Where Do Americans Get Their Money Advice? Top Authors and Books
If those money-based New Year’s resolutions are starting to collect dust with the treadmill you got for Christmas, maybe it’s time for a little inspiration. The right self-help book can reignite the flame, make your money stress feel less daunting and set you on the path to financial wellness once again.
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Using a variety of sources, including The New York Times Best Sellers list and the Amazon Best Sellers list, GOBankingRates identified the top 15 books and authors that America turns to for advice, inspiration and guidance. Although they all have their own formats and features, all were written to help you manage your money, pursue wealth and experience the fresh air of financial freedom.
Discover: See the Full List of Money’s Most Influential and More
From real estate and debt relief to investing and entrepreneurialism, there’s truly something for everyone on this list. Together, these books and their authors have inspired and assisted millions of Americans and citizens of the world. You’ll learn about their other projects, podcasts, seminars, lectures, etc., although it should be noted that the “other media project titles” list is not always exhaustive. Keep reading to meet your new favorite money authors, find out how to follow them on social media and learn about what other people are saying.
Last updated: April 20, 2021
Andrew Aziz
Work being recognized: “How to Day Trade for a Living”
Other media project titles: “Advanced Techniques in Day Trading” (book); “Stock Market Explained” (book); “Mastering Trading Psychology” (book)
Accolades: No. 8 Amazon Personal Finance list bestseller, Feb. 9, 2021
Twitter followers: 11,900
Twitter handle: @BearBullTraders
Instagram followers: 40,500
Instagram handle: bearbulltraders
Bio: Andrew Aziz is a Canadian trader and the proprietary fund manager of Peak Capital Trading. A No. 1 bestselling author, he has ranked among the top 100 authors in Amazon’s “Business and Finance” category every year consecutively since 2016.
Nearly 1,000 Audible reviewers give 4.6 stars to “How to Day Trade for a Living,” which is a guide to the enviable free life of an independent day trader.
Discover More: Best Money Experts for Each Generation
Barbara Huson
Work being recognized: “Secrets of Six-Figure Women”
Other media project titles: “Rewire for Wealth” (book); “Sacred Success” (book); “Overcoming Underearning” (book)
Accolades: NYMag: The 13 Best Personal Finance Books, According to Money Experts
Twitter followers: 4,564
Twitter handle: @TheBarbaraHuson
Instagram followers: 1,948
Instagram handle: thebarbarahuson
Bio: A bestselling financial author, wealth coach and financial therapist with more than two decades in the industry, Barbara Huson is famous for helping women redefine their relationships with money and power.
The author interviewed more than 150 women from a variety of backgrounds — from freelancers to CEOs — to learn the secrets of their six-figure success.
Read: Where Do Americans Get Their Money Advice? Top TV Shows
Dave Ramsey
Work being recognized: “The Total Money Makeover” (book); “The Ramsey Show” (radio/podcast)
Other media project titles: “Financial Peace” (book); “More Than Enough” (book); “EntreLeadership” (book); “Dave Ramsey’s Complete Guide to Money” (book); “The Legacy Journey” (book); “Smart Money Smart Kids” (book)
Accolades: No. 5 and No. 7 Amazon Personal Finance list bestseller, Feb. 9, 2021; NYMag: The 13 Best Personal Finance Books, According to Money Experts; No. 3 2020 Talkers Heavy Hundred
Twitter followers: 939,600
Twitter handle: @DaveRamsey
Instagram followers: 2,600,000
Instagram handle: daveramsey
Bio: Dave Ramsey is a personal money management expert and popular national radio personality. He has authored seven bestselling books that have sold a combined 11 million copies: “Financial Peace,” “More Than Enough,” “The Total Money Makeover,” “EntreLeadership,” “Dave Ramsey’s Complete Guide to Money,” “The Legacy Journey” and “Smart Money Smart Kids.”
Ramsey’s all-time bestselling book, “The Total Money Makeover,” enjoys a rating of 4.7 out of 5 stars after nearly 20,000 reviews on Amazon.
See: 10 Financial Books That Will Change Your Life (and Finances)
Editor’s Note: Ramsey Solutions, the company founded by Dave Ramsey, has recently faced multiple lawsuits over controversial internal policies.
