Who’s Your Favorite/Least Favorite Financial “Guru?”

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« CNBC’s The Millionaire Inside | Main | JLP’s Weekly Roundup »

Who’s Your Favorite/Least Favorite Financial “Guru?”

By JLP | May 1, 2007

Okay, below is a list of financial “gurus.” I want you to pick your favorite and least favorite and tell me why. If I’m missing someone, let me know and I’ll add them to the list:

David Bach

Dave Ramsey

James Cramer

Glinda Bridgforth

Jean Chatzky

Suze Orman

Robert Kiyosaki

Wade Cook - Should he be included?

Ben Stein

Phil Town

Jeremy Siegel

John Bogle

Donald Trump

That’s all I can think of right now. I know I have missed some so please let me know who I missed and I’ll add them to the list. Now, tell me who your favorite is and your least favorite is and tell us all why.

Here’s mine:

Favorite - John Bogle. Why? He’s down to earth and he knows what he’s talking about.

Least Favorite - Robert Kiyosaki. Why? Because he has proven that he doesn’t know what he’s talking about.

Borderline - Dave Ramsey. Why? Although I agree with a lot of what Dave says, I can’t stomach his cocky delivery. Very, very, annoying. He’s the bulldog of personal finance.

Now it’s your turn.

Topics: Miscellaneous |

Comments to “Who’s Your Favorite/Least Favorite Financial “Guru?””

Foobarista Says:
May 1st, 2007 at 5:15 pm

There are definitely many grades of these sorts of people, ranging from “commentators” to “gurus”. Gurus are the ones who are clearly in it as their “day job”, and have a fairly predictable shtick: be loud and in-your-face, sell lots of books, videos, lectures, etc, and work on building a “brand” and a dedicated fanbase that can rise to the level of a personality cult.

The “commentators” are people who typically made their money doing Something Else, and are simply sharing wisdom and observations.

I definitely prefer the latter (Stein, Bogle) over the bulk of the former. Even when I largely agree with one of the “gurus”, they tend to be too shrill and one-size-fits-all in their approaches for my taste. For me, the main difference between the two is that commentators tend to be more objective and number-driven, while gurus tend to be more about emotion.

db Says:
May 1st, 2007 at 5:48 pm

Well, I’m not as familiar with some of these, but here’s my take:

David Bach - Borderline. I liked him at first but a) I’ve gotten more knowledge under my own belt and b) I think he’s basically sold out with his automatic millionaire homeowner schtick.

Dave Ramsey - Favorite, even if he is a bulldog. He’s RIGHT about a lot of things. I don’t think his investment advice is sophisticated enough, but he really met me at my level.

James Cramer - Too annoying for words.

Jean Chatzky - Borderline. Her advice is basically sound but she’s never grabbed me. I think she’s too simplistic. Also I didn’t like her interview with NCN, I thought she tried to make him look dumb.

Suze Orman - Favorite to borderline. I admit it — I fanatically watch her show! But I like Dave better and think some of her advice falls short.

Robert Kiyosaki - Complete charlatan. I want to write to Yahoo Finance and beg them to deep-6 him.

Ben Stein - Borderline. I think he’s a great economist and brings a different perspective, but I don’t always agree with his message.

Phil Town - Unsure. I liked him best on the Millionaire Inside. Otherwise no exposure to him.

Jeremy Siegel - I need to read him!

John Bogle - I need to read him!

SUGGESTION: Mary Hunt. I like her a lot as another “get-out-of-debt” guru.

db Says:
May 1st, 2007 at 5:51 pm

UGH, I’m not following directions well today.

Here’s my summary vote. Refer to my first post for reasons:

FAVORITE: Dave Ramsey/Mary Hunt
BORDERLINE: Dave Bach
LEAST FAVORITE: Robert Kiyosaki

Can I add another vote for least favorite? Donald Trump. He’s overexposed and way too belligerent.

