Credit Karma’s editorial team works on your behalf, so we’d like to share a bit about the process and guidelines that inform our content.
Our mission
Our mission is to empower our readers to make financial progress, one step at a time. We believe progress is a journey made easier with help, so we root our content in trusted sources and independent research to give you the knowledge to reach your goals.
Editorial principles
- Accuracy. We all have our opinions, but facts come first. Our editors rigorously fact-check and review every piece of content we publish because everyone deserves accurate information. We also review articles for accuracy post-publication and regularly update content as we receive new information.
- Independence. Credit Karma draws a clear line between editorial and the rest of the company’s business. Specifically, that means our advertising partners do not sponsor any editorial content — nor do they review, approve or endorse it.
- Authority. All information included in our content is corroborated by authoritative and reputable sources and/or publications. If a statement or fact can’t be corroborated by a legitimate source, we don’t publish it. If we reference any statistics or research conducted by an organization not associated with Credit Karma, we identify and/or link out to the original source.
- Real talk. If we suggest a product, it’s because we’ve thoroughly reviewed it and believe in its value. We’re open about our enthusiasm for certain cards or products, and we’ll tell it like it is when something doesn’t smell right.
- Empathy. We’ve been there. We aren’t here to judge your financial situation or scold you for carrying a credit card balance. Our goal is to help you take the positive next step, not to dwell on any bumps or missteps.
- Perspective. We know your finances are important to unlocking life goals like paying for college or saving for retirement. We want to help you understand all of your options when it comes to day-to-day financial decisions, so that you can make the best choices for you on your financial journey.
Data journalism
Credit Karma’s data journalism articles are dedicated to finding and shedding light on the human stories behind personal finance statistics and news. Often cited by top-tier media, Credit Karma’s data journalism studies are a cooperative effort led by our independent in-house writers, editors and consumer research team.
While we frequently survey the general public to identify trends in consumer finance, we also tap into Credit Karma’s 100 million-plus members in the U.S. for a broader range of data and information. This unique capability allows us to give our readers more enriched perspective on their financial situations.
Diversity, equity and inclusion
We recognize that people’s relationships and experiences with financial systems and institutions can vary greatly depending on an individual’s background. We know that institutional racism and discrimination within the financial sector is real. And we’re committed not only to acknowledging and highlighting those realities in our content — but to helping you navigate them.
We have pledged to …
- Champion diversity on the Editorial team
- Audit existing processes — for both hiring and development of editorial content — with a goal of identifying and correcting biases
- Promote inclusion and racial justice in the information we provide
- Produce content that addresses income-based or race- or identity-based discrimination in personal finance
About us
Our editors and writers come from a variety of backgrounds. We’re career journalists, content marketers and editorial lifers with a (mostly) healthy obsession with all things personal finance.
We also bring our real-life experiences to the articles you read on Credit Karma. We’re parents with college expenses looming. Caretakers balancing family and career commitments. Young adults looking to buy our first homes and put down roots.
Many of us have navigated rough credit histories and even rougher financial waters, and we’re open about our own financial journeys (yes, even the rockiest parts). We hope our experiences can help you better understand your own.
Meet our team
Image: Amy_KalinAmy Kalin is a senior editor at Credit Karma with a special interest in helping people understand and take control of their financial behaviors. A former journalist, Amy primarily reported on high-profile criminal and civil legal affairs in Los Angeles before transitioning to broadcast news as an investigative segment producer, line producer and script writer. Most recently before joining Credit Karma, Amy was a director of communications at a global law firm and content editor for a legal tech startup. Amy earned her bachelor’s degree in journalism from Cal Poly, San Luis Obispo.
Image: brad-hansonBrad Hanson is a senior editor at Credit Karma. His 30 years of experience in print and digital media includes work for the Los Angeles Times-Washington Post News Service, Trucks.com and Polyvore. Before joining Credit Karma, Brad was copy chief/multiplatform editor for the Business section of the Los Angeles Times and a journalism instructor at the Annenberg School for Communication and Journalism at the University of Southern California. Brad earned his bachelor’s degree in communications at Cal State Fullerton and a master’s in management from the University of Redlands.
Image: Isabel-1Isabel Morgan is an editor at Credit Karma with an extensive background in customer support, including time spent on the Credit Karma member support team. Her personal journey with credit, and her experiences communicating with Credit Karma users about their financial concerns, have inspired her interest in making financial education accessible and inclusive to all. Isabel understands that everyone’s financial journey is unique, and she is excited to bring that compassion and empathy to her role as a copy editor. Isabel earned her bachelor’s degrees in film studies and the practice of art from the University of California, Berkeley.
