Peter Bielagus

Peter Bielagus became a top authority on money management for Young America the hard way, by first falling deep into credit card debt. Peter entered college with several thousand dollars in savings, but within six months, he found himself $5,000 in credit card debt. Determined to dig his way out of debt, he began learning about personal finance, reading over 300 books on the subject, interviewing experts, and attending seminars. By graduation, Peter's cards were clean, and he was on his way to financial freedom.

After graduating, Peter went to work for a national financial company and became the top salesperson in his district, in his first year. Shortly after getting his financial planning license, he then opened up his own fee-only financial planning firm, one of the few in the country that catered exclusively to young people. He is the author of three books including "Getting Loaded: Make a Million, While You're Still Young Enough To Enjoy It," "Quick Cash For Teens: Make Money and Be Your Own Boss," and another book set to be published by Sterling in the Spring of 2009.

Peter is a frequent guest on television and radio shows nationwide and has been featured in several of the country's premier publications, such as The Wall Street Journal, The Miami Herald, and USA Today. He has also appeared on the nationally syndicated radio show “Hints From Heloise.” Additionally, Peter has created many financial education products, including the interactive CD-ROM, "Mastering Your Personal Finances," the 70-minute audio program "The Free Way Guide To Personal Finance," and the YouTube personal finance show "Money In The Movies."

In addition to writing and speaking, Peter also shows parents, corporations, and educators how to get young people excited about money management. Mixing humor and emotion with real-life examples, he empowers audiences of all ages to get started today on managing their money. He delivers over 100 presentations a year at various venues including schools and military settings, using his expertise to help others overcome their financial challenges.