Interview: Danny Kofke, Author of A Simple Book of Financial Wisdom: Teach Yourself (and Your Kids) How to Live

Book Title:
A Simple Book of Financial Wisdom: Teach Yourself (and Your Kids) How to Live

Website URL:
www.dannykofke.blogspot.com

Social Media Links:
Twitter: @dannykofke
Facebook: http://www.facebook.com/SimpleFinancialWisdom

What is your book about?
According to a recent American Express ZYNC survey of people ages 20 to 49  83% said their current financial situation is very or somewhat stressful.

A Simple Book of Financial Wisdom is an easy-to-understand book giving specific steps to become more financially secure. You will learn how to:

- Raise a family of four on less than $40,000 a year
- Easily track your expenses and spending
- Save over $5,000 a year
- Establish an emergency fund
- Pay-off all your debt
- Invest for retirement and college
- Teach your child(ren) how to manage money
- Live a “wealthy” life with little money

Many feel intimidated and confused when it comes to managing money — A Simple Book of Financial Wisdom gives them the information they need to gain control of their money and, life.

What inspired you to write your book?
After writing my first book – “How To Survive (and perhaps thrive) On A Teacher’s Salary” – and having success with it I felt I could write a more informative book.  I wrote “How To Survive” over 5 years ago and since then we have had another daughter and my wife, Tracy, has continued to be a stay-at-home mom while I continued to teach.  I felt I could give advice to people in these tough economic times that could greatly help them.

How did you come to do what you’re doing today?
I knew I wanted to be a teacher after having Mr. Stutzke in 9th grade.  Shortly after Tracy and I married, many of our colleagues said we did a good job with our money and said I should write a book; a couple of years later my forst book came out.

Can you describe a typical day in your life?
I usually wake up around 5:30 and work on book-related items until I leave for school at 7:10.  I then teach a special needs class until 3:30.  I get home around 3:45, exercise and then spend time with my family until my daughters (Ava, age 7 and Ella, 4) go to sleep.  I then work some more on book-related items, read a little and then fall asleep by 9:30.

What do you most enjoy about what you do?
I love being able to help others handle their money better.  It is very empowering to be able to show someone how they can change their life.

Are there any people and/or books that have inspired you along your journey?
Yes, David Bach, Dave Ramsey and Clark Howard have all inspired me.

Can you share some business tips for our readers?
As a teacher, I make a salary that is comparable to many business owners just starting off (this is my 12th year teaching and I make a little above $40,000 a year).  I know when you are passionate about something you do not always need a lot of materialistic things to give you happiness.  I think that is what connects me with business owners – we make do with what we have and are usually content because we are passionate about what we do.

Can you share something that people might be surprised to learn about you?
I actually subscribe to the NFL Sunday Ticket.  I am a big Miami Dolphins fan and this is the only way I can watch all of their games here in Georgia.

Is there anything else you would like to add?
Many people feel that handling money is intimidating and hard to understand.  I want to show others if this 35 year-old school teacher can gain financial wisdom, then they can too. I am living proof that a family can live wealthy on little money.