Sharon L. Lechter is an American accountant, author, and businesswoman. She is the co-author of Rich Dad Poor Dad, and the founder and CEO of Pay Your Family First, a financial education organization. In January 2008, Lechter was appointed to the President's Advisory Council on Financial Literacy to serve a two-year term. In 1997, Lechter co-authored the book Rich Dad Poor Dad, along with 14 other books in the Rich Dad series, and was CEO of the Rich Dad company for over 10 years. She also annotatedOutwitting the Devil, in cooperation with the Napoleon Hill Foundation, and co-authored its publication, Three Feet from Gold.
Personal life
Lechter graduated from Florida State University with an Accounting degree, in 1979, then worked briefly for a small accounting firm, "Big Eight". She met her husband, Michael Lechter, in 1980. Subsequently, the Lechters met Robert Kiyosaki and, together, formed the Rich Dad companies. Lechter has stated that she held various management positions with unnamed computer, insurance and publishing companies, while maintaining her credentials as a professional CPA.
On October 6, 2009, Lechter's published Think and Grow Rich: Three Feet from Gold. The narrative follows the story of a young writer who interviews many of today's business leaders and other influential figures about the importance of persistence in obtaining your goals. The book advocates finding your own Success Formula, choosing good counsel and above all: never giving up.
Rich Dad Series
Warner Bros./Hachette Publishing - Sharon Lechter as co-author with Robert Kiyosaki:
Rich Dad, Poor Dad
Rich Dad's CASHFLOW Quadrant
Rich Dad's Guide to Investing
Rich Dad's Rich Kid Smart Kid
Rich Dad's Retire Young Retire Rich
Rich Dad's Prophecy
Rich Dad's Success Stories
Rich Dad's Guide to Becoming Rich Without Cutting Up Your Credit Cards
Rich Dad's Who Took My Money
Rich Dad's Before You Quit Your Job
Sharon Lechter as author with co-author Garrett Sutton:
Rich Dad's Real Estate Advantages
Little Brown/Hachette Publishing - Sharon Lechter as co-author with Robert Kiyosaki:
Rich Dad Poor Dad for Teens
Escape the Rat Race
VideoPlus - Sharon Lechter as co-author with Robert Kiyosaki:
On October 12, 2007, Lechter filed suit against Rich Dad, Poor Dad co-author Robert Kiyosaki in Clark County, NV. On September 4, 2008 the Lechters and Kiyosakis reached a settlement in their lawsuit.
Financial Literacy
In January 2008, George W. Bush appointed Lechter to the President's Council on Financial Literacy, in a ceremony held in the Roosevelt room at the White House in Washington, D.C. Lechter and the council, composed of 19 members from the business, faith and non-profit communities, worked to shape the course for a financially literate nation. The council was charged with gathering information about financial literacy and its condition in the U.S., recommend improvements to national policies to the President and the Treasury secretary and "assist the American people in understanding and addressing financial matters."
“We want people to own assets; we want people to be able to manage their assets,” said President Bush in his remarks. “We want people to understand basic financial concepts, and how credit cards work and how credit scores affect you, how you can benefit from a savings account or a bank account. That's what we want. And this group of citizens has taken the lead, and I thank them.”
