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Christine Romans

Christine Romans (born January 31, 1971) is an American broadcast journalist, author, and financial reporter known for her in-depth coverage of business, economics, and personal finance. Raised in Le Claire, Iowa, she graduated from Iowa State University in 1993 with a bachelor's degree in journalism and mass communication, as well as French, where she served as editor of the Iowa State Daily. Romans began her career with an internship at the Des Moines Register and later joined CNN in 1999, initially reporting from the floor of the New York Stock Exchange for a decade before rising to become the network's chief business correspondent. At CNN, she anchored programs including Early Start and hosted Your Money, focusing on topics like globalization's impact on American workers, the 2008 financial crisis, and the economic fallout from events such as Hurricane Katrina and the September 11 attacks. In October 2023, after more than two decades at , Romans joined as a senior business correspondent, where she contributes to broadcasts and online reporting on trends, policies, inflation, and consumer issues. Her reporting has earned prestigious accolades, including an Emmy Award for the CNN series Exporting America on and job losses, as well as a Award for excellence in . In , she received Iowa State University's James W. Schwartz Award for outstanding professional achievement from the Greenlee School of Journalism and Communication. Beyond television, Romans is an accomplished author who demystifies financial concepts for everyday audiences. Her books include Smart Is the New Rich: If You Can't Afford It, Put It Down (2009), a guide tailored for emphasizing practical wealth-building strategies, and How to Speak Money: The Language and Knowledge You Need Now (2011), co-authored with , which translates economic jargon into accessible advice. She has also contributed to discussions on through speaking engagements and interviews, often drawing on her Midwestern roots to highlight themes of and economic opportunity. Romans maintains a private personal life but is married to Ed Tobin, and the couple resides in with their three sons. Throughout her career, she has emphasized storytelling in , crediting her Iowa State education and early experiences for shaping her approach to explaining complex financial news to broad audiences.

Early life and education

Early years

Christine Romans was born on January 31, 1971, in Le Claire, . As the eldest of four children, she grew up in a close-knit amid the cornfields and family gatherings typical of Midwestern life, which instilled in her a strong and . Her Iowa roots profoundly influenced her worldview, emphasizing values of hard work and generosity passed down through generations. In a 2014 CNN segment tracing her heritage, Romans explored the story of her great-great-grandmother, Anna Jacobina Peterson, who immigrated from in 1886 at age 20, arriving in with just one bag before settling in western . Anna, who lived to 92 and was affectionately known as "bedstemor" (Danish for grandmother), exemplified by funding travel tickets for relatives, such as her nephew in 1930, and hosting newly arrived immigrants at her Council Bluffs home to help them learn English and trades. These family stories of courage, sacrifice, and support for others shaped Romans' understanding of her and motivated her to instill similar lessons in her own children. During her teenage years in Le Claire, Romans worked alongside her siblings at the local Pizza, gaining early insights into business operations and teamwork in a family-oriented environment. She developed an early interest in and writing, aspiring to become a reporter; her younger sister even conducted mock interviews with her for a pretend , fostering her passion for storytelling. Romans graduated from Pleasant Valley High School in 1989. She then transitioned to higher education at .

Academic background

Christine Romans earned a degree from in 1993, majoring in , , and . During her time at Iowa State, Romans immersed herself in student journalism, serving as editor-in-chief of the Iowa State Daily, the university's independent student newspaper. This leadership role involved overseeing editorial content and operations, providing her with practical experience in reporting and media production that laid the groundwork for her professional career in .

Professional career

Early journalism roles

Christine Romans began her journalism career in print media after graduating from Iowa State University with a degree in journalism. She started as a reporter for The Des Moines Register, where she honed her skills in investigative and general reporting in the mid-1990s. In the late , Romans moved to to work for Knight-Ridder Financial News, reporting from the futures trading pits at the and the . There, she covered key financial topics including bonds, stocks, derivatives, and , which established her early expertise in and economic . This role immersed her in the fast-paced world of commodities trading, providing foundational knowledge of market dynamics that would define her later career. Romans then transitioned from print to broadcast media as a reporter and anchor for Television, focusing on financial news coverage. In this position, she reported on global economic stories, building on her experience to deliver timely analysis of financial markets and policy developments. These early assignments at solidified her reputation for clear, accessible explanations of complex business topics, paving the way for her entry into major network television in 1999.

