I usually watch CNBC when I get up, but I happened to turn to the local CBS affiliate to see if the temperature was too cold to play golf this morning. Low and behold, Bryant Gumbel was on the TV interviewing Rev. Jackson and his son who's a Congressman from Chicago. They've just written a financial planning book It's About the Money!

http://www.amazon.com/exec/obidos/ASIN/081293296X/o/qid=947189565/sr=2-1/002-9499890-0111446

Old Bryant was really raking the Reverend over the coals on this one: Sample Question, "You're a preacher and a Congressman, why would anyone take financial advice from you?"

Intrigued and since it was too cold to play golf, I went over to Barnes & Noble and had a quick look at the Reverand's book. Now, to be sure I'm not a big fan of most of Rev. Jackson's policy positions and I was expecting something along the lines of a National Lampoon parody of a financial planning book, but I was pleasantly surprised. Rev. Jackson's advice is very mainsteam and positively Foolish with a big "F". He advises to pay down your debt, live below your means (LBYM), seek out low-fee investments, and don't get scammed. Sure, I saw at least one reference to how the "white-owned" insurance companies weren't serving the minority community, but hey, there's a lot of white folks who feel they been abused by the insurance companies.

All in all, I think it's a useful volume. I hope many of Reverend Jackson's constituents heed his advice.

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