Ask The Readers: Who Are Your Favorite Personal Finance Gurus?
Editor's Note: Congratulations to Catseye, Jennifer, and Linda for winning this week's contest!
The Financial Blogger Conference (#FinCon13) is right around the corner and some of the most well-known personal finance gurus in the industry will be attending the conference! While tickets to the #FinCon13 are already sold out, you can still purchase a virtual pass so you don't miss any of the amazing talks. Gurus such as Jean Chatzky, Liz Weston, Pat Flynn, and Derek Halpern will be speaking in addition to many of your favorite personal finance bloggers. You won't want to miss any of the sessions!
Who are your favorite personal finance gurus? What makes them your favorites? Which personal finance expert have you been following the longest? Are there any new personal finance gurus you just discovered?
Tell us about your favorite personal finance gurus and we'll enter you in a drawing to win a $20 Amazon Gift Card!
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For everything other than investing it would be the late Joe Dominguez. For investing it would be Jack Bogle
I've been following Pat Flynn for a while.
You're awesome Mary! Thank you! :D
Kai Ryssdal
Host of Marketplace on NPR makes explaining finance, the markets and the economy interesting and even fun.
Dave Ramsey is the only one for me. Buy only what you need and pay cash! His no nonsense approach really piqued my interest and his books have been a great help.
I would like to nominate Trent from The Simple Dollar. He was the first personal finance blogger that I read--dating back six or seven years. He is so dependable, every morning his post arrives.
I'm very excited to see Liz Weston. I used to read her books when I was trying to bet my financial life in order, before I ever knew there were personal financial blogs.
I like Dave Ramsey
I think my favorite financial gurus are all the great personal finance bloggers out there! I'm not a fan of anyone who is selling products that promise to get people to a better financial state - I much prefer the great advice that so many excellent bloggers are writing about every day. Regular people doing well is what I find inspirational, and it's fun to read about new ideas, share thoughts and experiences, and be able to interact with everyone in the PF community in a variety of ways.
Clark Howard! I listen to his podcast during my long commute to/from work, and his advice is always helpful, practical, and I never feel like I'm being preached to. I think he genuinely cares for people's financial well-being and empowers us to take control of our money.
You mean besides all the great contributors to WiseBread? :) I honestly enjoy reading the concise and interesting finance blogs by "amateurs" more than the bigger names like Suze Orman, etc. Dave Ramsey seems to have some decent practical, down-to-earth advice for people like me, but the religious angle gets kind of annoying.
I would have to say that Dave Ramsey is my go-to, favorite money guru. He's been there, in debt and pulled himself out of it with practical steps that work. He's helped so many people be free from debt and the problems that go with debt.
I like the blog "Get Rich Slowly," as well as Oprah!
LOVE dave ramsey. such do-able advice that puts personal responsibility at the top.
I like Suze Orman because she tells it like it is and Farnoosh Torabi. I've read both their financial books which is pretty good I also like Glinda Bridgforth too and have read a lot of her books too!
I don't follow any gurus at present. I prefer just common sense advice in general though.
I like Dave Ramsey and Mary Hunt because they bring God into their financial decisions. I like Vicki Robin and Joe Dominguez because of their unique way of looking at money.
Common Sense with Money. They help me match coupons to sales to save the most money!
I've always been partial to Liz Weston. I like her books, which I've been reading for, idk, maybe 10 years? I've also read Dave Ramsey, though by the time I found him I was past the point of needing much of his advice, as I'd already gotten out of debt.
Love David Ramsey
Liz Weston is my all-around go-to guru. She's a member of the real world, i.e., a person who understands that credit cards are not evil but most be approached with extreme sanity and a person who knows that sometimes (stuff) just happens and it takes time to dig your way out. She's not a mouthpiece for banks, retailers or any other industry and she advocates a balanced approach to life.
Tweeted this:
https://twitter.com/DLFreedman/status/387640272521158656
I like you on Facebook (but not that way).
In order:
- Mr. Money Moustache
- Garth Turner
- Canadian Couch Potato
Mr. Money Moustache: A breath of fresh air who's telling it like it is and should be. Too much consumerism going on and we're ruining our futures and the planet by spending in foolish ways. He doesn't take crap from sissy debt whiners either--tells them to get their act together.
Greater Fool: The lone wolf out there who seems to be the only one telling the truth about Canadian real estate and the whole social Ponzi scheme built around it. Once every few weeks he offers crumbs of financial advice which, if you've followed exactly what he's said over the past two years, you are have made a hug pile of money. (Thanks, Garth!)
Canadian Couch Potato: For advising the most logical (and really the only sane) strategy the average investor should take. Bonus points for the sample portfolios because it really showed me what one should look like. He always keeps the John Bogle style level-headed and balanced approach no matter what the markets are doing. ...And I need this reminder.
95% of the rest of the blogs are people who are in debt yet think they're qualified to give financial advice. Most of them are sissies when it comes to actually owning up to their debt and getting out of it. (i.e., the only reason they really have a blog in the first place is to try and make a side hustle out it.) ...Or they tell you crazy things like how to make your own toothpaste.
