Mercedes Barba

Former senior editor, investing

EXPERTISE

Investing
Stock analysis
Retirement

EDUCATION

Bachelor’s degree in Journalism, California State University, Los Angeles
Master's degree in News and Documentary, New York University

The key to successful investing is to take action and not let fear or over-analyzing prevent you from taking advantage of the benefits of compound interest over time.
— Mercedes Barba

About the author

Mercedes Barba was a senior editor at Bankrate. Prior to this, she served as a senior editor at NextAdvisor and led the video team at Money.com, where she executive produced a short documentary that received an Emmy nomination. In her free time, she enjoys spending time with her son Luke and two pet dogs.

The key to successful investing is to take action and not let fear or over-analyzing prevent you from taking advantage of the benefits of compound interest over time.
— Mercedes Barba

Mercedes's latest articles

ETF vs. mutual fund: Which is the better investment?

ETFs hold an edge because they tend to use passive investing and have some tax advantages.

9 min read Apr 15, 2024
Best balanced ETFs and mutual funds

Looking for growth and income from your portfolio? Consider these balanced funds.

2 min read Apr 15, 2024
How to invest $50,000

Here’s how to invest $50,000 and what you need to do to build wealth.

7 min read Apr 12, 2024
Best long-term ETFs to buy and hold

Here are some top long-term ETFs to add to your investment portfolio.

4 min read Apr 12, 2024
Retirement annuities: Pros and cons of annuity investing

An annuity can provide lifetime income. But they come with several advantages and disadvantages to know about.

6 min read Apr 10, 2024
7 key IRA withdrawal dates for taxpayers: How to take distributions without penalty

Those with an IRA have key dates to keep in mind to dodge avoidable taxes.

4 min read Apr 09, 2024
7 of the weirdest, wildest, oddball ETFs

Here are seven of the most unusual ETFs and why you may want to invest in them.

5 min read Apr 09, 2024
The Augusta Rule: How to earn tax-free rental income

How to earn tax-free income by renting out your home.

3 min read Apr 08, 2024