Helaine Olen Explained

Helaine Olen
Occupation:	journalist, author
Alma Mater:	Smith College (BA) University of Minnesota (MA)
Genres:	-->
Subjects:	-->
Notable Works:	Pound Foolish (2012) The Index Card (2016)
Spouse:	Matt Roshkow
Children:	2

Helaine Olen is an American journalist and author based in New York. She is a columnist for The Washington Post and, before that, Slate, where she wrote the column The Bills. She is the author or co-author of three books: Office Mate (2007), Pound Foolish (2012), and The Index Card (2016).

Biography

Olen was born in the mid-1960s, and is Jewish.^{[1] [2]} She graduated from Smith College with a BA in English, and earned an MA in journalism at the University of Minnesota.^{[3] [4] [5]}

She is a columnist for The Washington Post^[6] and, before that, Slate, where she wrote the column The Bills.

Olen is a contributor to Post Opinions.^[3] Her work has appeared in Slate, the Nation, the New York Times, The Wall Street Journal, The Washington Post, Salon, Reuters, Rolling Stone, and the Atlantic.^{[3] [4] [5]} She was a lead writer and editor for The Los Angeles Times’ “Money Makeover” series.^[4] She has also appeared on "Frontline," the BBC, NPR, C-Span, MSNBC, "All Things Considered", and "The Daily Show."^{[7] [5]}

Olen is the author or co-author of three books: Office Mate (2007), Pound Foolish (2012), and The Index Card (2016).^{[5] [3]}

She serves on the advisory board of the Economic Hardship Reporting Project.^[3]

Olen is critical of the personal finance industry's typical advice to consumers, suggesting that it leaves them unprepared for major downturns such as market crashes, layoffs, and medical bills.^[8]

Honors and awards

• Society of American Business Editors and Writers, Best in Business awards, Honorable Mention for Commentary, 2017;
• Society of American Business Editors and Writers, Best in Business awards, Personal Finance, 2016;
• National Women’s Political Caucus, Exceptional Merit in Media Award, 2013
• named one of Business Insiders "50 Women Who Are Changing the World"
• named one of the "Top 30 Most Influential People in Personal Finance and Wealth" by MoneyTips.^{[3] [7]}

Personal life

Olen is married to the script writer Matt Roshkow^[9] and has two sons; the family lives in New York City.^{[10] [3]} One of her sons is American influencer Jake Shane Roshkow, and she has one other son.

Selected works

• Book: Losee. Stephanie. Olen. Helaine. Office mate: the employee handbook for finding – and managing – romance on the job. 2007. Adams Media. 978-1598693300. Avon, Mass.. 145431720.
• Book: Olen, Helaine. The maternal is political: women writers at the intersection of motherhood and social change. 2008. Seal Press. Shari MacDonald Strong. The mean moms. 978-0786750757. Berkeley, Calif.. 649315093.
• Book: Olen, Helaine. 2. Pound foolish: exposing the dark side of the personal finance industry. Pound Foolish. 2012. Portfolio/Penguin. 978-1591844891. New York. 809989018. ^{[11] [12]}
• Book: Olen. Helaine. 2. Pollack. Harold. The index card : why personal finance doesn't have to be complicated. The Index Card. 2016. 978-1591847687. New York. 928750850.

References

• News: Can't Save? Here's Why. The New York Times. 2013-01-12. 2015-06-20. Helaine. Olen.

External links

• Personal website

Notes and References

1. Web site: Looking Behind the Curtain: PW Talks With Helaine Olen: Personal Finance 2012. Natalie. Danford . PublishersWeekly.com.
2. Web site: Bringing Up the Kindele. February 7, 2012. Helaine Olen.
3. https://www.washingtonpost.com/people/helaine-olen/ "Helaine Olen"
4. Web site: Helaine Olen - SheSource Expert . Women’s Media Center.
5. Web site: Confessing Money: Stories of Spending in America Today. January 8, 2020. International Center of Photography.
6. News: Helaine Olen . The Washington Post . 13 May 2019.
7. Web site: About Life and Money with Helaine. UExpress.
8. Web site: Financial Advisers Selling Bogus Advice?. NPR. 10 July 2018. 5 March 2013.
9. Web site: Prettier Than Napoleon: The Nanny Gets Dooced. July 16, 2005 .
10. Web site: Helaine Olen. Women's Media Center. WMC SheSource.
11. News: Book Review: Pound Foolish by Helaine Olen. Roger Lowenstein. Businessweek.com. January 11, 2013 .
12. News: 'Pound Foolish' Eyes Problems of Personal Finance Advice. The New York Times. 2012-12-29. 2015-06-20. Caitlin. Kelly.