Ken Clark CFP Expertise: Student loans, Paying for college, Financial aid Title: Author and Former Certified Financial Planner (CFP) Education: Pepperdine University, College of Financial Planning, National University Location: Little Rock, Arkansas Highlights Former Certified Financial Planner (CFP) and author of "The Complete Idiot's Guide to Getting Out of Debt"Specializes in researching and writing articles on paying for college, student loans, financial aid, and moreFounded his own investment advisory firmLicensed family therapist and expert on money conflict between couples Experience Ken Clark is a former Certified Financial Planner (CFP) with more than a decade of experience in the financial planning industry. He also has over 15 years of experience researching and writing about student loans, debt, financial aid, paying for college, and more. He is the author six personal finance books including "The Complete Idiot's Guide to Getting Out of Debt" and "The Pocket Idiot's Guide to the Fairtax: An Unbiased Look at This Controversial Tax Proposal."Ken sat on the pension management board of one of the largest nonprofit organizations in the country. Ken also worked for PaineWebber (now UBS), co-managing over $100 million in assets before starting his own investment management firm and a subsidiary which he ran till 2003.Ken received a master's in Counseling Psychology from National University, making him one of the foremost experts on the overlap of personal finance and psychology. Ken was awarded "Mentor of the Year" by Investment News in 2007 for his work with at-risk youth. Education Ken received his business management degree with an emphasis in accounting from Pepperdine University. He then finished his three-year program of study with the College of Financial Planning in Denver, Colorado. Ken has passed the Certified Financial Planner's certification exam, as well as the Series 7, 63, and 65 exams. About The Balance The Balance, a Dotdash Meredith brand, makes money easy to understand. We give people tools they need to not only make smart financial decisions but also prepare for the experiences they will have along the way. Our team of expert writers and editors have extensive qualifications in the topics they cover, and many of them have MBAs, PhDs, CFPs, and other advanced degrees and professional certifications. We require our writers to use primary sources in their articles, which are also approved by our Financial Review Board and fact-checked. You can learn more about the standards we follow in producing accurate, unbiased content in our editorial policy.