Money Girl Media Page

Laura Adams is the host of Money Girl on Macmillan’s Quick and Dirty Tips digital media network. She shares weekly tips and advice on a variety of personal finance topics. Her experience as an entrepreneur, real estate investor, corporate sales and marketing trainer, human resources professional, and an instructional designer enriches her writing and brings vast experience to her audience.

Laura was born in Charleston, South Carolina. She received a B.S. in Natural Resources from The University of the South in Sewanee, Tennessee, and an MBA from the University of Florida. She lives in central Florida with her husband and their yellow Lab.

She’s also the author of the following:

– Money Girl’s Guide to Retirement Planning (Macmillan audiobook)

– Money Girl’s 10 Steps to a Debt Free Life (Macmillan audiobook and e-book)

About the Book

Tired of worrying about your financial situation but aren’t sure what to do or where to start? Stop stressing! No matter how much you earn (or how much you owe) you can take control of your money—and it won’t be nearly as hard as you think.

Whether you’re learning the quickest way to improve your credit score or the seven essential tips for preventing identity theft, you’ll be surprised—and relieved—at just how doable it all is. Chock-full of quick and dirty tips that explain what you need to know without bogging you down with what you don’t, Money Girl’s Smart Moves to Grow Rich will ensure you have the kind of life you want and the future you’ve always dreamed of.

Millions of people already benefit from the expert advice Laura D. Adams dispenses in her weekly Money Girl podcast and know firsthand that little changes can lead to big rewards. Laura won’t tell you what you can and cannot buy with your own hard-earned money; instead, she gives you guidance, tips, and tricks you need to make the most of it by finding out how to:

Assess your current financial situation and set achievable, realistic goals
Get out of debt faster—and stay out for good
Manage your money efficiently using up-to-date technology
Take advantage of every available tax deduction to owe less and save more
Manage your 401(k) or Roth IRA like a pro
Make smart investments so you can watch your money grow

Reviews and Interviews

“Laura Adams has written an excellent book for those who want to take control of their financial lives. It’s loaded with good, comprehensive advice on everything from credit cards to taxes to retirement planning. The author does a great job of rendering often complicated concepts into clear, understandable prose. Whatever your financial goals, Money Girl’s Smart Moves to Grow Rich will help.”

— Fred Brock, former New York Times columnist and author of the bestselling Retire on Less Than You Think

“In this back-to-basics personal finance guide from the host of the “Money Girl” blog and podcast on the Quick and Dirty Tips network, Adams walks her readers through the ins and outs of money sanity and practical solvency, while helping them create a richer life–both financially and emotionally. She addresses major money issues and strategies, such as changing your money mindset by addressing overspending and its psychological roots, and understanding investing concepts and mortgages; she also offers help with creating a financial plan, comparing banks, utilizing online financial tools, paying for education, saving more money, and planning for retirement. Adams’s peppy tone and highly organized, sensible advice deliver a clear-cut plan for financial literacy…”

—Pubishers Weekly

Pre-Order Yours Today!

Laura Adams’ Smart Moves to Grow Rich is available to pre-order in book or ebook format from these online retailers.

Amazon

Barnes & Noble

Borders

Powell’s

A Money Q&A with Laura Adams

What do you wish you had been taught about money that you had to learn the hard way?

A lesson that I had to learn the hard way is how tough it can be to kick the habit of overspending on credit cards. When I graduated from college and started working, shopping became a real form of therapy and entertainment for me because I really didn’t like my job and I was coping with a long-distance relationship. I didn’t realize it at the time, but I was buying shoes and clothes because I could always count on them to make me happy, at least for a little while. The problem, of course, is that I was accumulating a huge amount of credit card debt. In chapter one of Smart Moves to Grow Rich, I help you explore your money mindset, which is basically the way you personally view money. Being honest with yourself about your relationship with money is one of the keys to cleaning up your financial messes so you can start to make smart money moves like conquering your credit card debt for good.

What are some of the secrets about money that you think people should know?

