Kay Bell

Current

Owner at SKB Editorial Services

Past

Editor and Writer at Bankrate.com
Government relations at Nestle
Government relations at LTV

Legislative Assistant at US Congress
Reporter, Asst. City Editory at Lubbock Avalanche-Journal

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Education

Texas Tech University

Recommended

2 people have recommended Kay

Connections

98 connections

Industry

Writing and Editing

Websites

Kay Bell’s Summary

I'm the principal of Austin, Texas-based SKB Editorial Services, which I founded in May 2005. For the last decade, my writing has focused on personal finance matters, with a keen on taxes. I write about money for both corporate clients, as well as for numerous respected consumer outlets.

My forte: Translating difficult subject matter into lively, readable copy.

My specialty: Personal finance, with a keen eye on taxes.

My passion: Helping people attain a better understanding of how to make, save and wisely spend their money.

My clients range from respected mutual fund companies to national trade associations to local private publishers. During tax-filing season, I also write, edit and manage the tax channel of Bankrate.com, a pre-eminent personal finance Web site. The Bankrate job is a natural; I helped launch the site's tax coverage in October 1999.

After a start with a West Texas daily newspaper, my creative career detoured to Washington, D.C., where I spent almost two decades as a Congressional staffer, as well as in the private sector,

'm also is experienced and comfortable writing TV/radio copy. While at Bankrate, I provided regular reports on tax and other personal finance topics for AP Radio and appeared on-air for expert interviews, live and taped, on various broadcast outlets. I still am regularly interviewed as a tax and personal finance expert, most recently, as a source for the NPR program Marketplace on 401(k) loans...

You can find a collection of my Bankrate stories on the taxation of gambling winnings in the book, "The Gambler's Guide to Taxes: How to Keep More of What You Win" (Kensington Publishing, 2003).

In my free time, I maintain my blog, Don't Mess With Taxes, which has been named one of the best tax sites in the blogosphere. I also write the Bankrate.com tax blog, Eye on the IRS.

Kay Bell’s Specialties:

In November 2006, Kay was named to the Taxpayer Advocacy Panel (TAP), a group of volunteers dedicated to helping the IRS identify ways to improve customer service and satisfaction. TAP is a Federal Advisory Committee established under the authority of the Department of the Treasury.

Kay also has conducted workshops on improving business writing skills for the annual conference (2006 and 2007) of the Executive Women in Texas Government.

Kay Bell’s Experience

Owner

SKB Editorial Services

(Writing and Editing industry)

May 2005 — Present (3 years 8 months)

I turn difficult subject matter into lively, readable copy. My focus? Money -- how to make more of it, save some of it and spend the rest wisely!

I keep a keen eye on taxes, those things you hate, both federal and state, but can't totally escape! through my articles and two blogs, I help you at least lessen the pain of paying for a civilized society.

Experienced financial writer, both in personal and business money matters.
Editor and Writer

Bankrate.com

(Public Company; Publishing industry)

October 1999 — April 2005 (5 years 7 months)

Helped launch the Bankrate.com's tax component, which follows federal and state tax developments with an eye toward often-overlooked moves that could save taxpayers money. During "non-tax" season, edited general personal finance stories for Bankrate and, for several years, managed the site's small business section.
Government relations

Nestle

(Public Company; 5001-10,000 employees; Government Relations industry)

April 1992 — January 1999 (6 years 10 months)

Worked as a government relations team member of the Washington, D.C., lobbying office of Nestle USA.
Government relations

LTV

(Public Company; 5001-10,000 employees; Government Relations industry)

March 1988 — March 1992 (4 years 1 month)

Worked as a government relations team member of the Washington, D.C., lobbying office of LTV Steel.
Legislative Assistant

US Congress

(Government Agency; 11-50 employees; Government Administration industry)

September 1982 — February 1988 (5 years 6 months)

Served as staff member to a U.S. Representative, U.S. Senator and the Committee on Ways and Means.
Reporter, Asst. City Editory

Lubbock Avalanche-Journal

(Privately Held; 201-500 employees; Newspapers industry)

1977 — 1981 (4 years)

Kay Bell’s Education

Texas Tech University

B.A., Journalism, history, 1974 — 1978

Activities and Societies:

University Daily newspaper

Additional Information

Kay Bell’s Websites:

Kay Bell’s Groups:

Society of Professional Journalists, Association for Women in Communications, Society of American Business Writers and Editors, the Writers' League of Texas, National Tax Association, Online News Association, Freelance Austin (president), Taxpayer Advocacy Panel