About the Author

Friends tell me they experienced a bizarre sudden self-awareness when they were a young child.  At some point, they just realized, "Whoa, I'm a person and everyone around me is too."  

I didn't have a sudden clarity experience as a child, but my financial awakening in 2018 was just as bizarre.  Walking my dog in downtown Milledgeville, I nonchalantly searched "457(b)" in my podcast app, trying to learn what I might do with the extra $5k in my checking account.  I stumbled upon this podcast episode and suddenly it all clicked, "I'm a person (making horrible decisions) and everyone around me is too."

I liked the episode so much, that I listened to it three times in a row while dragging my dog through the streets of my Georgia hometown.  The guest on the episode was Gerry Born ("The Millionaire Educator"), who, in an unimaginable coincidence, cut me from the LaGrange High basketball team in 2001.

I dove into content--books, podcasts, web articles, you name it.  Within just a few weeks, I had evolved from a moron to someone that doled out financial advice on the regular.  

This didn't make me feel good.  How did I complete a Ph.D. in Economics without learning about Roth IRAs, Social Security, or index funds?  Why are my colleagues, some of whom have finance PhDs, asking me what a health savings account is?  

Grabbing life by the balls (left), I weaseled my way into teaching Personal Finance in 2019, and now my primary goal is to help you.  I made a lot of dumb financial mistakes so that you don't have to.  In 2024, I was awarded a one-semester sabbatical to build this website.  I am very grateful for the opportunity and hope that you find the content useful.

Boring Info

Day Job

Assistant Professor of Finance, Georgia College & State University

Education  

B.S. in Economics; Georgia College, 2008

Ph.D. in Economics; Mississippi State University, 2013

Master's in Financial Planning; University of Georgia, 2025 (expected)

Contact

freefinancebook@gmail.com

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