Tenure at CNN

Christine Romans joined CNN in 1999 as a reporter stationed at the , where she covered daily market openings and provided on-the-ground business news coverage during a period of significant economic expansion in the late 1990s. Over the subsequent years, she reported extensively from the trading floor, capturing the volatility of financial markets amid events like the dot-com boom and the post-September 11 economic downturn. In her early tenure, Romans expanded into on-air hosting roles on CNN's business-focused network, CNNfn, anchoring programs such as Street Sweep, which tracked market movements from the NYSE, and contributing to On the Money. She also served as a featured reporter and occasional substitute anchor on , delivering analysis on and trade issues. These roles solidified her reputation as a key voice in CNN's , blending real-time market reporting with broader economic storytelling. Romans distinguished herself through in-depth reporting on pivotal economic events and global trends, including the , the rise of , and the scandal, often highlighting the human and political dimensions of financial turmoil. Her Emmy Award-winning series Exporting America examined the impacts of and job on American workers, drawing attention to the intersections of business practices and U.S. policy. This work underscored her focus on how economic forces shape politics and everyday life, establishing her as CNN's chief business correspondent. In January 2014, Romans was named co-anchor of 's morning program Early Start, partnering with to deliver the 5 a.m. newscast that combined breaking news with economic insights. She held this position for nearly a decade, guiding viewers through major events like the economic fallout and ongoing market shifts until her departure. Romans announced her exit from on July 28, 2023, concluding a 24-year career at the network.

Role at NBC News

Christine Romans joined NBC News as a senior business correspondent on October 30, 2023, based in and reporting across all platforms, including and , as part of the business and technology unit. In this role, she focuses on economic analysis, financial policy, and their impacts on everyday Americans, leveraging her background in to provide clear, actionable insights. Romans has covered key economic developments, such as the ' September 2025 revision downward of job growth by 911,000 positions from April 2024 to March 2025, highlighting implications for labor market stability and consumer confidence during her appearances on . She has also examined homeownership challenges, reporting in April 2025 on stalled rates for and Gen Z amid high prices and affordability barriers, noting how bidding wars in competitive markets are pricing out younger buyers and pushing the median age of first-time homebuyers to a record high of nearly 40. During the 2024 election cycle, Romans analyzed the economy's role in voter sentiment, including a November 3 article on that described the U.S. economy's strength—marked by low and robust growth—yet persistent public dissatisfaction with , and how such perceptions could sway the presidential outcome. Post-election, she discussed on TODAY how economic frustrations, including 's toll on household finances, contributed to the results, with exit polls showing it as a top voter concern. Additionally, in September 2024, she reported on about economic conditions in swing counties and their potential to influence the race. In 2025, Romans continued her contributions with reporting on the economic fallout from California wildfires, including billions in projected insurance losses and broader implications for homeowners and the national insurance market, tying into air quality alerts and evacuation costs. She also provided financial guidance, such as in December 2024 segments on TODAY outlining year-end strategies like maxing out retirement contributions, reducing taxable income, and paying down debt to optimize finances before the new year. In November 2025, she offered tips on budgeting for personal interests and analyzed the stock market's worst day in over a month on TODAY, attributing declines to rising foreclosures, corporate layoffs, and economic uncertainty. Through regular NBCNews.com articles and on-air segments, Romans remains a key voice in demystifying complex economic trends for a broad audience.

Published works

Books

Christine Romans has authored three books on , drawing from her extensive experience in to provide practical advice on and wealth-building. These works emphasize themes of smart spending, debt management, and long-term , tailored to everyday readers navigating post-recession realities. Her first book, Smart Is the New Rich: If You Can't Afford It, Put It Down, published by Wiley in October 2010 (ISBN 978-0470642061), advocates for a "New Normal" approach to money management amid economic uncertainty. It outlines principles such as living below one's means, reducing debt, and treating finances like nutrition, with specific rules including negotiating expenses, saving 6-10% of income first, and avoiding unnecessary purchases. The book includes interactive guides on credit, savings, investing, taxes, and mortgages to help readers build financial resilience. In 2011, Romans co-authored How to Speak Money: The Language and Knowledge You Need Now with , also published by Wiley ( 978-1118114957). This 208-page volume demystifies financial jargon and economic concepts, enabling readers to better understand budgeting, investing, , and issues like and gender disparities in wealth-building. It provides practical tools for applying this knowledge to personal goals, such as saving for education or navigating international economic shifts. Romans' third book, Smart is the New Rich: Money Guide for Millennials, released by Wiley in March 2015 (ISBN 978-1118949351), builds on her earlier work with an interactive format designed for young adults. This 224-page guide addresses millennial-specific challenges like and career navigation through step-by-step advice, checklists, and quizzes on , savings, investing, taxes, and mortgages. It stresses using time effectively to accumulate wealth via disciplined habits, promoting in a post-credit-bubble .

