Thursday, December 19, 2013

NFL Extra Points Card Offers The Coolest Credit Card Rewards Ever!


Local new reporters have to appear at the scene of all sorts of tragic and mundane events. But for a personal finance journalist, the beat isn't so bad.

A couple of weeks ago, me and my friend Sean had the opportunity to attend a Denver Broncos football game to learn more about the benefits of their NFL Extra Points credit card. But we didn't just attend the game, we had a pre-game sideline pass and were in the tunnel when the players left the locker room and headed out to the field. These are both experiences that are not offered for sale, but cardholders can redeem their reward points for. You can read all about it over at Card Journalist.

Of course, our Broncos beat the Tennessee Titans, and we witnessed Matt Prater kick the record 64-yard field goal.

Thursday, December 12, 2013

Contributing To CreditNet

What I love about the annual Financial Bloggers Convention is that it gives everyone in this field a chance to meet each other and begin new working relationships.As a result, I am now contributing to Creditnet, which has been a credit card information site since 1995, back when few people even knew how to use the Internet.

My first post is a review of the best balance transfer credit cards this winter, a timely subject considering how many cardholders will incur debt over the holidays.

I especially like the profile of me that they wrote. Sitting in my office all day long examining the terms and conditions of various credit card offers, I forgot how interesting I am!

Wednesday, November 20, 2013

Writing For Noob Traveler

Noob Traveler

I write for several online outlets on the subject of credit cards and travel rewards. Both subjects can be complex, but I would say that writing about travel rewards is the most challenging. Every airline and hotel program has its own complicated terms and conditions that can be difficult to explain to even the most sophisticated audience.

An even greater challenge is addressing these issues to readers who are just beginning to learn about these programs. That is the mission of a great site called Noob Traveler, where I am now a contributor. My first post is about How To Use Online Shopping Portals During The Holidays.

Enjoy!

Wednesday, October 16, 2013

Cant' Wait For FinCon13

FC_fb-cover

Last year, I was thrilled to attend the 2d annual Financial Blogger's Convention, called FinCon. I was lucky enough to travel just a few miles to attend FinCon in my home town of Denver. At that event I hosted a tour of Denver, moderated a panel discussion, and gave a presentation on the challenges and rewards of freelance blogging.

This year, I am traveling 770 miles to St. Louis in order to attend FinCon13. While in St. Louis, I will attend the Plutus Awards for which I have been nominated as Best Freelance Blogger. I will also host a freelancer's forum to meet up with other freelance personal finance bloggers (Friday at noon at the Historic Sports Bar in the hotel). Finally, I will be giving a short speech at Ignite FinCon on How To Travel For Free.

My goals this year are:
  • Develop new relationships with media outlets and financial services companies.
  • Learn from my fellow bloggers and freelance writers.
  • Re-kindle relationships with some of the great people I met last year in Denver.
  • Have fun!
Can't wait to see you in St. Louis!

Wednesday, October 2, 2013

Tom Clancy And Me


Tom Clancy


I am stunned to hear that the novelist Tom Clancy has died at age 66. I never met him, but he and his work has been present at some of the key moments of my life.

I was first introduced to popular, adult novels when my father all but forced me to read his favorite book, The Hunt For Red October. I loved it as well. Back then, I was a young teen and had not really graduated from reading whatever the teen novels of the time were, long before the current crop of wizards and vampires became all the rage.

When I graduated from the University of Delaware in 1994, I was pleasantly surprised to learn that Clancy would be our commencement speaker. I remember it was somewhat controversial because the school had to pay him, unlike the school officials and local politicians who normally spoke at graduation (what ever happened to that Joe Biden guy?)

More importantly, I vividly remember what he said that day. He spoke of his dreams of becoming a writer that got side tracked by marriage, family, and everyday concerns. He told us of how, even as an insurance broker, he kept pursuing his dream. At age 37, he published his first novel, The Hunt For Red October, and the rest is history.

When I heard him speak, I had no idea how I would make a living after college.I eventually wound up working in computers just as it became the industry to be in. Later, I had the dream of being a commercial pilot. I even earned my commercial pilot's license, just as that industry became the place not to be.

After working as an employee of one company or another for nearly two decades, my dream was to be my own boss and set my own schedule. I haven't written a book yet, let alone sold millions of novels, but I too have achieved my dream. Like Clancy, I started writing professionally at around age 37, when I also had a marriage, children, and plenty of everyday concerns.

I never cared much for Clancy's politics, nor did I think that most of his later novels were as good as his first few (or the movies for that matter). But the lesson that Tom Clancy taught me on that beautiful May day in Delaware is one that I will pass on to my children.

Wednesday, September 25, 2013

Vote For Jason Steele For Best Freelance Writer



Update: The voting has ended, and I have made the list of finalists. 
Thank you to everyone who voted!


FinCon, the financial blogger's convention will be occurring in October in St. Louis. The Plutus awards will be held at this event, recognizing the top bloggers in the country.

This year, I have been nominated for Best Blog Contributor or Freelance Writer and I would like your vote.


This link will automatically fill in myself and Credit.com for the relevant categories, you just have to add you name and email address, any other votes, and click 'Nominate' at the bottom (there is no way to just vote).

Why I deserve to win

The last year has been a fantastic year for me. I have been honored to be a freelance contributor to many of the top personal finance and travel blogs including:

In addition, my work is regularly picked up by mainstream outlets such as:
  • MSN Money
  • Yahoo! Finance
  • Huffington Post
  • ABCNews.com.
  • CBSNews.com
  • FoxBusiness.com
  • Business Insider
  • Any many others...
Some of the work that I am most proud of includes:

I have also made several appearances on radio shows including: