Top Financial Magazines – Tools for a Richer Future
Joy Wallet is advertiser-supported: we may earn compensation from the products and offers mentioned in this article. However, any expressed opinions are our own and aren't influenced by compensation. To read our full disclosure, click here.
Personal finance and investments – overwhelming topics, right?
To me, they were. Several years ago, I figured I could get through adulthood only using my earned income. If I never used a credit card and avoided debt, I wouldn’t need to learn about stock markets or mutual funds.
Well, it turns out real life requires some decent know-how in the finance department. And the shifting economic climate, inflation, and the dreaded topic of taxes can’t really be ignored.
If you’re like me, you’ve gone to your parents and grandparents for advice on financial planning. And, if you’re like me, their advice has been very useful – for living last century.
Finding up-to-date and clear information on personal finance topics and current events has been a definite must for me. If it’s a must for you, here’s an overview of the best financial magazines currently available.
In this article
Overview of the best financial magazines
Financial magazine | Best for |
Kiplinger’s Personal Finance | Retirees and people interested in retirement planning |
Money Magazine | Young people and beginners interested in personal finance topics and cryptocurrency |
Forbes Magazine | People in leadership positions interested in current events and business news |
Barron’s | Top management looking for stock picks and in-depth data analysis |
The Economist | Leaders interested in world news and current events |
Bloomberg Businessweek | Small business owners interested in current events and strategy tips |
Investor’s Business Daily | Older college graduates with a focus on stock picks and trends |
Fortune | People interested in cryptocurrencies and NFTs |
Financial Times | Big decision-makers interested in financial news and current events |
Top financial magazines
Kiplinger’s Personal Finance
Looking to get the most out of your retirement savings? You’re in luck. Kiplinger is an investment magazine that takes on issues facing retirees. It’s family-owned and has been offering sound financial advice since the 1920s.
Not retired? That’s okay. While Kiplinger is targeted more toward retirees, that’s not their only audience. Millennials over 30 can also find relevant retirement planning tips through Kiplinger's publications.
Prefer to read online? Kiplinger offers daily stock market overviews and more on their main website. Their content ranges from estate planning and scam alerts to tax tips and ETF recommendations.
For readers who prefer a physical copy, Kiplinger also offers monthly print publications. Check out Kiplinger’s Personal Finance magazine for a hot deal for new subscribers.
Money Magazine
Looking for a modern and accessible read online? Money Magazine might be your jam. It’s an online personal finance magazine serving everyone, and it’s a great place to start for beginners.
Money offers up-to-date advice on credit, mortgages, and insurance. The publication also provides great tools, such as their Mortgage Calculator.
If you need guides for dealing with credit cards and loans, they’ve got you covered. They also compile the best credit cards, student loan refinance companies, and more as recommended by industry experts.
Interested in cryptocurrency and Bitcoin? Money takes a monthly dive into the latest in crypto news. Their articles cover everything from crypto scams to Bitcoin investments.
Forbes Magazine
Forbes has been providing reliable financial news content since 1917. They cater to business leaders who are passionate about world news.
Forbes is a global magazine focused on business news, finances, and more. It offers timely and relevant information on Dow ratings and tech innovations. It also publishes articles on current career trends and leadership advice.
Forbes’ founder, B.C. Forbes, valued entrepreneurial capitalism and ethical business. Forbes Magazine reflects those values in its business practices today.
Forbes fosters diversity and equity in its own ranks and through philanthropy. It's published in 28 locations aside from the U.S., making it easier to access worldwide. Forbes’ DEI, along with its R&I practice, brings people together to fight for equity.
Barron’s
Need stock information? Barron’s might be a good fit. This investment magazine has had a long history of accurate predictions since its founding.
Barron’s is most useful for researching stock picks. Serious investors might find this publication to be a useful tool. You can use Barron’s to access recent news articles on cheap stocks and find out which stocks are buys. Want a tool tracking by-the-second information on stock picks and pans? Check Barron's out.
Barron’s doesn’t only keep track of the stock market. The magazine also focuses on topics like currencies, bonds, and futures. If you’re interested in crypto, look up Eswar Prasad’s take on the nature of cryptocurrencies.
