Book excerpt: The articles I wrote for ordinary people became my obsession. Why? It is because the mass of information created for ordinary people isn't very helpful. It's boring. It's hard to understand. It's dictatorial. It's irrelevant. Did I mention that it's boring? So, I created a different style of writing about money to answer these problems. I tried to explain things in a way that makes sense to normal folks. I dispensed with the bossy junk, the worn-out examples, and the rules of thumb routinely ignored by millions. Instead, I tried to make the lessons real and explain things in a way that normal people can understand. I also argue against the austere budget dictated by finance professionals everywhere. Have some fun, I say. Go ahead and drink that latte. Order those season tickets. Let eBay or Amazon help you succeed. Buy the house you want and don't fret much about payments. Dan Danford, CFP, has been a financial advisor since 1984. He started Family Investment Center in 1998 and his columns and articles have appeared in hundreds of magazines, journals, and newspapers. Most of all, his continuing work with actual clients sets him apart from most personal finance writers. He is a gifted communicator about financial topics and his stories and examples teach valuable lessons on how to succeed financially. "Money won't buy happiness," he explains, "but it can eliminate or reduce some of the stress that makes people unhappy."