David Bach
Work being recognized: “The Automatic Millionaire;” “Smart Women Finish Rich”
Other media project titles: “The Latte Factor” (book); “Start Late Finish Rich” (book); “Go Green Live Rich” (book); “Fight For Your Money and Debt Free For Life” (book)
Accolades: NYMag: The 13 Best Personal Finance Books, According to Money Experts
Twitter followers: 18,600
Twitter handle: @AuthorDavidBach
Instagram followers: 23,300
Instagram handle: davidlbach
Bio: David Bach is one of America’s most prolific bestselling financial authors. He has written 10 consecutive New York Times bestsellers with more than 7 million books in print translated into at least 19 languages. He is one of the only business authors in history to have four books on the Wall Street Journal, BusinessWeek and USA Today bestseller lists at the same time.
“The Automatic Millionaire” spent 31 weeks on The New York Times Best Sellers list.
Read: Where Do Americans Get Their Money Advice? Top Podcasts and Radio Shows
Erin Lowry
Work being recognized: “Broke Millennial: Stop Scraping By and Get Your Financial Life Together”
Other media project titles: “Broke Millennial Takes On Investing” (book); “Broke Millennial Talks Money: Scripts, Stories and Advice to Navigate Awkward Financial Conversations” (book); Broke Millennial (website)
Accolades: NYMag: The 13 Best Personal Finance Books, According to Money Experts; Time: 10 Financial Experts You Should Be Following Right Now; Financial Advice for Broke Millenials
Twitter followers: 28,600
Twitter handle: @BrokeMillennial
Instagram followers: 39,400
Instagram handle: brokemillennialblog
Bio: Erin Lowry considers herself a “financial translator” who helps millennials get their financial lives together and level up their money. Preaching and finger-wagging not included.
“Broke Millennial” is actually a three-book series, each volume of which explores a different angle of the #GYFLT theme.
See: Where Do Americans Get Their Money Advice? Top Blogs and Websites
Grant Cardone
Work being recognized: “The 10x Rule”
Other media project titles: Grant Cardone TV (network); “If You’re Not First, You’re Last” (book); “Sell or Be Sold” (book)
Accolades: No. 16 Amazon Personal Finance list bestseller, Feb. 9, 2021
Twitter followers: 460,500
Twitter handle: @GrantCardone
Instagram followers: 3,200,000
Instagram handle: grantcardone
Bio: Grant Cardone is the CEO of CardoneCapital as well as an international speaker, entrepreneur and the creator of more than 20 bestselling business programs. In all, he owns and operates seven privately held companies and a $1.5 billion portfolio of multifamily properties.
As the title implies, this bestseller introduces readers to strategies designed to increase wealth and success by a multiplier of 10.
Check Out: 16 Money Rules That Millionaires Swear By
J. L. Collins
Work being recognized: “The Simple Path to Wealth”
Other media project titles: Stock Series (blog)
Accolades: No. 23 Amazon Personal Finance list bestseller, Feb. 9, 2021; NYT Bestseller in Monthly Business List, February 2021
Twitter followers: 14,600
Twitter handle: @JLCollinsNH
Instagram followers: N/A
Instagram handle: N/A
Bio: J.L. Collins’ books, speeches, podcasts and series have made him one of the most prominent authorities on work, life, travel and business.
With an impressive rating of 4.8 stars on Amazon, “The Simple Path to Wealth” has been lauded for clearing the informational clutter surrounding wealth and money.
Read: Real Estate Investing Guru Mindy Jensen Says To Avoid These Types of Properties
Morgan Housel
Work being recognized: “The Psychology of Money”
Other media project titles: Former columnist for The Wall Street Journal
Accolades: No. 19, No. 26 Amazon Personal Finance list bestseller, Feb. 9, 2021
Twitter followers: 240,100
Twitter handle: @morganhousel
Instagram followers: 1,057
Instagram handle: morganhousel1
Bio: Morgan Housel is a partner at the Collaborative Fund and a former columnist at The Wall Street Journal and The Motley Fool. He is a winner of The New York Times Sidney Award, a two-time winner of the Best in Business Award from the Society of American Business Editors and Writers and a two-time finalist for the Gerald Loeb Award for Distinguished Business and Financial Journalism.
