Grayslake, IL | New York, NY | North Chicago, IL
Also known as: johnwasik
I've been a professional journalist, speaker and author for more than 30 years specializing in personal finance, the environment, investing and social issues. I've won 18 awards for my reporting and writing and have written 13 books. My most recent is "The Merchant of Power," which Studs Terkel called "terrific." Focusing on investor protection, I currently write a twice-weekly wealth column for Reuters, the world's largest news service, which is posted on Reuters.com. In addition, I contribute to The New York Times, AARP Bulletin/Magazine, Morningstar.com and Financial Planning Magazine. As an investigative writer, I authored "How Safe Are Your Savings," an expose on structured retail products. The study and subsequent articles I wrote for The New York Times, AARP Magazine, Reuters, Morningstar.com and Financial Planning Magazine showed how older, conservative investors are consistently sold risky, expensive and money-losing products loaded with derivatives. Following the expose, the SEC and FINRA issued several warnings on the vehicles. The SEC probed broker marketing practices and found abuses. My most recent books -- the first two in a trilogy -- are "The Cul-de-Sac Syndrome" and "The Audacity of Help: Obama's Economic Plan and the Remaking of America." Both have been well received and tell the story of our changing economy and what needs to be done. Along the way, I examine the housing crisis, environmental concerns on our "cultural DNA." In addition, I'm working on getting my book "Merchant of Power" made into a movie and working on a book on carcinogens in personal care products. I speak around the country on investing, the economy and historical topics. I'm also currently the president of Citizens Action Project, a non-profit group examining tax issues in Lake County, Illinois. My hobbies include writing and playing music on four instruments, Shakespeare (I produced "Comedy of Errors" locally), bike riding, walking, camping and canoeing. Specialties 1) investing, retirement planning, credit, real estate and all forms of personal financial advice. 2) Green building, energy conservation and environmental communities 3) History and social issues (health care, retirement security)
