Support the fact-based journalism you rely on with a donation to Marketplace today. Give Now!

Tess Vigeland

Former Host, Marketplace Money

SHORT BIO

Tess Vigeland was the host of Marketplace Money, a weekly personal finance program that looks at why we do what we do with our money: your life, with dollar signs. Vigeland and her guests took calls from listeners to answer their most vexing money management questions, and the program helped explain what the latest business and financial news means to our wallets and bank accounts.

Vigeland joined Marketplace in September 2001, as a host of Marketplace Morning Report. She rose at o-dark-thirty to deliver the latest in business and economic news for nearly four years before returning briefly to reporting and producing. She began hosting Marketplace Money in 2006 and ended her run as host in November of 2012. . Vigeland was also a back-up host for Marketplace.

Prior to joining the team at Marketplace, Vigeland reported and anchored for Oregon Public Broadcasting in Portland, where she received a Corporation for Public Broadcasting Silver Award for her coverage of the political scandal involving Senator Bob Packwood (R-Ore.). She co-hosted the weekly public affairs program Seven Days on OPB television, and also produced an hour-long radio documentary about safety issues at the U.S. Army chemical weapons depot in Eastern Oregon. Vigeland next served as a reporter and backup anchor at WBUR radio in Boston. She also spent two years as a sports reporter for NPR’s Only a Game.

For her outstanding achievements in journalism, Vigeland has earned numerous awards from the Associated Press and Society of Professional Journalists. Vigeland has a bachelor's degree from the Medill School of Journalism at Northwestern University. She is a contributor to The New York Times and is a volunteer fundraiser for the Pasadena Animal League and Pasadena Humane Society. In her free time, Vigeland studies at the Pasadena Conservatory of Music, continuing 20-plus years of training as a classical pianist.

Latest Stories (863)

Where the market dive began

Aug 17, 2007
The stock market took another dive this week as fears of an imploding credit market continued to spread. At issue are expectations that the current credit crunch might get worse. Host Tess Vigeland goes back to the beginning of it all with economist Mark Zandi.
Traders on floor of the New York Stock Exchange
(Stephen Chernin / Getty Images)

529 ways to save for college

Aug 17, 2007
When it comes to college, high school seniors have a lot to consider. But if their parents opened up a 529 plan, one thing they won't have to think about is where to get the money to pay for it. Tess Vigeland talks to Money Magazine writer Penelope Wang.
College money
(istockphoto)

U.S. increasing pressure on Iran

Aug 15, 2007
The Bush administration is reportedly taking steps to list Iran's Revolutionary Guard, which has substantial business operations, as a terrorist organization. The move would also put pressure on countries still doing business with Iran. Stephen Beard explains.
Iranian Revolutionary Guards take part in a demonstration held in Tehran to mark Jerusalem (Al-Quds) Day in Oct. 2006.
Behrouz Mehri, AFP/Getty Images

What score do rating agencies get?

Aug 15, 2007
There are lots of bogeymen in the subprime crisis -- lenders, brokers, investors, even homeowners. And here's another one: credit rating agencies. Kim Clark of U.S. News and World Report explains their role.
Foreclosure sign
Getty Images

Making sense of a market tailspin

Aug 10, 2007
A week after closing at a record high, the Dow posted its biggest one-day decline since February. What's going on? To help make sense of it, Tess Vigeland talks to Marketplace Money's economics editor Chris Farrell.
Traders on floor of New York Stock Exchange
Getty Images

Some flyers go the distance

Aug 10, 2007
Most people don't mind flying -- except when they're forced to endure long hours and multiple stop-overs. But there is one type of traveler that not only doesn't mind stop-overs, they ask for them. Tess talks to Wired Magazine writer Dave Demerjian about "mileage runners."
Plane seats
Natalie Behring-Chisholm, Getty Images

Straight Story: Higher education

Aug 10, 2007
Economics editor Chris Farrell reacts to information that many universities are charging different tuitions based on the major of the student.
Economics editor Chris Farrell
American Public Media

Mailbag for Friday, August 10, 2007

Aug 10, 2007
Chris Farrell answers listener questions about using a custodial account, opening a home equity loan and allocating a retirement account.
Mailbag
Getty Images

San Jose club says stocks 'sexy'

Aug 10, 2007
With their cash pool up since April, our San Jose club is looking over some new investments and considering whether or not to shed some of the old ones. And yes, sometimes an unusual investment can be sexy.
San Jose skyline
City of San Jose

Straight Story: Unfair taxes

Aug 3, 2007
This week, economics editor Chris Farrell ponders why some big money earners pay a much less ratio of taxes when compared with other Americans.
Economics editor Chris Farrell
APM Photo