Barron’s Penta publication is perfect for people with over $5 million in assets, or who dream of luxury items. Penta focuses on high ticket collector's items and investment opportunities for the affluent.
The Economist
Looking for a more broad spectrum of economy-related topics? Take a look at The Economist. It’s a good place to start if you’re interested in world news and politics. You can search for current events by location or region.
Like financial news? The Economist also publishes weekly articles on finance and economics.
If you're into tech news, check out the magazine's science and technology section. Serious investors in tech can find great resources here. Special reports on government, world trade, and politics are also put out monthly.
The publication’s aim is to inform and educate. So if your goal is to catch up on current events, it's a great publication to choose.
Bloomberg Businessweek
Interested in business news and financial advice? You might find Bloomberg Businessweek helpful.
Bloomberg Businessweek offers articles detailing current events worldwide. The publication also covers business topics such as strategies and small businesses.
If you want some advice for running a small business, their Small Business Survival Guide offers secrets from small business successes. They also provide commentary in their New Rules of Work about how the COVID-19 pandemic changed business as usual.
Businessweek is dedicated to delivering accurate insights into business and financial data. And supporting Bloomberg is a good idea. The organization itself invests in worldwide philanthropy.
Investor’s Business Daily
Investor’s Business Daily (IBD) is a great magazine to find investment resources. Founded by William J. O’Neil over 30 years ago, the magazine provides a wide range of materials focused on investments and stocks.
If you’re interested in stock lists, IBD has a great resource for you. Check out Stocks on the Move, IBD’s stock list tool detailing stock price changes and more. Along with this, IBD offers other premium tools like MarketSmith and SwingTrader. These tools optimize stock buying, selling, and trading for a monthly fee.
In addition to investment tools, IBD provides a constant stream of news on the stock market. IBD also publishes research articles giving in-depth analysis into stocks and data. If it’s investment advice you want, you’ll have plenty of it.
Some other resources to look at from IBD are The Big Picture and Stock Market Today. The Big Picture looks at investments from a broader perspective. Stock Market Today looks specifically at stocks, losses, and Dow Jones.
Fortune
Interested in NFTs and Bitcoin? Fortune has you covered. Fortune is a global magazine focused on modern finances and economics. And, ICYMI, modern economics is being more and more influenced by cryptocurrency.
Recently, Fortune has been publishing articles about crypto and NFTs almost daily. Topics range from accounting for crypto earnings during tax season to crypto crime.
But cryptocurrencies aren’t the only things Fortune is focused on. The magazine is best known for its rankings, such as the Fortune 500, which ranks the largest companies in the United States by revenue. Unsurprisingly, the top three this year are Walmart, Amazon, and Exxon Mobil.
If you’re job hunting, Fortune’s Great Place to Work Lists might help.
Financial Times
Looking for global financial news, politics, crypto, and current events? Take a look at Financial Times (FT).
Like The Economist, you can look up economic news by location. You can also check out FT’s articles on the global economy to get a more general perspective.
Additionally, FT provides tools such as an alerts hub and a currency converter. Joining the FT community also provides access to forums. If you’re a female business owner concerned about climate change, take a peek at FT's Women in Business Forum and the Climate Capital Council.
FT is by far the most expensive magazine on this list. One thing that sets it apart is its operating policies. The organization decries human slavery and trafficking, and its no-tolerance policy reflects that. FT is dedicated to a high code of ethics and the protection of human rights across the globe.