95% of Amazon reviewers gave “The Psychology of Money” either 4 or 5 stars, with one reviewer writing “There is just no way you can finish this quick read and not be a better spouse, parent or provider for it.”
See: Paula Pant Achieved Financial Independence — Here’s What’s Holding Other Women Back
Rachel Cruze
Work being recognized: “Know Yourself, Know Your Money”
Other media project titles: “Love Your Life, Not Theirs” (book); “Smart Money Smart Kids” (book); The Rachel Cruze Show (video and podcast)
Accolades: NYT Bestseller Monthly Business List, 2/2021
Twitter followers: 143,000
Twitter handle: @RachelCruze
Instagram followers: 388,000
Instagram handle: rachelcruze
Bio: The daughter of Dave Ramsey, Rachel Cruze has authored three bestselling books and hosts “The Rachel Cruze Show,” which is available on Facebook and YouTube. “The Rachel Cruze Show podcast” is available on Apple Podcasts and Google Podcasts.
In “Know Yourself, Know Your Money,” Rachel Cruze answers the two most important questions about money — why people treat it the way they do and how they can change their behavior.
See: Finance Pro Rachel Cruze Shares the Biggest Money Mistake You’re Probably Making
Ramit Sethi
Work being recognized: “I Will Teach You to Be Rich”
Other media project titles: I Will Teach You To Be Rich (blog/website)
Accolades: No. 23 Amazon Personal Finance list bestseller, Feb. 9, 2021; NYT Bestseller in Monthly Business List, February 2021; Time: 10 Financial Experts You Should Be Following Right Now — Growing Your Personal Wealth
Twitter followers: 186,100
Twitter handle: @Ramit
Instagram followers: 229,000
Instagram handle: ramit
Bio: A New York Times bestselling author and founder of iwillteachyoutoberich.com, Ramit Sethi’s work has been read by 1 million people.
Sethi wrote “I Will Teach You to Be Rich” specifically for 20- to 35-year-olds, who the author calls “a generation that’s materially ambitious yet financially clueless.”
More: How Much Debt Americans Have at Every Age
Robert T. Kiyosaki
Work being recognized: “Rich Dad Poor Dad” series
Other media project titles: Rich Dad Radio Show (radio/podcast); The Rich Dad Channel (video); “Why We Want You To Be Rich” (book); “Midas Touch” (book); “Who Stole My Pension?” (book); “Second Chance” (book)
Accolades: #1, #9, #13 AMZN Personal Finance list bestseller, Feb. 9, 2021
Twitter followers: 1,500,000
Twitter handle: @therealkiyosaki
Instagram followers: 1,700,000
Instagram handle: therealkiyosaki
Bio: An entrepreneur, educator and investor, Robert Kiyosaki has challenged and changed the way tens of millions of people around the world think about money.
Billed as the No. 1 personal finance book of all time, “Rich Dad Poor Dad” remains one of the most often-cited inspirations for successful people across all disciplines and industries.
Check Out: Why You Shouldn’t Work For Money — and What To Work For Instead
Scott Trench
Work being recognized: “Set for Life” (book); BiggerPockets Money (podcast)
Other media project titles: BiggerPockets (contributor to website)
Accolades: NYMag: The 13 Best Personal Finance Books, According to Money Experts; Time + NextAdvisor’s Best Finance Podcasts of 2021
Twitter followers: 4,985
Twitter handle: @STrenchBP
Instagram followers: 19,500
Instagram handle: scott_trench
Bio: Scott Trench is the CEO and president of BiggerPockets, which helps ordinary Americans build wealth in part through real estate investing. Since joining BiggerPockets in 2014, Scott has authored the bestselling wealth-building book “Set for Life” and joined Mindy Jensen as co-host of the BiggerPockets Money podcast.
Bigger Pockets is America’s preeminent real estate podcast, but “Set For Life” goes beyond property investing to focus on money management in general.
