The Truth Tellers
In a world full of financial noise, conflicts of interest, and products designed to profit the seller — these are the voices Paul Merriman trusts. Independent thinkers. Evidence-based educators. People who put your financial wellbeing first.
What Makes a Truth Teller?
No conflicts of interest. They don't profit from what they recommend to you.
Evidence-based. Their advice is grounded in data and academic research, not opinion.
Long-term focus. They think in decades, not market cycles.
Paul's stamp of approval. Voices Paul has read, listened to, and personally recommends.
Voices
The Truth Tellers
Every person and organization here has earned Paul's trust through years of honest, evidence-based, investor-first content.
One of the most important voices in individual investor education. A practicing neurologist who taught himself finance, Bernstein wrote the books that changed how millions of people think about investing — including Paul. His work on portfolio theory, financial history, and investor behavior is essential reading.
One of the most important voices in individual investor education — a practitioner who taught himself finance and changed how millions think about investing.
Author of the beloved A Wealth of Common Sense blog and several books, Ben Carlson translates complex financial research into clear, practical wisdom for everyday investors. Rare, steady, and refreshingly honest.
Former Wall Street Journal personal finance columnist and founder of HumbleDollar. Jonathan Clements writes with rare clarity, warmth, and hard-won personal honesty about money, life, and what really matters.
One of the most prolific and rigorous voices in evidence-based investing. Larry Swedroe has authored more than 20 books and continues to cut through Wall Street mythology with research-driven analysis.
An emergency physician who built one of the most trusted financial education platforms for high-income professionals. Dr. Dahle proves that expert medical training and expert financial wisdom can live in the same mind.
Two of Morningstar's most trusted voices — both known for cutting through complexity and writing for real investors, not for the industry.
The go-to authority on annuities who tells you when you need one and — just as importantly — when you don't. Stan fights for the consumer in an industry riddled with commissions and confusing products.
A fee-only CFP with a lifelong commitment to investor education. George Sisti writes and speaks with uncommon candor about what truly serves the investor — and what doesn't.
A former attorney turned financial educator, Rob Berger delivers practical, no-nonsense personal finance content through his podcast, YouTube channel, and writing — always without agenda or commission.
Tim Ranzetta built NGPF into the nation's leading free financial literacy curriculum for high school students. A true mission-driven educator fighting to get financial education into every classroom.
CENTS
A PBS Digital Studios production delivering approachable, engaging financial education to younger audiences. Clear, honest, and animated — a great starting point for anyone new to personal finance.
Tom and Don built Vestory on the belief that investors deserve straightforward, evidence-based advice. No hidden fees, no conflicted recommendations — just honest wealth management.
A portfolio manager at PWL Capital who has built one of the most rigorously evidence-based YouTube channels in personal finance. Ben Felix doesn't just say what works — he shows you the academic research behind it.
A CPA who writes plain-English books on taxes, Social Security, and investing — and built Open Social Security, the free tool Paul recommends for Social Security optimization. No fluff, no upsell.
The financial industry spends billions creating the illusion of expertise. These Truth Tellers cut through that noise — they educate without trying to sell you something.
How Paul Chooses Truth Tellers
Not everyone who talks about money belongs on this list. Here's what Paul looks for.
No Conflicts of Interest
They don't earn commissions on what they recommend. Their income doesn't depend on steering you toward specific products. Their loyalty is to you, the investor.
Evidence Over Opinion
They anchor their advice in peer-reviewed academic research and long-term data — not market predictions, hot takes, or what's trending on financial Twitter.
Education First
Their mission is to make you a smarter, more confident investor — not to impress you with jargon or keep you dependent on their advice.
Long-Term Thinking
They think in decades. They understand that investor behavior over time matters more than any single investment decision.
Investor-First Values
They would give the same advice to their own family. They treat you as an intelligent adult capable of making your own informed decisions.
Paul's Personal Stamp
Paul has read their books, listened to their podcasts, or met them personally. These are not algorithmic recommendations — they're genuine endorsements.
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