First Post in a Series: Dave Ramsey

My very unscientific survey of the personal finance blogosphere finds Dave Ramsey to be the most often cited guru.  This is a bit of a difficulty for me, because of the major gurus he is the one with whom I am least familiar.  For example, until last night I had never heard his voice.  If you are wondering how that could possibly be, that’s because you didn’t realize how regional his appeal is, and you live in Ramsey Country.

I had to go on his website to hear his show.  According to the site, it is carried, on tape delay, on an AM station in Boston.  I’d never heard of the station before and it doesn’t come in on my radio.  (Also according to Ramsey’s website, the show is not available in New York City, the nation’s largest media market, at all.)  It is available on XM and Sirius, but even I am too frugal to pay a monthly fee to listen to the radio.

Turns out he sounds like a likable guy, somebody I wouldn’t mind having in the next seat on an airplane.  This is in contrast to, for example, Suze Orman.  On reflection, I think that the principal difference between Ramsey and Orman may be cultural.  They have very similar core messages.  But the Nashville-based Ramsey is Christian in the wholesome American family values way.  The San-Francisco-based and gay Orman, who refers to herself as a “57-year-old virgin” is really not.  Ramsey’s on-air persona is that of the amiable but firm wise uncle.  Orman is the busybody mother-in-law.

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