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Andrea Coombes, CFP®

Editor, Taxes
  • 25
    Years of experience
CD Icon LICENSE
  • CERTIFIED FINANCIAL PLANNER™
Ribbon Icon EXPERTISE
  • Individual income taxes
  • Tax planning and strategy
  • U.S. tax policy
  • Personal finance
  • Investing
  • Saving for retirement
Education Icon EDUCATION
  • University of California, Berkeley; B.A. in Sociology
  • University of California, Berkeley; Master’s in Journalism
  • University of California, Berkeley, Extension; Certificate in Personal Financial Planning

Andrea Coombes, a tax editor at Bankrate, translates complex personal finance topics into understandable language that helps people live their best financial lives. She’s a CERTIFIED FINANCIAL PLANNER™ and over the past 25 years has worked as a financial coach, personal finance writer and editor, and volunteer tax preparer.

Her work has been published in The Wall Street Journal, USA Today, MarketWatch and many newspapers nationwide. She's been interviewed on local and national TV and radio, including NPR's All Things Considered, CBS News, NASDAQ and Marketplace.

Andrea has moderated panels on how to invest for retirement, how to use 529 college savings plans and more, and she's an experienced personal-finance speaker who has presented to groups on a variety of topics such as how to budget, improve credit, manage debt, and build savings. She's also worked as a personal financial coach and certified consumer credit counselor, helping people reach their goals. For two tax seasons, she worked a volunteer tax preparer.

Andrea beyond Bankrate

Taxes: Who really is paying up

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Who are annuities best for?

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7 ways to reduce taxes in retirement

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How couples can resolve their biggest fights over money

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One couple's journey from debt to $1.5 million in savings.

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What has changed since the Equifax data breach?

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A lot of people are nervous about doing their taxes, and about managing their money in general. I'm here to say: It's not rocket science. There are small steps each of us can take to slowly start moving towards our long-term goals. We can do this, people.

— Andrea Coombes, CFP®

Andrea's Picks

TikTok tax advice you don't want to follow
5 MIN READ

TikTok tax advice: 3 of the worst tax tips to watch out for

These three tax tips are popular on TikTok, but they could get you in trouble with the IRS.

Average tax refund each year, and how refunds work
3 MIN READ

The average tax refund each year, and how tax refunds work

The average tax refund so far in 2025 is $3,221, up $140 from the average refund this time last year. Here’s how tax refunds work.

Marginal vs. effective tax rate: What's the difference?
4 MIN READ

Marginal vs. effective tax rate: How they differ and how to calculate each rate

Knowing the difference between your marginal and effective tax rate can help you manage your money better.

Andrea's latest articles