Dylan Says:
May 1st, 2007 at 6:57 pm

Favorite - Bogle
Runner up - Ben Stein
Least Favorite - Kiyosaki or Cramer (alternates every other day)
Nicest legs - Jean Chatzky

Lacey Says:
May 1st, 2007 at 7:29 pm

I like Ben Stein. I hate Trump. I like Kiyosaki, but I don’t know how much I trust him. A lot of them are just trying to sell books!

Saving up for a wedding

Rob Says:
May 1st, 2007 at 7:41 pm

Favorite would be David Koch - http://www.kochie.com.au/

From your list:
I have a soft spot for kiyosaki because RDPD was the first PF book I’d read and it did make me think a lot..

CRM Says:
May 1st, 2007 at 8:22 pm

Favorites: Bob Brinker & Ray Lucia

Biggest Clown: Dave Ramsey

Biggest Waste of Time: Kiyosaki

Sexiest Legs: Chatzky

Don Says:
May 1st, 2007 at 8:58 pm

For making me understand the way my investments should be structured, William Bernstein and, amazingly enough, Jim Cramer.

My favorite “put my house in order” person is Elizabeth Warren. If you like Dave Ramsey, but don’t like the delivery, then I would definitely recommend Warren’s All Your Worth: The Ultimate Lifetime Money Plan.

I think Ed Slott deserves an honorable mention for charting the pitfalls of tax sheltered investments in The Retirement Savings Time Bomb…and How to Defuse It.

thefeeonlyplanner Says:
May 1st, 2007 at 9:17 pm

One of my favorite sayings is “There are NO Gurus!”

Having said that, my favorite from the list is Bogle. And I respect Siegel.

And I concur on Jean Chatzky’s legs:-)

lorax Says:
May 1st, 2007 at 9:27 pm

FAVORITE: David Swensen (Unconventional Success) and Robert Shiller (Irrational Exuberance)

LEAST FAVORITE: Robert Kiyosaki
but Dave Ramsey gets a least favorite honorable mention, mainly for his unsubtle, dare I say rough, style. But perhaps he’s only catering to his clientele. He does seem like he’d be a good salesman. I dislike Trump too, he’s pompous, cantankerous, ego-centric, and with that hair, perhaps a little narcissistic.

Debt Blitzkrieg » Blog Archive » Who’s your guru?? Says:
May 1st, 2007 at 11:10 pm

[...] JLP over at AllFinancialMatters is discussing the good, the bad and the ugly of financial gurus! Who’s on your guru hot list?? Hop on over to AlllFinancialMatters and join in the discussion. [...]

pf101 Says:
May 1st, 2007 at 11:29 pm

Robert Kiyosaki is my least favorite. The man is compltely insane and his article today on Yahoo just proved it. I’m thinking or organizing a letter writing campaign to Yahoo to get him removed. The man is dangerous. From what I’ve seen, only his cult members support him.

Rachel Says:
May 1st, 2007 at 11:57 pm

If by guru, you mean someone who is able to masterfully teach solid financial principles through example, then obviously the answer is Warren Buffett. I know he’s not quite in the same category as many of the other people you mentioned, who I tend to think of more as commentators. But the very word guru implies expertise, and thus in my mind the title hands down goes to Buffett.

KC Says:
May 2nd, 2007 at 6:46 am

I’m a fan of Ric Edelman.

broknowrchlatr Says:
May 2nd, 2007 at 7:06 am

Favorite - Kramer. Not so much for the content but for the enertainment value. I also enjoy Ben Stein.

Least Favorite - Suze Orman. I find her show painfull to watch.

Now, if you ask who’s advise would I respect most, it would be Buffet. I guess that’s just not the same question.

Regardless of who it is, I take their advice with a grain of salt. I feel much more comfortable trusting myself.

