Rachel DePompa
Investigative reporter
Rachel DePompa is Director of Investigations and a mid-day anchor for 12 On Your Side.
Rachel’s been a staple of Richmond television for more than 17 years. She’s won numerous Emmys and has served on the board of the Capital Chesapeake Bay Chapter of the National Academy of Television Arts and Sciences. Rachel grew up in Waldorf, Md., and graduated from the University of Maryland with a degree in broadcast journalism.
Rachel also hosted and edited our How We Got Here Podcast. You can now catch her series Watching Your Wallet here at 12 On Your Side and at most of our TV stations across Gray Television.
She got her start in TV anchoring newscasts in Harrisonburg, Virginia. She also worked in Bristol and Roanoke before joining WWBT in March of 2008. Rachel met her husband here in Richmond and loves spending time with her family, which includes twins - a boy and a girl.
A new school year is here and most of us have been focused on back-to-school shopping. But it’s also the perfect time to budget for the school year. Consumer Investigator Rachel DePompa talks to Virginia Credit Union for tips to budget for future school expenses.
Teaching your teens about money now can pay a lifetime of dividends. Consumer Investigator Rachel DePompa talks to a financial expert about ways to make money conversations easy, yet realistic.
Every financial expert will tell you to make your money work for you, especially when it’s just sitting in a savings account. Consumer Investigator Rachel DePompa talks to Tayne Law Group about getting the best rates possible.
A new survey finds many Americans are going into debt to make beauty purchases. Consumer Investigator Rachel DePompa talks to NerdWallet about their “2024 Cost of Beauty Report.”
Stocks or bonds? Many Americans don't know the difference between the two. Consumer Investigator Rachel DePompa talks to Agili about the basics of investing.
35% of Americans said in a new Bankrate survey the tipping culture in America is out of control. Consumer Investigator Rachel DePompa talks to them about the dos and don'ts and how technology is changing how we tip.
Preparing for your child to go to college can be a daunting, particularly when you think about the price tag. Consumer Investigator Rachel DePompa spoke with The College Investor to get tips and tricks to save money.
It’s often called “the happiest place on earth” but Disney trips can be quite pricey. Consumer Investigator Rachel DePompa takes a look at the data, the cost, and helps you find ways to save.
College is expensive in more ways than just tuition. Consumer Investigator Rachel DePompa talks to Agili about why it is important to teach college students budgeting and money management skills.
Looming debt can seem like a more urgent issue than your retirement. Consumer Investigator Rachel DePompa talks to Tayne Law Group about why you should find a balance between the two.
It’s no secret that college is expensive and many need help paying for it. Consumer Investigator Rachel DePompa talks to The College Investor on how you can find opportunities for last-minute financial aid.
As automobiles grow more advanced, privacy concerns arise over whether car makers use your vehicle’s data to for third-party sales
It's often a favorite time of the week: payday. But before you spend it all, Consumer Investigator Rachel DePompa finds out why you need to sit down, breathe and think first.
Money is really straining a lot of Americans’ mental health. Consumer Investigator Rachel DePompa talks to the people behind a new Bankrate study on this very topic and what you can do to counteract the money stress.
42% of parents with school aged children said they would go into debt to pay for back-to-school items that would help their children fit in. Consumer Investigator Rachel DePompa gets advice from NerdWallet on how to save during back-to-school shopping.
Only 40% of Americans know carrying a credit card balance hurt their credit score. Consumer Investigator Rachel DePompa talks to NerdWallet about ways to dig yourself out of debt.
On average, moving customers lost around $836 to scams last year. Consumer Investigator Rachel DePompa talks to HireAHelper about the pitfalls to avoid when hiring a mover and how to spot one of these scams.
More than 70% of Americans in a Bankrate survey said they chase credit card rewards. Consumer Investigator Rachel DePompa talks to them about the pros and cons.
22% of parents with young children tell NerdWallet they are not planning on having any more kids because the cost of raising a child is too high. Consumer Investigator Rachel DePompa talks to them to get more insight into the data and ways you can save some money.
An Empower survey shows that 62% of Americans do not talk about money with their family. Consumer Investigator Rachel DePompa spoke with Virginia Credit Union about how the benefits of discussing finances far outweigh the potential downsides.
78% of Americans say they live paycheck to paycheck, according to a 2023 study by Payroll.org. Consumer Investigator Rachel DePompa shares advice from @The Responsible Homegirl on how to break the cycle.
It’s an alluring concept, buy something now, pay for it later, but Bankrate reports that more than half of users have run into problems. Consumer Investigator Rachel DePompa has a look at how you can prevent the most common issues.
More than a third of Americans think their parents will need financial assistance as they age. Consumer Investigator Rachel DePompa talks to NerdWallet about how to do just that.
