Best Personal Finance Books for 2025

Many successful financial experts will tell you that a certain book changed their lives.The reading material is not always light, but the right book can have a serious impact when it resonates with you. The best personal finance books are invaluable resources that can help educate you on key financial concepts while introducing useful strategies for money management and investing. These are the best personal finance books by today’s leading experts to help you gain a better understanding of how to manage your financial needs.

Learning from a financial advisor is a good complement to learning from financial books.

Data and Methodology

We identified the books below through exhaustive research and analysis of the personal finance book market. They are listed in an order that’s in direct correlation with their individual composite score based on our methodology, which includes consumer ratings from multiple popular online bookstores.

1. “You Deserve to be Rich” by Rashad Bilal and Troy Millings

One of the standout features of “You Deserve to be Rich” is its focus on practical financial strategies that can be implemented by anyone, regardless of their current financial situation.

The book covers a wide range of topics, from budgeting and debt management to investment strategies and retirement planning. It provides step-by-step guidance on how to create a personalized financial plan that aligns with one’s goals and values. By following the advice in the book, readers can learn how to build a solid financial foundation, reduce financial stress and work towards long-term wealth accumulation.

A key theme in “You Deserve to be Rich” is the role of mindset in wealth building. The author argues that financial success is not just about numbers and strategies but also about cultivating a wealth-oriented mindset. The book encourages readers to challenge limiting beliefs about money and to embrace a mindset of abundance and possibility.

By shifting their perspective, readers can overcome financial obstacles and unlock new opportunities for growth and prosperity.

2. “The Simple Path to Wealth” by J.L. Collins

“The Simple Path to Wealth” by JL Collins is a highly regarded guide demystifying the complexities of personal finance, offering readers a straightforward approach to achieving financial independence. The book is rooted in the author’s own experiences and insights, initially shared through a series of letters to his daughter.

Collins emphasizes the importance of financial literacy and provides a roadmap for building wealth through smart investing and disciplined saving. By focusing on simplicity and clarity, the book appeals to both beginner investors and those looking to refine their financial strategies.

3. “The Psychology of Money” by Morgan Housel

One of the key themes in “The Psychology of Money” is the idea that financial success is not solely determined by knowledge or intelligence but instead is heavily influenced by behavior. Housel argues that understanding your own financial psychology can lead to better decision-making and ultimately, greater financial well-being.

By examining real-life stories and historical examples, the book illustrates how emotions like fear, greed and envy can impact financial decisions, often leading to irrational actions that undermine long-term goals.

4. “Smart Money: The Personal Finance Plan to Crush Debt” by Naseema McElroy

This book provides a step-by-step plan for planning your financial future by ditching what does not work and learning what does.

Naseema McElroy gives you nine financial principles that help you learn how to get rid of debt and accumulate wealth. She helps you learn how to save money while correcting any mistakes you have made and preventing common financial mistakes in the future.

The book takes an interactive approach, providing you with worksheets and checklists so you can learn from hands-on experience. There are also dozens of tips and tricks on topics like debt management, investing and budgeting.

The book uses plain English with little financial jargon to explain simple concepts that will put you on the right track. This makes it easier for beginners to read and understand. Complex financial concepts are broken down and tied to actionable steps you can take.

You will find a wealth of information in the author’s tips that will empower you to take control of your debt and work toward a brighter financial future.

5. “The Total Money Makeover” by Dave Ramsey

“The Total Money Makeover” includes a step-by-step plan designed to help readers systematically tackle their financial challenges.

Ramsey introduces the concept of baby steps, which are small, manageable actions that lead to significant financial progress over time. These steps include creating an emergency fund, paying off debt using the debt snowball method, and investing for retirement.

By breaking down the process into achievable goals, the book empowers readers to make steady progress toward financial security.

6. “I Will Teach You To Be Rich” (2nd ed.) by Ramit Sethi

If you think you have to deprive yourself in order to be rich, think again. Author Ramit Sethi shows you how to invest your money with the best asset allocation for your needs so you can spend guilt-free.

He discusses all sorts of possible financial issues that you might experience, teaching you how to deal with your student loans and how to start saving and investing in this New York Times and Wall Street Journal bestseller. It is based on financial tools and systems that you can use to accomplish your financial goals.

This second edition is timely and has information on topics as diverse as robo-advisors and how to beat the banks. It is a refreshing look at personal finance because Sethi is honest and forthright, even sharing his own personal approach to achieving his financial goals.

