Writer specializing in taxes and other personal finance concerns.
Austin, Texas Area
- Current
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- Owner at SKB Editorial Services
- Past
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- Editor and Writer at Bankrate.com
- Government relations at Nestle
- Government relations at LTV
- Legislative Assistant at US Congress
- Reporter, Asst. City Editor at Lubbock Avalanche-Journal
- Education
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- Texas Tech University
- Recommended
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- Industry
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- Websites
Kay Bell’s Summary
I'm the principal of Austin, Texas-based SKB Editorial Services, established May 2005. For the last decade, my writing has focused on personal finance, with a keen on taxes.
In 2008, my first book, "The Truth About Paying Fewer Taxes," was published by Financial Times Press as part of its respected "Truth About" series. The book provides readers an overview of key tax laws that affect their lives and tells them the truth about how to make the tax code work in their favor.
My forte: Translating difficult subject matter into lively, readable copy.
My specialty: Everyone's favorite subject, taxes.
My passion: Helping people attain a better understanding of their finances. How to make more of it, save some of it and spend the rest wisely!
I write about finances for corporate clients, as well as for numerous respected consumer outlets.
During tax-filing season, I write, edit and manage the tax channel at 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.
I came to tax and financial writing after starting my journalism career at a West Texas daily newspaper. I took a career detour to Washington, D.C., where I spent almost two decades as a Congressional staffer and then in the private sector as part of the government relations teams for two major corporations.
I'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.
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. She currently serves as Chair of TAP's Area 5.
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
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Owner
SKB Editorial Services
(Writing and Editing industry)
May 2005 — Present (4 years 3 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, two blogs and book, "The Truth About Paying Fewer Taxes," I help you at least lessen the pain of doing your part to maintain 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.
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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.
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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.
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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.
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Reporter, Asst. City Editor
Lubbock Avalanche-Journal
(Privately Held; Newspapers industry)
1977 — 1981 (4 years)
Kay Bell’s Education
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Texas Tech University
B.A. , Journalism, history , 1974 — 1978
- Activities and Societies:
- University Daily newspaper
Additional Information
Kay Bell’s Websites:
Kay Bell’s Interests:
In addition to my main tax/personal finance blog, Don't Mess With Taxes (link above), I also write a second tax blog, Eye on the IRS, for Bankrate.com.