The book is full of money secrets that will help you save money and manage your investments like a pro. But one tip that’ll definitely put more cash in your pocket is to use a free high-yield checking account. These checking accounts pay much more interest than many bank CDs simply for doing what you’re probably already doing, such as using a debit card and opting for e-statements. The book has an entire chapter devoted to choosing the best banking accounts so you can make more money on the money you already have.

What’s your favorite thing to splurge on? What luxury would you recommend people never splurging on?

I definitely have more than one favorite splurge! But going to the salon to have my hair done and toes painted is a real treat that I look forward to every month or so. I could easily spend a fraction of the amount on drugstore products and do it myself, but I couldn’t do it as well or as fast. And I’m a sucker for a great foot massage. So I consciously prioritize that expense and cut back on other things that don’t mean as much to me, like driving a brand new car. Chances are that splurging on an activity, like a vacation with family or friends, will give you more long-term satisfaction than splurging on a possession. But whatever it is, my advice is to never splurge on anything as an impulse—make sure that you really want it first.

What can Smart Moves to Grow Rich readers expect to come away with?

Readers will come away with the practical information they need to make smart financial decisions and ultimately grow rich. It’s not filled with theory or the idea that positive thinking alone can solve serious financial problems. Chapter one is a frank discussion about how your money mindset—or your relationship with money—may be the reason you’re struggling with a variety of financial problems. Then each chapter going forward addresses a different piece of the financial puzzle, like how to create a financial plan, earn more from bank accounts, manage money efficiently with up-to-date technology, control your debt, make less risky and more profitable investments, buy real estate, understand taxes, and much more.

Avoid These 3 Common Money Mistakes

by Laura Adams

There are some basic rules in personal finance that are so vital for success that they pertain to everyone, no matter your age. Tenets like spending within your means and never carrying a balance on a high-interest credit card apply across the board. But how can you know if you’re making any serious financial slip-ups for your age? The following tips will help you avoid costly money mistakes when you’re in your 20s, 30s, and 40s.

20-Somethings: The 3 Mistakes to Watch Out For

If you’re in your 20s, it’s likely that you’re staying in school longer, putting off moving out of your parents’ home, or delaying marriage and children. You have high expectations for a career that pays well, suits your lifestyle, and inspires you get out of bed each morning. Dramatically improve your financial health by avoiding these 3 serious money mistakes that can come back to bite you later on:

Accumulating credit card debt. Now that you’re a working adult, you might think that you’re entitled to lots of new clothes, nights out on the town, and vacations. The problem is that financing a lifestyle that you can’t afford using a credit card is a terrible financial move. It’s a grim mistake that sticks with you for years and will only get worse as interest accrues each month that you don’t pay off the balance. Use free personal finance tools like mint.com to create a budget and closely monitor spending so you live within your means.
Ditching participation in a 401(k). You might be hesitant to start contributing to a workplace retirement plan (like a 401(k) or a 403(b)) if you aren’t sure how long you’re going to stay in your job, but letting that stop you from contributing—especially when you’re offered free matching funds—is a big mistake. Contribute 15% of your income and then roll it over into an IRA or a retirement plan at your new employer after you leave the job. No one wants to feel behind; start contributing today and you won’t wake up in your 30s with big regrets (and less money than your peers).
Not seeking professional financial advice. Don’t think that you have to be self-sufficient when it comes to handling your money. Sit down with a financial planner early on to figure out how much you should set aside for retirement, which investments you should choose, and how to achieve your unique goals. Search for an independent fee-only financial adviser at garrettplanningnetwork.com.