Read: 8 Insider Tips To Get Rich in Real Estate
Timothy Ferriss
Work being recognized: “The 4-Hour Workweek” (book); Tim Ferris Show (podcast)
Other media project titles: “The 4-Hour Workweek” (book); “The 4-Hour Body” (book); “The 4-Hour Chef” (book); “Tools of Titans” (book); “Tribe of Mentors” (book); “Tim Ferriss” (blog/website)
Accolades: No. 10 Amazon Personal Finance list bestseller, Feb. 9, 2021; Spotify Top Shows in the Business & Technology category, Feb. 9, 2021; Apple Podcasts Top Shows in the Business category, Feb. 9, 2021
Twitter followers: 1,700,000
Twitter handle: @tferriss
Instagram followers: 1,100,000
Instagram handle: timferriss
Bio: Lauded by Fast Company and Fortune as one of the industry’s best, Timothy Ferriss is an early-stage technology investor and advisor, with a history that includes stakes in Uber, Shopify, Facebook, Alibaba and Duolingo. He’s the author of five No. 1 New York Times and Wall Street Journal bestsellers and “The Tim Ferriss Show” is the first business/interview podcast to exceed 100 million downloads and has now topped 600 million downloads.
“The 4-Hour Workweek” is up there with “Rich Dad Poor Dad” as one of the most read, most commonly cited and most enduring self-help books-turned-franchises of all time.
See: How To Get Richer Without Getting a Raise
Vicki Robin
Work being recognized: “Your Money or Your Life”
Other media project titles: “Blessing the Hands that Feed Us” (book); CoVida Conversations (podcast); What Could Possibly Go Right? (podcast)
Accolades: NYMag: The 13 Best Personal Finance Books, According to Money Experts
Twitter followers: 2,014
Twitter handle: @vicki_robin
Instagram followers: 773
Instagram handle: vickirobin
Bio: The New York Times called Vicki Robin the “prophet of consumption down-sizers.” An author and speaker, she has lectured widely and appeared on hundreds of radio and television shows, including “Good Morning America,” “The Oprah Winfrey Show” and NPR’s “Weekend Edition” and “Morning Edition.”
“Your Money or Your Life” is all about learning to trade debt for savings and making your values match your lifestyle.
Discover: 30 Ways To Dig Yourself Out of Debt
William D. Danko
Work being recognized: “The Millionaire Next Door”
Other media project titles: “Richer Than A Millionaire: A Pathway to True Prosperity” (book), Richer Than A Millionaire (website)
Accolades: NYMag: The 13 Best Personal Finance Books, According to Money Experts
Twitter followers: N/A
Twitter handle: N/A
Instagram followers: N/A
Instagram handle: N/A
Bio: After more than three decades on the faculty of the State University of New York at Albany, Bill Danko achieved emeritus status in 2007 at the School of Business. During his tenure, he studied consumer behavior, and in particular the topic of wealth formation.
“The Millionaire Next Door,” a research-based book about wealth in America, has been ranked as a bestseller by The New York Times for more than three years.
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Methodology: GOBankingRates reviewed the following rankings to identify the experts that America is getting its money advice from:
NYT Bestsellers on the Monthly Business List for 2/2021
Amazon Bestsellers in the Personal Finance category as of 2/9/2021
Spotify Top Shows in the Business and Technology category as of 2/9/2021
Apple Podcasts Top Shows in the Business category as of 2/9/2021
Talkers 2020 Heavy Hundred – Top Ten
FOX Business Network top rated programs of 2020
CNBC Popular Shows
TIME ranked Best Finance Podcasts of 2021
TIME’s 10 Financial Experts to Follow
NYMag’s Best Personal Finance Books According to Money Experts
Additionally, to account for prominent voices in print media, GOBankingRates identified key columnists for seven of the nine most widely circulated daily newspapers in the U.S. according to 2019 data from Alliance for Audited Media and made available by Cision.
For each expert with a work that received one of the above accolades, GOBankingRates found information on their other media projects, their Twitter handle and follower count, their Instagram handle and follower count and a professional summary. GOBankingRates maintained our roundup’s focus on personal finance, so some works in the above rankings were excluded due to being broadly about habits, health, mindset, etc.
This article originally appeared on GOBankingRates.com: Where Do Americans Get Their Money Advice? Top Authors and Books
