- Author: Ron Chernow
- Publisher: Penguin, 832 pages
Before the musical “Hamilton,” there was this landmark biography from award-winning author Ron Chernow. After finishing this book, you might think of Hamilton, one of the Founding Fathers of American independence and the nation's first Treasury Secretary, as the Astounding Father. It’s a real page-turner, one of the best biographies I've read.
The 2005 work inspired Lin-Manuel Miranda a decade later to write his Broadway smash, which has raked in tens of millions of dollars. That would make Hamilton smile. (For a photo, check your wallet; his face is on the $10 bill.) Hamilton makes an entrance at nearly every pivotal point in the American Revolution. He was brilliant, but also obstinate, hot-headed and, at times, a scoundrel.
While his ideas for how our federal financial system should operate still hold sway to this day, Hamilton wasn’t very good with his own money, a shining example of “do as I say, not as I do.” And therein lie personal-finance lessons for us all. He was paid a pittance for his role as public servant, making side scratch by 1) being a successful lawyer and 2) marrying into wealth. But he caved to scammers looking to blackmail him and lived above his means, never crafting an estate plan for his family. He died in an infamous pistol duel with Aaron Burr, leaving his family destitute and relying on the kindness of friends.
Sign up for Kiplinger’s Free E-Newsletters
Profit and prosper with the best of expert advice on investing, taxes, retirement, personal finance and more - straight to your e-mail.
Profit and prosper with the best of expert advice - straight to your e-mail.
My takeaways: We all should get our personal finances in order. Plan carefully for your post-work years. And never accept a challenge to a duel in New Jersey. Ever.
Visit the Kiplinger Bookshelf
-
Take Charge of Retirement Spending With This Simple StrategyTo make sure you're in control of retirement spending, rather than the other way around, allocate funds to just three purposes: income, protection and legacy.
-
Here's How To Get Organized And Work For YourselfWhether you’re looking for a side gig or planning to start your own business, it has never been easier to strike out on your own. Here is our guide to navigating working for yourself.
-
Smart Strategies for Couples Who Run a Business TogetherFinancial Planning Starting an enterprise with a spouse requires balancing two partnerships: the marriage and the business. And the stakes are never higher.
-
Extending Financial Planning’s ReachFinancial Advisers The challenge is to attract more women and minorities as professionals—and clients.
-
How to Boost Your Financial SavvyWomen & Money Women need to know how financial knowledge can help them take care of their families and themselves.
-
9 Tips for Better Time Management in Retirementretirement These important time management techniques will help destress your life as you get busier -- yes, busier -- in your golden years.
-
This Olympian Tackles the Wealth GapFinancial Planning She encourages advisers to introduce students to financial planning.
-
To Succeed, Small-Business Owners Need to Put Their Own Finances FirstFinancial Planning Many business owners put everything they have into their businesses, and in doing so forget to make a plan for their own personal finances. That's a big mistake.
-
Kiplinger Q&A: Hill HarperFinancial Planning The veteran Hollywood actor embraces many of the get-rich-slowly tactics that Kiplinger champions: paying yourself first, dollar-cost averaging, investing in low-fee index funds and teaching financial literacy to children.
-
10 Financial Commandments for Your 30sFinancial Planning In your 30s? You've gotten your financial feet under you. Time to thrive — and plan for the future.
