The Best Personal Finance Blogs
Table of Contents
I previously wrote an article titled Best Physician Finance Blogs. I was surprised to find that it was performing well and offered many individuals in my physician finance niche a sense of direction when looking to educate themselves. Given the success of that article I wanted to branch out a little more. We cannot live in a silo and only educate ourselves on how the economy affects particular careers. The world is much more complex and intricate. As such, I have found that broadening my education outside of ‘physician finance’ has served me in multiple ways. From better understanding housing markets to the inner workings of cryptocurrency and inflation, it is all here. What follows is my comprehensive list of the best personal finance blogs on the internet. I have specifically limited the list down to 10 to avoid redundancy and not overwhelm anyone. I promise that there is endless education and entertainment to be gained by checking each and every blog out. Please enjoy!
Financial Samurai by Sam Dogen
Sam Dogen (a.k.a Sam Dogen) is one of the many veteran personal finance bloggers who appear on this list. He is a titan in the field of personal finance. With over a decade worth of experience, all of his articles are well written, concise, and timely. Sam started blogging in 2009 shortly after the financial crisis. He has a background in economics and received his MBA from the University of California Berkeley. He spent his early career in the financial sector working for Goldman Sachs and Credit Suisse. His articles address a wide array of topics including: investing, real estate, passive income, blogging, market strategy, retirement, financial independence, and more! If it bears any relevance to the personal finance field, he likely has already written a post on it (or twenty).
He published a book called Buy This, Not That: How to Spend Your Way to Wealth and Freedom. A powerhouse read to add to your supplemental material as you navigate his website. The book is great and offers insight into his successful strategy for building wealth and financial security. Sam publishes posts at a regular and digestible cadence, generally between two to three times a week. Lastly, I can vouch for his kindness and dedication to the subject. He has interacted with me on multiple occasions since starting The Motivated M.D. It is always inspiring to have the ‘heavy-hitters’ in the field interact with you. I really cannot recommend his blog enough. Below are articles I recommend:
Ranking the Best Passive Income Investments
How Much Should I Have Saved In My 401(k) By Age?
How to Retire Early and Never Have to Work Again
Mr. Money Mustache by Peter Adeney
This list would be useless if I did not recommend another juggernaut in the field of personal finance, Mr. Money Mustache (the pseudonym used by Peter Adeney, creator of Mr. Money Mustache). For anybody looking for the perfect balance of financial freedom and frugality…look no further. Peter and his former wife studied engineering and computer science in Canada and then worked in the information technology sector during the 1990’s and early 2000’s. In 2005 they were able to retire in their 30s through a combination of frugal living, strict saving, and understanding the concept of ‘enough.’
The blog was started in 2011 and I would argue his approach to finance as well as his platform helped spark the growing interest in the FIRE movement (financial independence, retire early). Peter’s writings are an unapologetic foray into the mentality necessary to build real financial independence. He does not sugar coat the dedication and common sense needed to reach your goals. In an era plagued by ‘quiet quitting,’ rising rates of burnout, and economic uncertainty, his writings are just as relevant now as they were when he began. Fortunately for you, he continues to publish periodically, just with less regularity than in his early years. Here are some popular articles I recommend from MMM:
A Lifetime of Riches – Is It as Simple as a Few Habits?
Finally, a Stock Market Crash!
Get Rich Slowly by J.D. Roth
The name says it all. Get Rich Slowly is not just a name, but a philosophy. J.D. Roth, the founder of Get Rich Slowly has a background we all can relate too. He started out with absolutely no formal education in personal finance whatsoever. J.D. embraces this past and has benefitted all the more because of it. He gained a vast majority of his financial education from ‘the school of hard knocks’ as he describes on his website.
J.D. Roth is the unassuming ‘everyman’ and his financial origin story is inspiring. After hitting rock bottom in 2004, he created a financial plan to eliminate his debt in three years. He achieves this by ‘treating his life like a small business.’ He cut unnecessary costs, he increased his income, and he saved. What makes his blog more enjoyable is that he has a background in English and public speaking. His writings are comprehensive yet digestible. No matter your current financial situation or history, there is something to be gained by spending time navigating his site.
