Guru Ratings
Suze Orman
Bad.
Remember my ratings criteria. I’m not judging these gurus on “global” or moral values, but very specific criteria. Many of my favorite books would be rated “bad” by my criteria for self-help (probably, because they are not self-help books). My ratings don’t reflect how well an author met his own goals, but how well they met my criteria for useful, accurate self-help.
Suze Orman offers basic financial advice, much of it bad. She’s not as damaging as Robert Kiyosaki or Robert Allen, but she’s pretty bad.
The Money Book for the Young, Fabulous & Broke (2007)
Offers basic advice that is better said by blogs like The Simple Dollar.
Some of her writing is downright silly.
“How will I know when it’s the right time to leave my job?”
Listen to your stomach.
“I really want to change careers, but I am afraid I won’t be able to pay my bills, especially if I go back to school.”
This is the perfect time to go for it, even if it means a short-term money squeeze. Use your credit cards to make ends meet while you build a better future.
Yikes!
Disturbingly, Orman established a long-term-care insurance plan called “Suze's Choice,” for which she gets a commission on each sale. Talk about conflict of interest.