Ric Edelman has been three times ranked the #1 Independent Financial Advisor in the nation by Barron's. In 2012, the highly regarded industry website, RIABiz.com, named Ric one of the “ten most influential figures” in the investment advisory field.1 Ric has appeared on the cover of two industry publications (Financial Advisor, April 2012, and The Register, December 2011), and Financial Planning magazine in 2012 named Ric one of nine advisors with "vast Twitter followings."2 Ric is also a sought after speaker at major industry conferences.

Ric is a member of the Financial Advisor Hall of Fame sponsored by Research magazine3 and the CNBC Digital Financial Advisors Council. Edelman Financial Services was named by Inc. magazine as one of the fastest growing privately held financial planning firm in the country for three years in a row in the late 1990's.4

Ric graduated Cum Laude from Rowan University in 1980 and the university bestowed upon him an honorary doctorate in 1999. He is on the advisory board of Rowan’s College of Communication and Creative Arts. In December 2012, Ric graduated from the Executive Program from Singularity University.

Bestselling Author

Ric is a #1 New York Times bestselling author. With more than 1 million copies collectively in print, his seven books on personal finance have been translated into several languages and educated countless people worldwide. The Truth About Money was recognized with an Excellence in Financial Literacy Education (EIFLE) Book of the Year Award from the Institute for Financial Literacy (March 2011), a Gold Medal Axiom Award (March 2012), an Apex Award (June 2011), and was named Book of the Year by Small Press magazine (1997). The Lies About Money was awarded the Axiom Personal Finance Book of the Year (March 2008) and an EIFLE Award (October 2009).5 Ric's eighth book, The Truth About Retirement Plans and IRAs, a #1 national best-seller,6 was published in April 2014.

Award-Winning Host of Radio and Television Shows

Ric's radio show has been on the air for more than 20 years and is heard throughout the country, enjoying more than 1 million listeners every week. In 2014, Ric was named among the "Heavy Hundred" in the radio industry by TALKERS magazine.7 Ric's television show, The Truth About Money with Ric Edelman, airs on more than 200 public television stations across the country and has won 8 Telly Awards.

Award-Winning Educator

Ric appears on stage frequently, talking to thousands of people every year, and is widely acknowledged as an entertaining and informative speaker. He has testified before Congress three times, participated in an SEC Roundtable and appointed by Presidents Bill Clinton and George W. Bush as a delegate to all three National Summits on Retirement Savings. Ric taught personal finance at Georgetown University for nine years, publishes an award-winning 16-page monthly newsletter and his website offers comprehensive and free personal finance education.

Philanthropic Activities

Ric is active in community service. He served five years on the board of the United Way of the National Capital Area, including two years as Chairman. He serves on the Southeast Board of The Boys and Girls Clubs of America, is a member of The Boys and Girls Clubs of Greater Washington Foundation Board and served on the BGCGW Metropolitan Board of Directors for seven years and serves on the BGCGW Leadership Council. He is a Policy Board Member of the American Savings Education Council. and is on the Foundation Board of Directors for the Wolf Trap Foundation for the Performing Arts. Also, Ric formerly served on the boards of Junior Achievement of the National Capital Area and the Washington National Opera. Ric and Jean are benefactors of the Inova Edelman Center for Nursing at Inova Health Foundation and most recently the new Inova Center for Advanced Medical Simulation. They are also benefactors of the Edelman Planetarium at Rowan University. They are also supporters of Northern Virginia Therapeutic Riding Program, HEROES, Make-a-Wish Foundation, The Leukemia & Lymphoma Society and many other charities.