Dave Ramsey, Mary Hunt, Suze Orman, and Clark Howard.
I'm a fan of Suze Orman b/c she keeps it real! I would be scared to ask her something right now though, but at least I know I can if I wanted to!
Wow, I don't have a personal finance guru. I guess I'd better look into this!
John Bogle is the guru for investing. Wade Pfau is the guru for retirement goals. Suze Orman is the guru for financial fun.
Dave Ramsey...don't spend what you don't have! Simple as that.
Michelle Singletary and the wisdom of her Big Mama can't be beat for real, practical advice. The book was titled 7 Money Mantras for a Richer Life when it was first published in 2004. She also writes a column for the Washington Post.
Jean Chatzky tells it like it is
My son Ryan Munson @ Edward Jones !
Pinyo Bhulipongsanon from Moolanomy. He's extremely helpful and detailed in explaining the many techniques of financial planning.
Oh I would have to say Dave Ramsey for me! I have been following him for awhile now, and I love how he relates and really tries to help others get out of debt too!
Suze Orman's the only one I watch/listen to. I don't agree with everything she says, but I do agree with the majority of it. I steer clear of Dave Ramsey because I'm not religious. I've never heard of the people mentioned above.
The first book I read on personal finance was George Claxon's The Richest Man in Babylon - sound principles that still hold true.
My favorite is Dave Ramsey.
Mr. Money Mustache is my favorite!
I like Liz Weston a lot - great advice that is straightforward and practical. My mom is actually a bit of a personal finance guru. She offers advice with a sense of humor.
I read Ramsey's book and it really made sense to me. I don't have any gurus that I particularly like. I read over 100 financial blogs and any book that comes my way and there's a wealth of information in any of these places.
I like Larry Winget. The no holds barred guy that makes you KNOW that you are poor because you want to be. He sold blood to pay his mortgage back in the day. He really let you know that he went through it all and made it out ahead, and you can too.
Mr. Money Mustache is my favorite, I also like J.D. Roth and Trent @ The simple dollar.
I love Dave Ramsey, for the reasons that others have mentioned. Also, even though she focused more on ways to save money rather than personal finance, Amy Dacyczyn of the Tightwad Gazette is one of my favorites - I reread my copy of The Complete Tightwad Gazette whenever I need some fresh inspiration to live frugally.
I can't say I have a favorite. I read a lot of financial blogs. Probably not considered a financial guru, but Cindy from livingrichwithcoupons.com has helped keep my food budget way down!
I like Gail Vaz Oxlade and then Suze Orman, my husband can't stand Suze though.
I like And Then We Saved (Anna Newell-Jones) best for reading and ideas, but follow Money Saving Mom and Hip2Save for deals.
Dave ramsey would be my choice
I don't follow any gurus or experts, I just read a bunch of blogs.
Paul Merriman. I read his book, "Living It Up Without Outliving Your Money," before the Great Recession. I followed his advice for my retirement savings, stuck with it through the recession, and ended up in great shape.
I love Dave Ramsey. Next I've gotten my BEST advice on money from my Grandfather who was a mayor & farmer durring the Great Depression. How he kept the town running and fed the poor on next to nothing is amazing. He had a barter system set up where farmers traded produce or anything from the farm for "free labor" in the fields or for goods at the store. The poor "worked in the fields", swept streets, voluntered at hospitial etc...to get food & clothing. The store keeper loved getting fresh milk & farm items to resale for trade for overalls, tin pans etc.
i don't really have one
We have been following Dave Ramsey primarily. But reading other material as well. I am also hooked on Wise Bread... it provides a lot of encouragement for the long haul! :)
I like Dave Ramsey!
Wisebread, of course!!! :)
I don't have one. I try to pick and choose whatever works.
I enjoy following many different financial bloggers and experts. Dave Ramsey and J. Money are two I really enjoy that give me two different perspectives on things.
Trent from the simple dollar. He gives me idea in how to teach the kids about money management
I have been a fan of Clark Howard for over several years and was so excited when he got his own segment on CNN, but loved it when he did guest appearances for shows like Rachael Ray because of the info he imparted
MMM Mr. Money Mustache
Hands down, Gail Vaz-Oxlade. We've been using her "magic jars" for a couple of years now, and it's made a HUGE difference in our bottom line. I love her "smack upside the head" kind of approach--I definitely needed it. I'm tremendously grateful to her!
Donna Freedman and Liz Weston are at the top of my list.
Get Rich Slowly, J.D. Roth and Wisebread.
Joe Dominguez and Vicki Robin as well as Amy Dacyczyn (classics).
I don't really have a favorite
I would say Dave Ramsey.
I second Trent from The Simple Dollar. His tips are simple, and his tone is friendly and not one bit pretentious. I like that he factors charitable giving and other good works into his idea of a frugal lifestyle, too.
Dave Ramsey for me.
I am absolutely a Dave Ramsey fan. He woke me up through his tough talk to the financial situation that I was really in. My husband and I now sit down and really look at our budget and are committed to a debt free way of life.
Trent from the simple dollar.
Farnoosh Torabi, Ashley Jacobs and Jake Fuentes