A financial planner and travel writer, Mark Hauser has written much about personal finance. But Mark Hauser’s new book, “The Power of Financial Literacy,” is his most ambitious work. He wrote it because he believes that as Americans have become less financially literate over time, they have become more vulnerable to exploitation by predatory lenders and con artists. He recommends that we start teaching financial literacy early in schools, to kids and adults alike-and not just about personal finance but also about the larger economy.

Mark Hauser is the author of “The Power of Financial Literacy”:

“Financial literacy is an important aspect of lifelong learning. This book isn’t just about Budgeting and investing. It also offers insights on buying and owning a home, dealing with debt, starting a business, saving for college and retirement, making health care decisions, opposing abusive financial practices and fraud, and many basic decision making strategies that can increase one’s awareness. I believe in individual empowerment through education.”

Mark Hauser has been writing about personal finance for more than thirty years. His articles have appeared in such publications as Money Magazine, Kiplinger’s Personal Finance Magazine, and New York Business News. He is recognized in North America as the leading authority on saving and investing.

And on his website, he explains the difference between Budgeting and personal finance: “Budgeting is a financial discipline that helps you take control of your money. It can be useful for sticking to your spending plan—just don’t conflate it with personal finance.”

Mark Hauser was born in Chicago, Illinois, and grew up in Los Angeles, California. He earned his B.A. from UCLA and his M.B.A., cum laude, from Stanford University’s Graduate School of Business.

In addition to writing about personal finance, Mark is an award-winning travel writer with over twenty years of experience writing for both print and broadcast media. He has won Consumer’s Union’s Good Housekeeping Seal for excellence in travel journalism and numerous awards from the American Society of Travel Agents.