30-Somethings: The 3 Mistakes to Watch Out For

If you’re past 30, you might be starting a family, moving into a larger home, and climbing up a career ladder. During this life stage you need to stay focused on your goals and make sure you can provide for your family if you lose your job or business. Shore up your financial defenses by avoiding these 3 financial oversights:

Forgetting about an emergency fund. Add up your monthly living expenses and multiply that number by 6 to figure the minimum amount you should keep on hand in an FDIC-insured savings account. Depending on your job stability, industry, and family situation, you might need to have a year or more of emergency savings stashed away. Doing this will ensure you’re protected in case something unexpected arises (like an illness or job loss) and that you’ll be able to keep your life plans on track.
Skimping on retirement savings. As you begin to earn more money, it might be tempting to spend more on fun trips and clothes. Treating your extra money carelessly and not increasing your contributions to a workplace retirement plan, an IRA, or to both is a mistake. You might also have higher expenses now, but you still need to carve out enough from your budget to keep long-term goals like retirement and paying for a child’s education on track.
Not being properly insured. Having enough of the right kinds of insurance is an easy way to reduce risk and ensure that you and your family can get through unexpected hardships like an illness, accident, or death. Insurance doesn’t help you build wealth, but it certainly helps you protect it. Search for affordable policies at sites like eheathinsurance.com and matrixdirect.com. Buying it now, when you’re young, can save you big bucks down the road.

40-Somethings: The 3 Mistakes to Watch Out For

If you’re a parent in your 40s, you might be looking forward to launching your kids out of the house, doing a happy dance, and refocusing on your own financial needs. This life stage is a great time to simplify your finances and reevaluate your retirement dreams. Don’t let these 3 money mistakes trip you up:

Failing to focus on retirement. Though you probably have about two decades to go before retirement, you’re getting closer and need to take it more seriously. Enter your information into a retirement calculator at sites like aarp.org and dinkytown.com to make sure you’re putting enough money aside each month.
Not eliminating debt. In addition to saving for retirement, free up as much discretionary income as possible to send extra payments to your debt. Getting rid of debt sooner rather than later saves a huge amount of interest and allows you to squirrel away even more for retirement during your 40s and 50s.
Ignoring long term health care needs. A large percentage of people over the age of 65 need daily care that isn’t covered by health insurance or Medicare. But the longer you wait to purchase long term care insurance, the more expensive it gets—so start looking into it during your 40s. Get more information and quotes at longtermcare.gov and freeltcquotes.com.

Free Download!

Download a copy of Money’s Girl Smart Moves to Deal with your Debt e-book FREE! At the end of the e-book you get a preview of the not yet released Smart Moves to Grow Rich.

This e-book can be downloaded for free from:

Amazon (Kindle)
Barnes & Noble (nook)
iTunes (iBook)

Speaking

Laura is a professional speaker who customizes presentations for her audience. She brings a passion for personal finance along with almost two decades of varied business experience to the stage every time she talks. Whether it’s a group of seasoned professionals with lots of investing experience, the staff of a private business, or an auditorium full of students, she brings engaging information that will help everyone build wealth and create a secure financial future. Mixing stories, actionable recommendations, and humor, her presentation style will give you exactly what you need to know with a healthy dose of inspiration for action. If you want Laura to speak, please contact her at smartmovestogrowrich.com.

Here are some presentation topics to educate and energize your group:

Smart Moves to Grow Rich for Young Adults
Smart Moves to Grow Rich for Women
Smart Moves to Grow Rich for the Self-Employed
Taking Action: Getting Started as a Smart Investor
Get Serious & Take Charge of Your Financial Future
Creating Happiness & Security with Smart Financial Balance
10 Things You Should Know About Smart Retirement Planning
How to Market Your Business Using Social Media
From Podcaster to Published Author

Podcast Info

Check out the Money Girl podcast on iTunes!

200 episodes available (and counting!)
Downloaded over 7 million times
Podcast downloaded in the US, UK, Canada, Singapore, Japan and many more.
Ranked top 3 on iTunes for investing podcasts
iTunes rated 4.5 stars!

Media Contact Info

Jennifer Krusch, St. Martin’s Press Publicity
175 Fifth Avenue, New York, NY 10010
P (646)-307-5570 | F (212)-674-6132
Jennifer.Krusch@stmartins.comcreate new email

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