Jackie Lam is a freelance writer with experience covering small business, budgeting, freelancing and money, and personal finance. She has written for Salon.com, CNET, BuzzFeed, Business Insider, and Refinery29.  She is an AFC® financial coach and educator.

Jackie Lam

Contributing writer

Jackie Lam is a personal finance writer and is based in Los Angeles. She is an accredited AFC® financial educator.

Jackie is passionate about helping artists, freelancers, and gig economy workers with their finances. She has in-depth experience writing about all aspects of personal finance, including budgeting, investing, frugality, money management, and relationships, and enjoys discovering interesting stories that revolve around money.

In her spare time she enjoys volunteering, water aerobics, sticker collecting, being in nature, and learning the drums.

Awards:

  • 2022 recipient of Money Management International's Financial Literacy and Education in Communities (FLEC) Award
  • 2022 Plutus Awards recipient for Best Freelancer in Personal Finance Media

Expertise

PersonalFinance

Education

UCLA Copyediting Certification, UCLA Extension Community Counselor Certification, Southern California Counseling Center (SCCC) AFCPE Certification

Recent Articles

A couple looking at an iPad in a kitchen.

7-minute read

How to lower your mortgage payment

Paying off your mortgage doesn’t always go as planned, but there are ways to reduce your monthly payments. Learn how to lower your mortgage payment here.

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Business woman working on laptop.

4-minute read

Interest rate caps: What are they and how do they work?

An interest rate cap limits how much your interest rate will rise on an adjustable-rate mortgage (ARM). Find out more about rate caps and how they work.

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A couple looking at papers in a house, potentially discussing documents related to homeownership or a real estate purchase.

6-minute read

A complete guide to commercial REITs

Interested in learning more about commercial REITs? Our ultimate guide simplifies the complexities for you to shed light on these powerful investment tools.

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Grey modern home with black door and large potted plants on porch.

6-minute read

Home buying rules: 9 essential steps for buyers

When buying a home, it helps to start with the basic rul...

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Couple reviewing documents on laptop, possibly home related.

7-minute read

A guide to gifts of equity: What taxes to expect, how to write a gift letter, and more

A gift of equity is used to help secure financing for a family member’s home. Here’s how it works and what to expect when using one.

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Energy efficient ranch style home with solar panels and raised bed gardens.

6-minute read

Energy-efficient home: What it is and how to create one

An energy-efficient home has various appliances and features that reduce energy consumption and offer potential savings. Learn about how you can create one.

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Deciding Where to Live in Activity Video

10-minute read

12 ways to decide where you should live

Understanding your lifestyle and how much you can afford helps you decide where to buy a house, but is that it? Our guide can help you decide where to live.

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Man tending to his garden.

6-minute read

A guide to buying a house with an LLC

There are pros and cons to putting a house under an LLC. Check out our guide for buying an investment property with an LLC.

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A beach house, symbolizing a coastal living environment or vacation property.

7-minute read

When to sell a rental property: A complete guide

Are you unsure whether to sell your rental property? Learn about the various factors that can make it a good time to sell and the steps you can expect to take.

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