Times Insider explains who we are and what we do, and provides behind-the-scenes insights into how our journalism works.
When Ron Lieber arrived at the Wall Street Journal office for an interview in 2002, several editors immediately sized him up.
“They said, ‘We know what you’re all about: beating the system,'” said Mr. Lieber, who most recently worked as a senior writer for Fast Company on management, design and careers. “Now come here and do this for us.”
After co-founding the Wall Street Journal’s “Personal Journal” section and writing a separate column on money management, he was hired by The New York Times in 2008 to take over “Your Money,” a personal finance column. Sixteen years later, he has earned a reputation for offering readers advice, often informed by his own experiences, on topics that might cause headaches, like navigating the maze of college tuition or preparing for life after college Dismissal prepared.
“I love introducing readers to characters who they might not think would be the subject of money columns, but who are actually perfectly suited to teaching us a thing or two about how the world works,” said Mr. Lieber, whose Column appears online and most Saturdays in the Business section.
As a Times columnist, he has lived through two recessions and a pandemic. (In 2009, he even wrote about how his own financial planner had been charged with fraud.) In a recent conversation, he shared the unexpected lessons he learned while writing the column and the topics he believes will soon be addressed could dominate the world of personal finance. These are edited excerpts from the conversation.
How did you become interested in finance?
When I was applying for college financial aid as a high school senior in Chicago, I found my way to Roger Koester, who was the associate director of financial aid at Northwestern University. He had a part-time job in his office after hours; In exchange for $45, he explained the entire financial aid system to local families who tried to understand it. He knew exactly what he was talking about and gave me great advice.
It was a reminder that there is always an adult somewhere who knows how to beat the system, and if you just find that adult and ask them questions, you can help other people beat the system too. I don’t consider myself an adult, but every week I feel like I’m looking for the adults who know the answer to the thorny consumer question that concerns our readers.
What makes a good column?
When I think about personal finance, there’s a sort of Venn diagram of possible topics: things that are really expensive; processes that are really complicated; and decisions where emotions can lead us astray if we are not careful. I like to think that when I’m in the middle of this diagram, I’ve found the right topic.
And then there is the question of voice. The best compliment anyone can give me is to say that my column sounded as if I had been in the room with them and explained the topic at hand. I want it to feel conversational and not like a lecture, a sermon, or a teaching. That doesn’t mean it’s always kind – I try my best to call out institutions or establishments that endure it and deserve it.
If I find the right topic and present it in the right voice, I win the week.
Last month, a New York Magazine Financial Advice article appeared about how she was scammed out of $50,000 quickly became known. Do you think you fell for this scam?
Never say Never. I constantly tell myself that there is never a reason to rush into anything right now. There’s almost always time to call one or three or five people who are smarter than you, or just calmer than you, who will ask you thoughtful questions and try to stop you from making a big mistake.
What authors and publications do you read to stay informed?
I read the Wall Street Journal religiously. I am a big fan of Ramit Sethi, author of “I Will Teach You to Be Rich” and newsletter writer. I love reading Michelle Singletary, who writes the personal finance column for The Washington Post. And I also really like Tori Dunlap’s attitude and message, which most people know from Instagram and TikTok.
What trends are you observing?
All the people who have worked their entire careers without a traditional pension are retiring, and many of them will run out of money. The question of what will happen if that happens is deeply worrying.
I’m also interested in all the work that Conor Dougherty and other Times colleagues have done around our inability to build more housing in a sensible way. It is not clear where and how people in their 20s and even 30s will buy houses.
Would you like to add anything else?
When people see things in the world that don’t make sense – whether they think corruption needs to be exposed or whether they just want to say, “I can’t be the only one who doesn’t understand this thing, that could.” you it?” – It’s so helpful for me to know. Some of the work I’m most proud of began with a reader comment on one of my columns. We’re all in this together and none of us are as smart as all of us.
Source link
2024-03-13 07:00:17
www.nytimes.com
