Kathy Yakal

My Experience

I write about money. I’ve been reviewing tax software and services as a freelancer for PCMag since 1993. Along the way, I took on reviews of other types of business and personal finance technology. Prior to that, I had spent a few years writing about productivity and entertainment applications for 8-bit personal computers (my first one was a Commodore VIC-20) as a member of the editorial staff at Compute! 

After working at Lawson Associates, now Lawson Software, I switched my focus to accounting but learned that personal computer applications were more progressive and interesting to cover than mainframe solutions. So I served as editor of a monthly newsletter that provided support for accountants who were just starting to use PCs. I still ghostwrite monthly how-to columns for accounting professionals. From there, I went on to write articles and reviews for numerous business and financial publications, including Barron’s and Kiplinger’s Personal Finance Magazine.

My Areas of Expertise

• Small business accounting

• Personal tax preparation

• Personal finance

• Payroll

• Billing and invoicing

The Technology I Use

My personal needs for financial and productivity applications are simple. I’m a microbusiness and I don’t do much collaborative work with clients, though I give Microsoft Word's Track Changes a workout when I’m updating PCMag reviews. 

I need money management. I have to track invoices and payments. And I must keep good records of my contacts and the financial applications I’ve covered. Since my business is uncomplicated, and because there are so many good solutions supporting personal finance and accounting and tax available, I’m able to move from one product to another occasionally so I don’t get overly familiar with one company’s products. 

Mobile access is critical for personal finance and accounting and personal tax preparation. So I have both an iOS and Android phone for testing companion apps, since versions can vary. I use an assortment of tools for work that doesn’t involve managing money, like my Samsung Galaxy A51 phone, Evernote, Gmail and Google Drive. 

I’m a bit of a Luddite in some ways. I still take handwritten notes during product briefings and I still have cable for both internet access and TV-watching. I do stream shows on an iPad and use an Amazon Kindle Paperwhite for reading books, though. Most of my days are spent staring at screens, much to the vexation of the two senior canines that share my office.