The financial expert and radio host says Americans stay poor because of these blunders. : The money management guru has doled out his signature blend of tough-love financial advice and Biblical wisdom since 1992. He learned it all the hard way: In his 20s, Ramsey built a fortune as a house flipper but lost it all when banks started calling in his debts. He had to buckle down to build back up from bankruptcy. Now his radio show is syndicated on more than 600 stations, and he’s authored several books.