. She’s also held freelance positions at Kiplinger’s Personal Finance and Entertainment Weekly. She has appeared on CNN, ABC, CBS and local New York TV stations, as well as several radio shows. Her freelance work has appeared in Money, Parade, More, Health, Popular Science, Women's Health, and National Geographic Adventure, among others. She was nominated for a Business Journalist of the Year Award in 2008.

Kate holds a bachelor's degree in sociology from the University of Virginia and a master's degree in journalism from Northwestern University. She lives in New York City with her husband.

Got a money question you think Kate should address? Visit kateashford.com and send her an email.