J.D. Roth loves personal finance so much that after selling the website and retiring ‘completely,’ he later returned and continues to write for Get Rich Slowly. He is both a ‘rags to riches’ story and a shining example of passion. His articles focus on personal finance basics, philosophy, and life after retirement. I recommend Get Rich Slowly as the ‘gateway’ into the wider world of personal finance blogging. Articles I recommend include:
How to Budget: A Pain-free Guide to Building a Budget That Works
How and Why I Sold Get Rich Slowly
Clever Girl Finance by Bola Sokunbi
There is something special about Clever Girl Finance. Created by Bola Sokunbi; she is a Certified Financial Education Instructor (CFEI) and author of four bestselling books pertaining to personal finance. Bola is also the recipient of the 2021 Financial Education Instructor of the Year Award, provided by the National Council of Financial Educators. Clever Girl Finance wants to help women ‘ditch debt, save money, and build real wealth.’
Bola, and those at Clever Girl Finance, seek to empower women to take control of their finances. Clever Girl finance houses endless amounts of helpful material on their website. From book recommendations to posts on wellness, motherhood, and minimalism…their site is all-encompassing. They also offer a wealth of free educational resources and supplemental material on their website. Their name alone suggests the audience they are trying to reach; however, their publications are applicable to all. I suggest you check them out. Here are a few articles I recommend:
How to Make $10K a Month: 4 Top Strategies
How to Overcome Your Limiting Beliefs About Money
50 Money Affirmations That Work Fast to Change Your Mindset
Afford Anything by Paula Pant
Paula Pant, a financial journalist, has received critical acclaim over the past few years for her incredible writings at Afford Anything. She is a Knight-Bagehot Fellow at Columbia University for business and economics journalism. Over the past few years, she has used her background in journalism to host the Afford Anything podcast (one of the top ranked financial podcasts). She is the author of a free (e-book) Escape, helping you escape the ‘9-to-5.’
Paula’s personal finance philosophy focuses on four main elements: financial philosophy, investing, real estate, and entrepreneurship. By providing education in each of these categories she hopes to help you achieve financial freedom and beyond. Afford Anything publishes blog posts with regularity, and her work can be enjoyed through multiple different media. Afford Anything has built a massive following, and I don’t see anything changing for the foreseeable future. Don’t miss out on this captivating content! Here are a few blog posts I recommend:
The Incredible Power of 10x Thinking
Rich and Regular by Julian and Kiersten Saunders
Rich and Regular was created by Julian and Kiersten Saunders in 2017. Their blog was the culmination of years of personal financial education through tackling their own financial struggles. Between 2012-2017 they eliminated $200,000 in debt and dramatically boosted their net worth. Rich and Regular was born as a platform to share their journey achieving FIRE. Their mission, ‘to inspire better conversations about money.’ Through their book ‘Cashing Out’ and their regular blog postings, I think they have done just that.
Their works include topics from career and community to FIRE, food, real estate investing, and more, their website has it all. They offer a regular podcast, video episodes from the series ‘Money on the Table,’ and their blog. Their work is well written and motivational, infused with a healthy dose of community and culture…and I love it! Here are some articles I recommend:
It’s Time to Revisit the Stigma Surrounding Debt
Fathers on Financial Independence
Physician on FIRE by Leif Dahleen
Dr. Leif Dahleen has built something incredible at Physician on FIRE. He is part of the greater White Coat Investor Network which includes The White Coat Investor, Passive Income M.D., The Physician Philosopher, and, of course, Physician on FIRE. This conglomerate of physician content creators currently controls the majority of the ‘physician finance’ niche…and for good reason. Their content is directed at high-income earners, predominantly in the healthcare field (think nurses, mid-level providers, pharmacists, dentists, and physicians) seeking personal finance education. Their content, however, can be consumed by anyone interested in personal finance.
Leif Dahleen was a practicing anesthesiologist who documented his journey pursuing FIRE. At just 43 years old, he was able to completely retire from the field of medicine and live a financially free life. Since then, his audience has grown along with his ambitions of offering relevant daily content. From his ‘4 Physicians’ series where he compares the ramifications of various lifestyles, to ‘The Sunday Best,’ his work always leaves the reader wanting more.