Use Motley Fool's Stock Advisor To Invest
- Over 100 Stock Picks with 100%+ Returns
- Averaged Stock Pick Return over 593% (vs. 165% for the S&P)
- 2 New Stock Picks Every Month
- Investment Community With 700,000+ Loyal Members
- 30-Day Membership-Fee-Back Guarantee
- Joy Wallet Reader Deal: The Motley Fool is offering 50% off its top stock-picking service for new members (Limited Time)
Top financial magazines summary
Publication | Cost | Features |
Kiplinger’s Personal Finance Print + Digital | $95.40/year | New subscribers pay $49.95 for a two-year subscription + four special issues |
Money Magazine | Free | Access to Money newsletters such as Daily Money and Money Moves |
Forbes Magazine | $49.99/year | One year of unlimited digital access to Forbes content with fewer ads |
Barron’s Print + Digital | $18.99/month | Billed at $4 every 4 weeks for 1 year. |
The Economist Print + Digital | $220/year | Weekly print edition + digital/online access + audio & podcasts |
Bloomberg Businessweek | $129/year | 50 issues + weekly print magazine + full online access + Sunday Strategist newsletter |
Investor’s Business Daily Digital® + Print | $49.99/month, First two months for $30 flat | First two months for $30 flat; Full access stock picks, ratings and the Big Picture Market Analysis; Weekly Print Edition |
Fortune Premium Subscription | $131.40/year | Per month first year for $10.95 flat; Full access stock picks, ratings and the Big Picture Market Analysis; Weekly Print Edition; Full Digital Access |
Financial Times Print + Premium Digital | $69/month | Daily Print Edition + Editor’s Choice newsletter + 20 article shares per month; Full Digital Access |
FAQs
Why bother with a financial magazine?
Financial magazines provide commentary and expert opinions on topics like personal finance. Whether it’s through a physical copy or online, you should be getting useful information for you. If you can find a non-magazine alternative that works, great! Shop around and see what suits you. Magazines aren’t a one-size-fits-all deal.
Is a magazine subscription worth the money?
That depends on what you’re looking for and whether you’re part of the target audience. For instance, if you’re new to investments or low on savings, I’d recommend starting with a free magazine. If you’re looking for more advice than news, stick to Forbes or Money and avoid The Economist.
What if I’m not getting what I want out of my subscription?
Most of the magazines listed here offer low-cost trials for a couple of weeks or months. I’d recommend using those as a precaution. In any case, you can always unsubscribe if you don’t like it.
Why you should read financial magazines
It’s easy to feel like the advice in popular financial magazines simply doesn’t apply to regular people. But the majority of magazines listed here offer useful information and insight, even for those in the middle and upper class. And if some of the information isn’t actionable for you right now, you can always tuck it away for later.
The bottom line
Whether you’re looking for personal finance advice or stock market analyses, a financial magazine might be right for you. There are other options, such as blogs and Discord forums. Those can be very helpful resources! But keeping up with what the experts are saying could give you an edge on financial management.
If you’re like me and you don’t have much capital, don't worry. I’d suggest subscribing for free to Money Magazine and, if you can afford it, getting the $49.99 subscription to Forbes. Money offers free access to advice articles on savings and personal finance topics, and Forbes will help you keep track of current events year-round. These are good tools that could help make your future a little bit richer.
Joy Wallet is an independent publisher and comparison service, not an investment advisor, financial advisor, loan broker, insurance producer, or insurance broker. Its articles, interactive tools and other content are provided to you for free, as self-help tools and for informational purposes only. They are not intended to provide investment advice. Joy Wallet does not and cannot guarantee the accuracy or applicability of any information in regard to your individual circumstances. We encourage you to seek personalized advice from qualified professionals regarding specific investment issues. Featured estimates are based on past market performance, and past performance is not a guarantee of future performance.
Our site doesn’t feature every company or financial product available on the market. We are compensated by our partners, which may influence which products we review and write about (and where those products appear on our site), but it in no way affects our recommendations or advice. Our editorials are grounded on independent research. Our partners cannot pay us to guarantee favorable reviews of their products or services.
We value your privacy. We work with trusted partners to provide relevant advertising based on information about your use of Joy Wallet’s and third-party websites and applications. This includes, but is not limited to, sharing information about your web browsing activities with Meta (Facebook) and Google. All of the web browsing information that is shared is anonymized. To learn more, click on our Privacy Policy link.
Images appearing across JoyWallet are courtesy of shutterstock.com.
Writer
A veteran wordsmith and research nerd, Brittany Wren spent a decade working in higher education where she helped people overcome challenges to chart a path forward. These days, she writes about personal finance, careers, parenting and education. Her content has been published by a wide variety of brands including T-Mobile, Intuit, LifeLock, Reliant Fund Administration and CURO Financial Technologies Corp.
Share this article
