Insana graduated from Chaminade College Preparatory in 1979 and was recognized as "Distinguished Alumnus of the Year" in 2005. He graduated with honors from California State University, Northridge.

Insana began his career in 1984 as an FNN production assistant, rising to managing editor and chief of FNN's Los Angeles bureau at the time the two networks combined. While at FNN, he was nominated for a Golden ACE Award for his role in covering the 1987 stock market crash. Trend Watching: How to Avoid Wall Street's Next Fads, Manias and Bubbles, his third book, was published by Harpers Business in November, 2002. His first book, Traders' Tales (John Wiley), a compendium of anecdotes about Wall Street life, was published in 1996. His second book, The Message of the Markets, was published by Harpers Business in October 2000.Insana joined CNBC in the 1991 merger with the Financial News Network. He is a regular contributor to NBC's The Today Show and NBC Nightly News as well as Imus in the Morning before its MSNBC cancellation and the formerly 15-minute Market Wrap on sister network MSNBC, and other programs when market activity warrants. On September 11, 2001, he was covered in dust and described what he witnessed when the towers collapsed on NBC's Today show with Matt Lauer and Katie Couric. Additionally, Insana writes a monthly column for USA Today entitled "Talking Business with Ron Insana" and at one time hosted the nationally syndicated radio program, The Ron Insana Show, on Westwood One. On Apr 1, 2010, he was sitting in for Pimm Fox, Taking Stock, on Bloomberg Television & Radio.

Insana was nominated for a News and Documentary Emmy Award as part of NBC's coverage of 9/11, and in 1999, Insana was named one of the top 100 business news journalists of the century by TJFR Group.Insana garnered an exclusive interview with President George W. Bush to discuss the economy, Social Security reform and energy policy. This was the second exclusive interview he has had with the President in two years.

On March 1, 2006, Insana left his anchor duties when his contract at CNBC expired to start his own hedge fund, Insana Capital Partners. In August, 2008 the fund ceased operations and he joined SAC Capital Advisors in an unknown capacity. On February 27, 2009, Mr. Insana left SAC Capital. He is now planning on returning to the media industry. Mr. Insana is also actively involved in Junior Achievement of New York, The Michael J. Fox Foundation, The Robin Hood Foundation and Autism Speaks.

CNBC TV

• Street Signs (1996—2002, 2003—2006)
• Business Center (1999—2003)
• Inside Opinion (?-1997(?)
• Business Insiders (?-1996(?))
• Management Today