Background & Education
Emily holds a Master of Education from The Ohio State University and an undergraduate degree in English from Kenyon College, with a focus on creative writing. A former teacher, she began her personal finance writing career in 2010.
She specializes in explaining the scientific research behind irrational financial behavior. Drawing on her teaching background, she translates complex financial concepts into practical explanations that readers can apply to spending, saving, and long-term planning.
In 2018, Emily won the Plutus Award for Best Freelancer/Contributor, recognizing her work in personal finance writing.
Published Work & Media
Emily’s writing has appeared in The Washington Post, Forbes Advisor, Kiplinger’s, USA Today, AARP The Magazine, Fast Company, and MSN Money. Her What to Expect When You’re Investing series for Fast Company explores topics including college costs, retirement, and everyday financial decisions.
A regular guest on Wisconsin Public Radio, Emily has also contributed financial expertise to NBC News, Fox Business, and Real Simple. Her radio and podcast appearances include Wisconsin Public Radio’s Central Time and the Stacking Benjamins podcast.
Books by Emily Guy Birken
Emily has written or co-written five personal finance books, addressing retirement preparation, Social Security, financial stress, and everyday money management.
- The 5 Years Before You Retire — A guide to preparing financially for the transition to retirement.
- Choose Your Retirement — Strategies for building a retirement plan around personal goals and circumstances.
- Making Social Security Work for You — An explanation of Social Security retirement benefits and claiming decisions.
- End Financial Stress Now — Practical approaches to budgeting, reducing debt, and improving your relationship with money.
- Stacked: Your Super-Serious Guide to Modern Money Management — Coauthored with Joe Saul-Sehy, this book combines financial education and humor to explain budgeting, investing, debt, and other money decisions.
First-Hand Experience
As a money coach, Emily helps people work through financial stress, create sustainable budgets, manage debt, and prepare for retirement. Her approach addresses both the practical work of organizing finances and the emotional barriers that can make money decisions difficult.
She also brings the perspective of a parent and self-employed writer. Emily began freelancing after a family move left her household temporarily carrying two mortgages. What started as a way to earn additional income developed into a career explaining personal finance to others.
Topics Emily Covers
Emily’s financial writing spans the following subjects:
- Retirement planning, Social Security, and retirement savings.
- Credit cards, consumer borrowing, and debt management.
- Banking, budgeting, saving, and financial wellness.
- Investing, behavioral finance, and the psychology of money.
- Student loans, college financing, and insurance.