He discusses the concept of conscious spending, how to optimize your credit cards and how to prepare for investing. Throughout the book, he interjects stories of successful people and how they found their success, as well as narratives from those who have personally used his system.

7. “The Intelligent Investor” by Benjamin Graham and Jason Zweig

One of the key takeaways from “The Intelligent Investor” is the importance of a disciplined approach to investing. The authors advocate for a methodical analysis of potential investments, encouraging readers to look beyond market trends and instead focus on the fundamental value of assets.

This approach can significantly enhance personal finance management by promoting informed decision-making and reducing emotional responses to market fluctuations. By adhering to Graham’s principles, investors can develop a robust strategy that aligns with both their financial goals and risk tolerance.

8. “Rich Dad, Poor Dad” by Robert Kiyosaki

This is the No. 1 best-selling personal finance book that is a must for your library. Instead of focusing on one area of finance, this best personal finance book takes a more generalized look that still applies today, despite the fact that it was originally written over 20 years ago. However, it was recently updated for its 20-year anniversary to reflect more modern principles and strategies.

Kiyosaki starts off with a personal story of his two dads growing up. One was his real father, and the other was his best friend’s father, a rich man with a knack for managing money. His “other dad” taught him some simple personal finance lessons.

By following these lessons, he then began to learn on his own how to make his money work for him instead of him working for his money. He learned that you do not have to be rich to build wealth and achieve financial success.

Over the years, author Robert Kiyosaki has written a series of books – there are now 14 in the series – but this is the one that started it all. These books cover everything from investing to credit cards to cash flow and nearly everything in between, methodically preparing you for your financial journey.

9. “Why Didn’t They Teach Me This in School?” by Cary Siegel

Have you ever wondered why they don’t teach personal finance in high school? You may encounter it in college, but most finance majors tend to concentrate on business finance or investments instead of the principles of personal finance. Because of this, “Why Didn’t They Teach Me This in School?” is a great book to read before diving into more complex and quantitative personal finance books.

As Cary Siegel was writing his guiding principles of personal finance to his children, he suddenly realized that these notes to his kids could appeal to a wider audience, the idea for his book was born.

Most personal finance books and personal finance textbooks are complicated reads. Instead, this author focuses on eight lessons on personal finance, developing a comprehensive but concise book around them. He tied 99 principles to these eight lessons and ended up with an excellent book that is more qualitative than quantitative. Following his own principles allowed Siegel to retire at age 45.

10. “The Millionaire Next Door: The Surprising Secret of America’s Wealthy” by Thomas J. Stanley and William D. Danko

The “Millionaire Next Door” is a different kind of personal finance book. Written originally two decades ago and updated recently to reflect the 21st century, it explains how most of the millionaires in the U.S. are not pro athletes or movie stars – they are your neighbors. They live right next door, but they do not drive lavish cars or live in incredible homes.. In fact ,you probably do not know they are millionaires because they do not brag about their money. Their own children probably do not know their parents are millionaires.

These people are like you and me, except they have applied the principles of personal finance to their lives. Most did not even inherit their money. Instead, they saved and invested their savings by living below their means, shopping for bargains and investing small amounts of money as they could. They chose their investments wisely and were long-term investors or buy-and-hold investors, not speculators.

This is what “The Millionaire Next Door: The Surprising Secret of America’s Wealthy” proves. Authors Thomas J. Stanley and William D. Danko interviewed many millionaires and found that most millionaires are the opposite of what we might typically expect. They are not high rollers. Instead, they have lived their lives without overspending to secure a financially free future.

Bottom Line

Exploring the best personal finance books can be a transformative step toward achieving financial literacy and independence. These books offer invaluable insights into money management, making wise investments and planning for the future. Whether you are just starting your financial journey or looking to refine your strategies, these resources provide practical advice and proven techniques.

From understanding the basics of budgeting to mastering the complexities of investment portfolios, the knowledge gained from these books can empower you to make informed decisions. The eal-life examples and case studies they include illustrate these principles in real-world scenarios, making the concepts more relatable and easier to grasp so you know how to take action.

Financial Planning Tips

After reading these books, you may decide you want help building a financial plan and managing your wealth. If so, a financial advisor can help with this. Finding a financial advisor doesn’t have to be hard. SmartAsset’s free tool matches you with vetted financial advisors who serve your area, and you can have a free introductory call with your advisor matches to decide which one you feel is right for you. If you’re ready to find an advisor who can help you achieve your financial goal, get started now.
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