Other contributions

Beyond her books, Christine Romans has made significant contributions through articles, columns, and speaking engagements that extend her expertise in and . At , she regularly contributes written pieces to , focusing on key economic issues affecting everyday Americans. For instance, in April 2025, she analyzed the challenges facing first-time homebuyers, noting how are delaying purchases into their late 30s and early 40s amid high interest rates and stagnant wages. Similarly, in September 2025, Romans reported on revised job data from the , highlighting that the U.S. economy added 911,000 fewer jobs than initially reported between April 2024 and March 2025, raising concerns about labor market resilience. During her over two-decade tenure at , Romans authored and contributed to numerous pieces on and , often exploring their impacts on American workers and markets. One notable example is her 2004 Emmy Award-winning investigation "Exporting America," which examined how and trade policies displaced U.S. jobs, drawing on data from industries like textiles and . These contributions, including regular commentary on programs like "Your Money," helped demystify complex financial trends for a broad audience. Romans has also been an active speaker, delivering lectures that connect economic theory to real-world implications. In 2010, she spoke at —her —on American economic hardships following , discussing job losses, , globalization's impact, and offering strategies for young professionals such as building financial habits and networking. More recently, in a 2023 with the Iowa Stater, she emphasized her identity as a first, stating that her journalistic work stems from a passion for about money's role in daily life. In addition, Romans has appeared as a guest on podcasts and panels to advise on . On the June 2022 episode of CNN's "Diversifying" , she shared strategies for recession-proofing finances, such as building funds equivalent to six months of expenses and diversifying investments amid economic . These engagements underscore her role in making accessible beyond traditional broadcasting.

Awards and recognition

Emmy Awards

Christine Romans received an in 2004 for her contributions to the "Exporting America" series on , which investigated the effects of on American jobs. This recognition highlighted her early work in at , where she focused on economic issues impacting workers. In 2017, Romans earned a for an Emmy in the Outstanding Hard in a Newscast category for "28 Hours Surrounded by ," a segment aired on Early Start. The story, co-anchored with , provided on-the-ground coverage of conflict. These Emmy achievements underscore Romans' versatility in CNN's and global reporting, spanning analysis to frontline .

Other honors

Romans was part of the CNN coverage teams that earned a Award for their reporting on and an Alfred I. duPont-Columbia University Award for their coverage of the 2004 Indian Ocean tsunami. Earlier, in 2007, the National Foundation for Women Legislators honored Romans with its Media Excellence Award for , acknowledging her insightful analysis of economic issues affecting women and families. This accolade underscored her ability to make complex financial topics accessible and relevant to a broad audience. In 2009, Christine Romans received the James W. Schwartz Award, the highest honor conferred by Iowa State University's Greenlee School of and Communication, recognizing her outstanding contributions to financial as an alumna of the . The award highlighted her career trajectory from print reporting at and Knight-Ridder Financial News to her prominent role at , where she had established herself as a leading voice in business and economic coverage. Romans' career impact has been further profiled in alumni publications, such as a 2023 feature in Iowa Stater, which recognizes her as an award-winning and emphasizes her enduring influence in financial media. She has also been invited to speak at events tied to her professional achievements, including a 2007 lecture at on economic topics, reflecting her status as a distinguished .

Personal life

Family

Christine Romans is married to Ed Tobin, a Reuters editor and producer. The couple's wedding date has not been publicly disclosed, but their marriage has been long-term, with the pair appearing together at events such as the 2019 tribute. Romans and Tobin have three sons, and the family maintains a relatively private life away from the public eye.

Residence and interests

Christine Romans resides in with her family. Although best known for her on-camera , Romans identifies primarily as a at her core. Her personal interests include educating others on and , particularly through books written in her spare time. She has also explored her family heritage, notably tracing her Danish roots in a 2014 CNN segment that highlighted stories of generosity from her ancestors.

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