A television (TV) financial advisor appears on camera discussing saving, investing and spending tips for viewers. Most financial advisors who have their own television show have first had a successful career in finance and made appearances on other TV or radio shows. A TV financial advisor typically answers viewer questions during a show; these may be related to a certain theme or a mixture of money-related topics. Television financial advisors also tell viewers a little about their backgrounds as well as their philosophies on money subjects.
Two of the most well known TV financial advisors are Clark Howard and Suze Orman. Howard describes himself as a person who was always interested in money even as a child. He wanted to become a financial advisor in his 30s since by then he had already amassed a fortune and became interested in helping others manage their money wisely without falling for scams or wasting it foolishly.
Orman is a TV financial advisor who has said she mainly become one to keep people from making similar mistakes she made with money. She lost her savings after trusting a financial advisor at a large corporation. Orman first appeared on various talk shows sharing her experience and giving viewers tips to avoid trusting the wrong people. She became very popular with her own television shows as well as commercials selling her financial products that coach people on saving, investing and spending money wisely.
Discussing money matters such as credit reports and student loans are common duties of TV financial advisors. A TV financial advisor always emphasizes the three basic facets of money management: saving, investing and spending. For instance, they advise people to spend cash carefully rather than use credit cards foolishly. Financial advisors also point out that student loans can be good credit if they are an investment in being able to earn a higher income, which would also allow them to be paid off without having to amass high interest rates. A TV financial advisor prepares tips for each episode, such as how to get the best interest on savings accounts and tips on how to spend less money.
A TV financial advisor often conducts research on discounted travel bargains and other ways of saving money. They discuss their findings on television and may also suggest vacationing at home or taking a lower cost trip such as camping. By teaching people ways to spend less money as well as avoid credit card debt and bad financial decisions, TV financial advisors can provide a useful service to television viewers.