Stacy Johnson President/Journalist

Here's a little bit about me, my background, what I do and why I do it. I'm a 50-something married guy living in beautiful Fort Lauderdale, FL, the yachting capital of the world. I live in a modest house on a canal off the Intracoastal Waterway and have a boat or two behind my house. I love riding motorcycles (Softail Custom) sailing, fishing, traveling and laughing out loud as often as possible.

As far as credentials go, I've got more than most. I've been a CPA since 1980 and have also earned licenses in stocks, commodities, options, mutual funds, life insurance and real estate. I spent 10 years working for three Wall Street firms (EF Hutton, Shearson and Prudential) and have been investing in both stocks and real estate for about 30 years.

For the last 20 years, I've written, produced and distributed Money Talks News, a consumer/personal finance TV news feature that airs in about 80 cities nationwide as well as around the web. I've now done close to 3,000 personal finance news stories. I've also written a few books, including what I modestly consider to be the best how-to-get-out-of-debt book in the universe, Life or Debt.

While I'm certainly not rich in the Palm Beach/Central Park West sense, I'm financially independent, meaning I work because I want to and not because I have to. I didn't get here by selling books, tapes or seminars. I did it the same way I expect you to: one hard-fought paycheck at a time.

My philosophy is simple: as you go through life, you have the opportunity to either look rich or be rich. But you probably won't live long enough to accomplish both. So make a decision. If you want to look rich, you don't need me. Just do what the commercials tell you. If you want to be rich, however, I can help.

Consider this: if you can save just 5 bucks a day every day for 30 years, and earn 10% on it, you'll end up with $343,693. That's enough to change your life and the lives of those you love. And I'll assist by hooking you up with savings, both big and small, so you'll find that 5 bucks. And I'll give you investing advice so your money works as hard for you as you do for it.

So if you'd like to make more, spend less, avoid being ripped off and better understand money, keep coming back. We'll leave the lights on for you!

Posts by Stacy Johnson

Four Reasons You Should Give Your Health Insurance a Checkup – Stat

Oct 24, 2010 - If you've got an individual health insurance policy that was issued before March 23, 2010, it's probably time to shop for a new one. Because new provisions of the health care reform law could help you save hundreds on medical bills.

Foreclosure Mess: More Shoes to Drop?

Oct 22, 2010 - Robo-signers attesting to foreclosure lawsuits they haven't read is a serious problem. But that could be the tip of a very big iceberg.

Under Fire: Mixing Credit Reports With Hiring Decisions

Oct 21, 2010 - Employers are increasingly turning to credit scores to help screen applicants who may be unreliable or a risk of theft. But many states are questioning using credit scores to judge someone's job qualifications.

Tired Robo-Signers Let Other People Sign Their Names

Oct 20, 2010 - Feel sorry for the poor robo-signer who had to sign 1,000 foreclosure files a day? Then here's some good news: allegations are now surfacing that at least one robo-signer got help from co-workers.

The Mother of All Foreclosure Mistakes

Oct 20, 2010 - Imagine standing in your front yard and watching as a car pulls up. A stranger gets out, walks up to you, verifies your identity, then serves you with foreclosure papers. Now imagine that you've never missed a mortgage payment in your life.

3 Things You’d Better Know Before You Live Together

Oct 20, 2010 - About to take the next step and move in with your partner? Here's some advice on how to merge your money - ignore it at your peril.

Big Banks Use Back Taxes to Seize Homes

Oct 18, 2010 - Buying property by investing in back taxes has been around for a long time. But should big banks and hedge funds be allowed to use this method to separate homeowners from their homes?

The Foreclosure Freeze – What It Means and Why It Matters

Oct 18, 2010 - You've seen the headlines about banks stopping foreclosures - but if you haven't yet realized the implications for every American, this is a story you don't want to miss.

Website Says It’s OK to Walk Away – No It Isn’t

Oct 15, 2010 - Some people seem to think they can morally justify walking away from a mortgage they could afford to pay, simply because their house went down in value. Time to man up.

Ask Stacy: Why Do Good Borrowers Get Punished?

Oct 15, 2010 - Sheila makes all her mortgage payments, but nobody will allow her to refinance her underwater mortgage. How come there's no help for people who do the right thing?

Don’t Buy a Flat-Screen TV Today – Wait a Few Weeks

Oct 12, 2010 - Here's some financial advice: You can't time the stock market, but you can time the flat-screen TV market. We'll tell you just the right moment to invest in the latest tech – and save hundreds.

Question: How Do I Invest My Kid’s 529 College Savings Plan?

Oct 11, 2010 - Whether you're investing for retirement, college, or just for fun, the way to succeed is not to over-reach. You've heard the expression: bulls make money, bears make money and pigs get slaughtered.

Ask Stacy: Should I Apply for a Credit Card to Get a Store Discount?

Oct 08, 2010 - This reader wants to know if applying for a credit card to get a store discount is a good idea. The answer? That depends. There are 3 reasons you shouldn't apply for store credit cards - and 3 you should.

My 10 Dumbest Money Moves – And How You Can Avoid Them

Oct 08, 2010 - Most of what I've learned about money I didn't learn in books, or by being a CPA, stock broker, or financial reporter. I learned it the hard way - by making stupid decisions and missing major opportunities. Here are mistakes I've made and you should avoid.

Are Your Friends Costing You?

Oct 06, 2010 - Is dinner with friends eating up your budget? Are drinks with coworkers drying up your disposable income? Here's what do to when your friends are keeping you from your financial goals.