Jon Dulin – Writer/CEO/Founder Money Smart Guides
Jon Dulin founded Money Smart Guides in 2011 and is the head writer of content. Before starting the website, he worked in the financial services industry for over 15 years in various roles, including, back office support, mutual fund accounting, tax accounting, and as a financial planner. He also coached individuals on the side, offering one-on-one financial support.
As for why Jon is someone you can trust to hear financial advice from, here are his credentials:
- Bachelor’s Degree in Business from Mercyhurst University (Erie, PA)
- Certificate in Financial Planning from Mercyhurst University (Erie, PA)
- Masters Degree in Finance from Saint Joseph’s University (Philadelphia, PA)
- Obtained FINRA Series 65 license
- Sat for level 1 of the Chartered Financial Analyst (CFA) program
You can see more about Jon’s career on his LinkedIn page.
As for writing, Jon has been featured in number publications, including Go Banking Rates, BBC, Wall Street Journal, and more.
A complete sample of his writing is featured with his Muckrack profile.
Finally, he has authored a book, 7 Investing Steps That Will Make You Wealthy, which can be found on Amazon. He is currently in the process of writing another book, soon to be released.
Jon’s Personal Financial Story
While talking about finances and the struggles people face, it is important to know that Jon too struggled with money. He got into more than $10K of credit card debt while in college and in the years after graduating. He dug himself out by getting real about his depression and low self-esteem issues.
He also blew $35K foolishly modifying a car because he thought it was a cool thing to do. Part of this was buying a second car to carry his bike because he feared a bike rack would scratch his car.
He bought his first house at the peak of the housing bubble and ended up selling for a loss of $25,000. In fact, his lender went bankrupt on the day he was to close. Fortunately (but not really), his realtor found another lender and he closed a week later.
Even with all those foolish mistakes, he and his wife have been able to amass a net worth of over $1 million and have plans to retire by age 55.
This is to show that even if you have made dumb money moves, you can overcome them.
Fun Facts
Aside from the professional accomplishments and financial struggles, here are some personal fun facts about Jon.
#1. He loves hockey. His favorite team is the Tampa Bay Lightning.
#2. He is an introvert.
#3. He loves pizza. It’s a bonus he gets to live in the pizza belt.
#4. He loves watching movies. Some of his favorites include Major League, Dumb and Dumber, National Lampoon’s Vacation, Field of Dreams, The Shawshank Redemption, and Pulp Fiction
#5. Enjoys watching professional wrestling.
#6. He has always been an entrepreneur at heart.
#7. He is always looking for ways to make more money.
#8. Growing up, he loved playing video games. He has owned an Atari 5200, then an NES, then Super NES, a Sega Genesis, followed by a Playstation, a Playstation 2, then an Xbox, a Wii, and a Switch.
#9. He is super competitive.
#10. He is highly organized.
You can contact Jon here: jondulin@moneysmartguides.com
Yasmine Bontach – Editor
Yasmine Bonatch is a freelance editor and proofreader who works with multiple types of writing, including fictional manuscripts, web content, academic essays, and articles.
She began editing articles for Money Smart Guides in 2023.
With over four years of experience and a bachelor’s degree in English from Bryn Mawr College, she has a keen eye for detail and a passion for polishing written works, working directly with authors in the development and enhancement of their language and its impact.
You can contact Yasmine here: yasminebonatch@moneysmartguides.com