135: Twelve Minute Convos w/ Jordan Goodman

Jordan Goodman has spent the past 37 years focused on one mission: to help Americans do better with their money. In a career spanning newspapers, magazines, books, radio, television, live events, teleseminars, and the Internet (www.moneyanswers.com), he has helped millions of people to solve their financial problems and realize their financial dreams.

An honors graduate of Amherst College, Jordan had just received his masters degree from the Columbia University School of Journalism in 1977 when he launched an award-winning, consumer-oriented newspaper insert, INFO, which reached 4 million readers every week. That early foray into consumer journalism soon led to an 18-year stint at MONEY, the foremost personal-finance magazine in the U.S., where Jordan reported and wrote on every aspect of personal finance. During his tenure at MONEY, he also became a regular presence on radio and television programs around the country. When Jane Pauley and Bryant Gumbel of the "Today Show" wanted to refute some of the more dubious strategies of financial guru Charles Givens in 1986, it was Jordan they asked to face down Givens. When Ted Koppel needed a financial expert to explain to "Nightline" viewers the implications of the stock-market crash of October 19, 1987, it was Jordan to whom he turned.

While at MONEY, Jordan also began to write the first of his 14 highly acclaimed books on personal finance. The Barron's Dictionary of Finance and Investment Terms (1984), which Jordan co-authored with John Downes, has been translated into Spanish, German, Russian, Japanese, and Chinese, and has sold over 3 million copies worldwide. Now in its ninth edition, it is considered a classic in its field and a staple on the syllabi of college personal-finance and business courses, MBA classes, and securities training seminars.

In the 30 years since the dictionary was first released, Jordan has also written:
Barron's Finance and Investment Handbook (1986, co-authored with Downes) that provides a comprehensive analysis of every form of investment, plus a multitude of important investment resources. (The ninth edition comes out in 2014.)
Everyone's Money Book (Dearborn, 1993, 1998 and 2001) a 970-page comprehensive financial reference that included over 6,000 resources and sold over 250,000 copies.
The Everyone's Money Book Series (Dearborn, 2003)
(including six separate volumes on Credit; Stocks, Bonds, and Mutual Funds; Real
Estate; College Financing; Retirement Planning; and Financial Planning)
Reading Between the Lies: How to Avoid Becoming a Victim of Wall Street's Next Scandal (Dearborn, 2004) aimed to educate consumers shaken by Enron-era debacles.

Credits:

Musical Background: 'TAKE THE CHANCE' by Nicolai Heidlas