DP Says:
May 2nd, 2007 at 7:41 am

Your missing Clark Howard (http://www.clarkhoward.com). He broadcasts .a great radio show out of Atlanta and is syndicated across the US. He also writes some pretty interesting books too (Get Clark Smart)

DP Says:
May 2nd, 2007 at 7:42 am

You are missing Clark Howard (http://www.clarkhoward.com). He broadcasts a great radio show out of Atlanta and is syndicated across the US. He also writes some pretty interesting books too (Get Clark Smart, Clark’s Big Book of Bargains)

yabadaba Says:
May 2nd, 2007 at 8:00 am

Clark Howard - my favorite too!!! Thanks to him I survived my 20s.

Robert Craposaki - These are the guys who have waged a “war on the middle class” by touting their get rich quick schemes.

shawna Says:
May 2nd, 2007 at 10:05 am

Favorite - Dave Ramsey. Yes, sometimes I think he’s a little harsh to callers, but he generally seems to know his stuff.

Least favorite - Jean Chatzky. I don’t know why, but I just don’t find her credible. Something about her rubs me the wrong way

Borderline - Ben Stein. I liked to read his articles on Yahoo Finance, but sometimes I think he’s a little off base.

Brian Says:
May 2nd, 2007 at 10:16 am

Favorite - Stephen Snyder’s Life After Bankruptcy program helped me after my bankruptcy. Not just for bankrupt people either. Apparently he is trained by Fair Issac and knows a lot about credit scores.

My name links to his newsletter site. Great stuff.

After that, I like Dave Ramsey and David Bach.

Hate Suze.

KMC Says:
May 2nd, 2007 at 12:18 pm

Favorite - Bogle. Definitely. He’s plain-spoken and right all the time.

Least favorite - Kiyosaki. I loath the man. He’s not only wrong, he’s irresponsible in what he tells people.

tinyhands Says:
May 2nd, 2007 at 12:55 pm

Least Favorite- Hands down, Dave Ramsey. I wouldn’t care if he had PhDs in economics, finance and/or psychology, he refuses to help people whose religious beliefs don’t agree with his. That makes him a fundamentalist terrorist in my book.

Favorite- Ray Lucia. He’s below most people’s radar, but he knows more than anyone I’ve ever met and doesn’t care which God you choose to worship. He’s also a good friend and colleague of Ben Stein (runnerup).

Hubba hubba- Maria The Money Honey Bartiromo.

LegalTherapy Says:
May 2nd, 2007 at 4:33 pm

Least Favorite - Kiyosaki. I used to think he was just an idiot (or very mathematically challenged). Now I think he’s just a fraud.

Favorite - Ben Stein. He gives a lot of the same advice many sensible financial advisors give, but what I especially like about B. Stein is he goes one step further and gives practical applications of his advice. Check out his “How to be a Successful ____” series. It’s got very concrete and real world suggestions, specific funds, etc.

Lazy Man and Money Says:
May 2nd, 2007 at 4:46 pm

Favorite - Ben Stein. I never read anything that I didn’t consider very questionable about him.
Least Favorite - Tie between Orman (grating personality), Ramsey (too much psychology, too little math), Bach (needs to focus on more than lattes).

Kiyosaki is a runner up for least favorite, but he got me thinking about building an alternative income and focusing on appreciating assets. That far outweighs any of the other questionable aspects of things he teaches.

Dave Says:
May 2nd, 2007 at 5:43 pm

Favorite: Scott Burns.
Least favorite: Robert Kiyosaki

db Says:
May 2nd, 2007 at 9:03 pm

Hey! We all forgot Jonathon Clements — he’s got lots of good advice I think.

NCN Says:
May 3rd, 2007 at 8:13 am

Tinyhands said:
Least Favorite- Hands down, Dave Ramsey. I wouldn’t care if he had PhDs in economics, finance and/or psychology, he refuses to help people whose religious beliefs don’t agree with his. That makes him a fundamentalist terrorist in my book.

Seriously, have you ever actually listened to Dave’s show? He is upfront about his religious beliefs, but he helps anyone who gets on the phone! “Fundamentalist terrorist” is the most ridiculous thing to say… Dave helps MILLIONS of people deal w/ their financial issues. He DOES NOT strap bombs to himself and kill innocent people. Dave believes in Jesus, he’s upfront about that, but he also teaches principles that ANYONE of ANY FAITH (or no faith) can easily follow. Disagree with the man’s teachings all you want, but don’t compare his faith to lunatics who kill innocent people.

