![A woman holds her phone and reviews bills](https://www.bankrate.com/2020/09/22124731/September-financial-survey-staying-current-on-bills.jpg?auto=webp&fit=crop&width=230&height=150)
Survey: Nearly half of Americans say their top financial priority is getting caught up or staying current on bills
About 46 percent of Americans name paying bills as their top priority.
Our goal is to get wiser every day and avoid the mistakes of the past.
— James Royal, Ph.D.
Bankrate principal writer and editor James F. Royal, Ph.D. covers investing and wealth management. His work has been cited across major media, including CNBC, the Washington Post, The New York Times and the Associated Press. Royal believes in the power of education to help individuals make smart financial decisions that can positively and significantly improve their lives.
Experience
James is the author of The Zen of Thrift Conversions. He’s a veteran writer and stock analyst with a history of working in the financial-services industry, including at the Motley Fool and Bankrate.
Royal has a bachelor’s degree in management as well as master’s and doctoral degrees in English earned at the University of Florida.
Media mentions
CNBC
Yahoo Finance
Reuters
Cheddar TV
Forbes
Barron’s
Our goal is to get wiser every day and avoid the mistakes of the past.
— James Royal, Ph.D.
About 46 percent of Americans name paying bills as their top priority.
And here’s how Americans can stay protected in the future.
Everyone wants their golden years to be golden. But saving for them is another thing.
And find out who’s most likely to boost their retirement contributions.
The results are in and here’s where Americans prefer to invest their money.
Here are ten of the most important changes in the SECURE Act 2.0 and what you need to know.
Here’s what those planning for retirement need to pay attention to.
Record-low mortgage rates in 2020 and 2021 made it an ideal time to invest, but rates have soared this year.
When is the stock market closed? Here’s a list of days when the major exchanges observe holidays.
This type of account can help your child save for retirement as soon as they start earning income.
Think SEC filings are boring? Think again. Here are the key filings every investor should know.
Looking to invest in the financial sector? Here are some ETFs to consider for your portfolio.
These are your options if you’ve inherited a 401(k) account.
If you want to trade options, be sure to avoid these common mistakes.
A spot Ethereum ETF pools money from investors to purchase Ethereum directly.
Here’s how the rule of 55 can help you take an early distribution from your 401(k) or 403(b).