Money can play a big role in the destruction of a relationship or even a friendship. Consumer Investigator Rachel DePompa spoke to a debt relief attorney about tips to help you navigate financial habits together.
While babies are cute, it’s no secret they’re expensive. Consumer Investigator Rachel DePompa has some simple ideas you can consider.
You’ve likely received a seemingly legitimate call or text asking for your personal information, but should you trust it? Consumer Investigator Rachel DePompa spoke with Virginia Credit Union about ways to spot phishing and how you can avoid becoming a victim.
As the cost of living grows, more and more people are turning to side hustles to supplement their income. Consumer Investigator Rachel DePompa gets advice from MarketWatch about how to make a side hustle work for you.
Around 27% of men say their salary increased over the last year while just 21% of women said the same. Consumer Investigator Rachel DePompa talked to NerdWallet about their study and ways more women can fight for pay increases.
Interest rates remain sky high, meaning if you carry any balance on a credit card, you’re paying a lot of extra money right now. Consumer Investigator Rachel DePompa talks to the Tayne Law Group about how to negotiate lower interest rates.
Summer vacations with the family are as much fun as they are unpredictable. Consumer Investigator Rachel DePompa talks to Virginia Credit Union about building up your vacation fund and planning for the unexpected.
More and more Americans are getting denied car loans and car leases. Consumer Investigator Rachel DePompa finds out what's going on and gets some advice from Bankrate on how to turn that denial into a yes.
Many of us make financial goals at the start of the year but life often gets in the way of seeing those goals through. Consumer Investigator Rachel DePompa talked to the The Responsible Homegirl about a summertime, financial reset.
Credit card rates are near record high yet a third of Americans say they are willing to go into debt to pay for summer travel. Consumer Investigator Rachel DePompa spoke to Bankrate about how to avoid putting everything on a credit card.
Around two thirds of Americans have a negative view of banks. Which is why Consumer Investigator Rachel DePompa talks to a debt relief attorney about how to bank smarter.
On this day in history, Allied forces launched the most aggressive amphibious invasion of the world has ever known.
If you plan to travel this summer experts say there are still some ways to save money. Consumer Investigator Rachel DePompa gets some ideas from Virginia Credit Union.
With the price of fun skyrocketing a new Bankrate survey finds a third of Americans are willing to go into debt for travel, dining out or live entertainment. Consumer Investigator Rachel DePompa finds out more on how to prevent this.
The price of car insurance rose 22.6% in the last year. Consumer Investigator Rachel DePompa talks to Virginia Credit Union about ways you can lower your bill.
If you're in over your head in credit card debt, you may be considering a personal loan. Consumer Investigator Rachel DePompa spoke to MoneyTips about the pros and cons of a personal loan.
A balance transfer with a 0% APR can be a great way to pay off lingering debt. However, Consumer Investigator Rachel DePompa talked to Leslie Tayne about why not all balance transfers are a great deal.
25% of pet owners say they would go into debt to pay for life-saving medical care for their furry friend. Consumer Investigator Rachel DePompa speaks to NerdWallet, the company behind this new survey, to discuss the pros and cons of pet insurance.
Credit card rewards are great, but only if you pay your bills in full and avoid interest. Consumer Investigator Rachel DePompa talks to Bankrate about the best way to use rewards credit cards.
36% of Americans have more credit card debt than they do emergency savings, according to a new study. Consumer Investigator Rachel DePompa talks to Bankrate about how to prioritize debt while also saving for an emergency fund.
All-Terrain Vehicles and Side by Sides send about 100,000 Americans to the emergency room every year. Children under the age of 16 riding ATVs have the highest risk for death.
If you're lugging around credit card debt in 2024, it's time to plan to pay it off. Consumer Investigator Rachel DePompa spoke with a debt lawyer about the five biggest mistakes she sees clients making when they try to get rid of debt.
Myths about credit cards are abundant. Consumer Investigator Rachel DePompa talks to Virginia Credit Union to bust the top five credit card myths.
Whether it’s saving for an emergency fund or saving for retirement, there are different ways to look at how you grow that money. Consumer Investigator Rachel DePompa talks to an expert from Agili about short and long-term savings goals.
This summer as your kids potentially spend more and more time online, make sure you are aware of the biggest risks online. Consumer Investigator Rachel DePompa spoke to Kaspersky about the top five online threats to kids.
Wedding season is upon us and whether you're planning a wedding or are an invited guest, there are ways to budget and save and relieve yourself of the stress. Consumer Investigator Rachel DePompa explains.
Many of us use Bluetooth technology to connect our phones to other devices or to make it easier to send messages or photos. But leaving your Bluetooth open to the public can be dangerous. Consumer Investigator Rachel DePompa has a warning about a wave of smartphone attacks through "bluejacking".