No Credit Needed » Blog Archive » Friends Are Friends Forever Says:
May 3rd, 2007 at 9:33 am

[...] All Financial Matters asks about your favorite financial “guru”. Mine? NCN, of course! Seriously, take a second and leave a comment and let JLP know who you like/dislike. [...]

Personal Finance and Investing Blog » Blog Archive » Friends Are Friends Forever Says:
May 3rd, 2007 at 10:41 am

[...] All Financial Matters asks about your favorite financial “guru”. Mine? NCN, of course! Seriously, take a second and leave a comment and let JLP know who you like/dislike. [...]

Miguel Says:
May 3rd, 2007 at 11:19 am

I don’t have a fav PF guru. Actually, my financial planner is my fav financial guru, but I can’t name her. And 2nd to her, I am my own fav financial guru (yes, I know I have delusions of grandeur).

But, I have to credit Suze Orman’s 1st couple of books with helping my wife and I get our PF situation on track (even though I can’t stand to watch her show’s and even her picture makes me cring).

I also very much enjoy reading Ben Stein’s column. He’s very successful in his own right and has a lot of time-tested knowledge to pass down, (though I don’t like it when he insert his politics into his righting). It’s kinda like having a rich uncle with lots of entertaining PF stories to tell.

Least fav would be hands down Kiosaki, though I will admit that his RDPD book did get me to at least thinking outside the box on some PF issues - still I think he does more harm than good these days.

Also, added to least fav is all this “Secret Laws of Attraction” crap that has become the latest self-help craze. Not exactly PF material, but they do claim it is applicable.

tinyhands Says:
May 3rd, 2007 at 11:47 am

NCN- I used to listen to Ramsey all the time, so yes, I know what I’m talking about and he did NOT help anyone who gets on the phone. The day I turned him off he had just finished reducing a woman to TEARS because her beliefs conflicted with his. She just wanted help and HE REFUSED AND INSULTED HER. I’m sorry you missed that episode, because it was quite an eye-opener into what it takes to become a “financial guru” these days. I don’t actually object to all of the financial advice he dispenses. It’s his personal philosophy I find offensive beyond measure.

And for the record, belief in Jesus doesn’t make one person better than any other and I object to your assertion that it gives him any credibility. The term “fundamentalist” doesn’t solely belong to Islam (I assume that’s what you were referring to when you wrote about strapping bombs) and a “terrorist” is someone who uses the psychological aspect of fear as a weapon. Thus a “fundamentalist terrorist” is someone who, through strict adherence to basic (usually religious) principles, intolerance of other views, and opposition to secularism employs fear as a means to an end.

I don’t want to debate this. I heard what I heard with my own ears, I have yet to read/hear an apology from him, and I have since exercised my right to turn off my radio. You’ll have to agree to disagree.

JLP Says:
May 3rd, 2007 at 12:00 pm

Tinyhands,

I didn’t hear that particular program you are referring to.

We all know Dave is very outspoken. Maybe he let his feelings get the best of him. I don’t know.

Livingalmostlarge Says:
May 3rd, 2007 at 11:45 pm

I like William Berstein the intelligent asset allocator, 4 pillars of investing. I also am a Paul Merriman huge fan of his long term investing portfolios.

I dislike Robert Kiyosaki, feel he’s a fraud.

I like Dave Ramsey, but am against his religiousness in selling his product. Other than that he’s fine. I don’t like to be told that my husbnad is my master and I should defer to him, I sort of like to think we’re married partners. But he does have to sell his product.

English Major Says:
May 4th, 2007 at 9:41 am

My favorite is Dave Ramsey. I posted about this pretty recently, how it’s weird that he’s basically my antithesis as a human, but I adore him. I think he’s incredibly insightful and great with focusing on the human and not just the financial problem.

