In the mid-1980s, Dave Ramsey was one of the youngest brokers in Tennessee to be admitted to the Graduate Realtors Institute. At age 26, he and his company, Ramsey Investments Inc., had built a real estate portfolio worth more than $4 million.

By the late 1980s, he had filed for bankruptcy.

Now, Ramsey is known across the country for his skill in personal finance and money management, and he’ll be bringing that knowledge to the City of Demopolis.

Ramsey is the creator of Financial Peace University (FPU), a Biblically-based 13-week video training series for adults, and a companion series targeted at teenagers that has been offered in more than 1,200 schools in 46 states. Some topics covered in the series are cash-flow planning, investing, saving, credit, retirement and giving.

Beginning Sept. 21, the series will begin at Fairhaven Baptist Church.

The program has helped more than 650,000 families positively change their financial future. This life-changing program teaches families and individuals how to handle their money through common-sense principles and small group accountability.

“I like to put the cookies on the shelf where everyone can reach them,” said Ramsey.

As they work on a Total Money Makeover, the average family pays off $5,300 in debt and saves $2,700 in the first 91 days after beginning FPU and is completely out of debt, except for the mortgage, in 18 to 24 months.

“We’ve actually relieved ourselves of over $50,000 worth of debt in two years just from using these principles,” said Russ Lee, former FPU participant.

“FPU classes are changing lives across the country every day,” Louis Falzetti, executive vice president of Financial Peace University said. “There is something for everyone in this program whether you are barely making ends meet, just trying to plan for retirement, or seeking to build wealth. No matter what your financial situation, you will find FPU to be the best motivational tool available across the nation to help you attain financial peace.”

For more information, or to register for the class, contact Dee Andrews at (205)499-8538 or dandrews@uwa.edu