Image: img_6009Claire Diver is a senior editor at Credit Karma. Previously, she managed web content at an e-commerce startup. Claire’s literary arts background and detail-oriented style inform her focus on providing clear and accurate information for readers. Claire earned her bachelor’s degrees in English and art history from the University of Iowa, where she served as an art editor on the undergraduate literary review.
Image: Screen-Shot-2022-04-22-at-8.37.41-AM-3David Heiling is an senior editor at Credit Karma, specializing in auto insurance and auto loans. He strives to make financial fitness accessible and relatable to people in all stages of their financial journeys. A former journalist and content marketer, David primarily worked with startups before coming to Credit Karma, helping them with strategy and execution of content initiatives. Outside of work, he enjoys hiking, reading, learning and traveling. David received his bachelor’s degree in journalism from the University of Wisconsin, Eau Claire.
Image: ericfreemanEric Freeman is an editorial lead at Credit Karma, specializing in credit cards and credit scores and reports. He strives to make personal finance relatable for readers and to ground complicated issues in everyday experiences. Prior to working for Credit Karma, he covered sports for publications such as GQ Magazine and Yahoo Sports and coauthored a book on the history of professional basketball. Eric earned his bachelor’s and master’s degrees in English from Stanford University.
Image: Erin DunnErin Dunn is a managing editor at Credit Karma who specializes in personal loans and is passionate about financial literacy and budgeting. She’s an award-winning business journalist and editor whose work has appeared in Business North Carolina magazine, Reuters and The Augusta Chronicle.
She’s written about topics such as the Great Recession and economic recovery, retailers and consumer goods, and real estate. Erin has worked in marketing for several startups in Charlotte, North Carolina, leading content marketing, public relations and social media efforts. Erin is a first-generation college graduate from the University of North Carolina with a degree specializing in financial news.
Image: MattCarneyMatt Carney is an editor at Credit Karma with a passion for connecting people with information they need. He draws on years of experience working in member support at Credit Karma as well as his background in independent bookselling. Matt studied at Tulane University, where he majored in sociology and minored in French and creative writing. He is currently pursuing a Master’s degree in library and information science from San Jose State University.
Image: Matt-Stephens-5 copyMatt Stephens is the director of Editorial at Credit Karma. Matt has more than 15 years of experience in digital news publishing and content strategy, having worked as a sports editor, columnist and investigative journalist at some of the largest metro news outlets in the country. As Matt has gained a better understanding of personal finance and the feeling that comes with achieving financial freedom, he has developed a passion for helping others find their own route to do the same. Matt earned his bachelor’s degree from Colorado State University.
Image: Monica.CamargoMónica Camargo is a senior manager at Credit Karma with a background in print, digital and broadcast media. She considers herself an advocate for readers, aiming to make complicated topics clear and approachable. Before joining Credit Karma, Mónica was a managing copy editor in advertising, as well as a co-founding producer for a video production startup focused on community-service sectors. Mónica has a bachelor’s degree in English literature from the University of Texas at El Paso.
Image: Rebecca Giantonio MoranRebecca Giantonio Moran is a managing editor at Credit Karma with a focus on content strategy. She has nearly 20 years of experience in brand development, content and website strategy, copywriting, marketing and public relations. Throughout her career, Rebecca has worked with a range of financial institutions, from startups to Fortune 100 companies, developing award-winning content, campaigns and online tools along the way.
Her writing has appeared in a variety of publications, including Connecticut magazine, Gawker, Glamour, PR Daily and regional newspapers across New England. Rebecca’s passion for teaching is clear in all she does, from helping readers understand complex personal finance topics to leading seminars on content and social media strategy. She earned a bachelor’s in magazine journalism and English and textual studies with a psychology minor from Syracuse University – S.I. Newhouse School of Public Communications.
Image: Tim Devaney, Credit Karma Points & Miles ExpertTim Devaney is a personal finance writer and credit card expert at Credit Karma. He’s a longtime journalist who prides himself on being a good storyteller who can explain complex information in an easily digestible way. Prior to Credit Karma, Tim wrote about financial regulations for The Hill and covered business for The Detroit News and The Washington Times. Tim has been featured on Business Insider, CBS, C-SPAN, MarketWatch, TheStreet and Yahoo! Finance. He has a bachelor’s in journalism from Cornerstone University.