I’m also a big fan of Ben Stein. He’s reasonable, gentle-but-firm, and like Dave Ramsey, he’s very focused on the way money management is a manifestation of other personal attributes–I think of this as the “whole person” theory of personal finance.

I hate, hate, hatehatehate Robert Kiyosaki. I read his articles on Yahoo! Finance occasionally, and they make me want to punch things. It’s just…aaargh. The greasy, smug delivery, the “I know something yoooouuu don’t know” of the whole thing…yuck. Not to mention how the advice is bad. That too.

Chris Thomas Says:
May 5th, 2007 at 4:35 pm

Tiny Hands, I’m sorry to inform you of this, but you’re the one who is wrong here. It’s not a debate and it’s not a “we’ll have to agree to disagree” situation. You’re just plain wrong, and yes, people can still be just plain wrong from time to time. It doesn’t mean we can’t be friends and it doesn’t mean I’m ripping you personally. It just means you’re wrong on this particular issue.

Has Dave refused to help people on-air before? Sure! Is it possible that you heard a call where she said “I’m a muslim/jew/hindu” in the midst of a bunch of other “I’m not ready to make changes to my lifestyle” type talk and in the middle Dave just got sick of the second part and dropped the call? Absolutely, but the “he refused to help her because she doesn’t believe the way he does” part is something your mind manufactured, quite possible because of your biased against Dave or his beliefs or both.

Dave has never, ever, ever refused help to someone based solely on their religious beliefs. Ever. Didn’t happen and I’ll write a $1,000 check to the charity of your choice if you can prove otherwise. Your comments are just ridiculous, BTW.

And now for my votes.

My favorite: I’m a little biased, but I’m going with Dave. Shocker, I know.

Least favorite: You know I can’t go there… diplomacy baby!

inside scoop Says:
November 13th, 2007 at 8:25 am

the Dave Ramsey show– that’s dirty Money– beware of the fakes!

Dave_Fan Says:
September 9th, 2008 at 1:32 pm

For everyone who posts on this site, here’s a news flash. Dave’s ideas aren’t Dave’s ideas. Everything you hear him say comes straight from the bible. He’d be the first one to tell you that. God is using him to help me and you understand His word. Dave Ramsey went through his struggles so you and I wouldn’t have to. People who try to discredit him or call him a hypocrite should look again. Let me ask you a question. Would you seek auto repair advice from a guy who’s never worked on a car? I know I wouldn’t. The next time someone tells you bankruptcy is a good alternative, ask them when was the last time they filed. I’ll bet it’s never. The fact that Dave went through bankruptcy doesn’t make him a hypocrite. It only makes him knowledgeable enough to give us good advice.

God bless you Dave!

gbf Says:
January 3rd, 2009 at 11:22 pm

Ramsey does use the Bible in his presentation, but his main pitch (to pastors) is to run all your congretation through his Financial Peace program and it will increase contributions to your church budget. When Jesus chases the money changers from the church, Dave will be the first to go. Other than that, his financial teachings are weak and he tends to preach to the down and outters who do not understand that debt provides beneficial leverage. Most reasonable people understand that unsecured loans are just plain stupid, but Dave condemns all debt–even secured debt like mortgages and that is stretching Bible teachings to his own advantage.

Mike Turner Says:
January 28th, 2009 at 4:10 pm

I was in debt up to my ears. I finaly had enough and bought Dave Ramseys book. With a lot of hard work I was able to get debt free with in 3years.. You can to.

-Mike

Carlos Rosario Says:
March 2nd, 2009 at 9:43 pm

Dave Ireland Should be included. This guy wrote an ebook called Invest In Your Debt that completely changed my life. Didn’t want to sell anything else. He just shows you exactly how to live a more pragmatic life and become a millionaire in the same amount of time that it would have otherwise taken you to pay off a conventional mortgage. He really knows what he’s talking about, extremely passionate about his mission to eliminate debt on the planet Earth and just wants to help people.

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Who’s Your Favorite/Least Favorite Financial “Guru?”