On a more personal note, I have to comment on his cooperative spirit and kind demeanor. I have been blogging for almost a one year now. Leif has been pivotal in my success through communication, featured articles, and catching my typos! The Physician on FIRE, along with everyone in the White Coat Investor Network, deserve your attention and time. Your wallet will thank you. Here are some of the articles I recommend:
A Tale of 4 Physicians: The Impact of Lifestyle on Financial Independence
Investing Basics for Individuals with Little Time or Experience
My 5 Current and 3 Future Passive Income Streams
A Wealth of Common Sense by Ben Carlson
A Wealth of Common Sense was founded by Ben Carlson, CFA. He is the Director of Institutional Asset Management at Ritholtz Wealth Management. Ben primarily manages investment plans and institutional portfolios for foundations, endowments, pensions, hospitals, high net-worth individuals, etc. He is the author of four books addressing saving, investing, and money in general. In 2017 he was also named one of the top financial advisors in the Investment News 40 Under 40. Given his professional background as well as his personal interests, he clearly has his hand on the ‘economic pulse,’ so to speak.
Ben started his blog to help ‘explain the complexities of the various aspects of finance in a way that everyone could understand…’ He believes in the ‘less is more’ mentality and has built a successful platform to provide his ideas and commentary to the masses. What I love about A Wealth of Common Sense is its use of figures and graphics to explain complex ideas. His blog tends to tackle more intricate subject matter; however, he has a way of writing that simplifies these topics. If you are ready to graduate to slightly more difficult course material, look no further. Here are a few blog posts I recommend:
The Worst Kind of Financial Advice
Luck & Timing in the Housing Market
Why I Remain Bullish on the United States of America
Think Save Retire by Steve and Courtney Adcock
Steve and Courtney Adcock documented their entire journey reaching financial independence and retiring early. Similar to many journeys above, we get to benefit from their story. Their work has been featured on ABC, CBS MarketWatch, Forbes, CNBC, and Vice. Their blog predominantly covers side hustles, financial freedom, early retirement, and real estate investing. Steve and Courtney ultimately sold Think Save Retire (TSR), but their mission lives on in the work of various writers who continue to publish on the site.
TSR makes this list because they place a special emphasis on early retirement through side hustles and intelligent investing. The many contributors to the current website provide a regular cadence to posts and the majority of content is applicable to most. If you find yourself needing a motivational boost, the stories shared here will be welcomed. Here are some articles I recommend:
The Roadmap for How to Retire Early
Side Hustles for Financial Independence: An Expert’s Guide
Get Rich with Real Estate – I Reached Financial Independence in Two Years with Rentals
The Motivated M.D.
Lastly (and I hope this is not too presumptuous of me) I wanted to include myself! I truly believe that the content at The Motivated M.D. is applicable to more than strictly physicians. I work to create content that is applicable to all who find their way to our site. My wife and I are both physicians who graduated medical school with a combined student loan debt of $670,000! Let that process for a moment… it’s ok… I’ll wait.
Our financial education came from a wealth of experience navigating our significant debt burden. From eliminating our credit card debt to creating and executing our financial plan, we have done it all. Since starting our financial journey, we have destroyed approximately $400,000 of debt (principle plus interest) over the course of roughly four years. Simultaneously we built an emergency fund of roughly three months living expenses, paid for a wedding, bought a house, and started a family! All of this we have achieved through a combination of high earnings, financial experience, personal education, and grit. Our blog seeks to take the best (and worst) of our financial expedition and share it with the personal finance community. I hope you will come along for the ride! Here are some of my most popular blog posts:
11 Money Lessons for My Children
Graphing Our Loan Repayment Progress
Take home points
Broadening your financial horizons will benefit you immensely. If you are like me, then too long have you tied your financial education to your career. There are too many incredible stories out there for you to miss because you feel they aren’t applicable. If you have already started your educational journey…awesome! Supplement your digital diet with the great blogs mentioned above and you are sure to reach your personal and financial goals! As always…
Stay motivated!
The Motivated M.D.
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I appreciate the shoutout! Nice job keeping your blog going on such a regular cadence. All good things take time!
Best,
Sam
How could this list NOT include you. Thanks as always for checking in!
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