12 Best Money Experts of 2015

Who is your #MoneyIdol? GOBankingRates wants to know who you think offers the best money advice as it presents its "Best Money Expert" competition in collaboration with Ally Bank this December.

The 12 money experts selected as finalists for the fifth annual competition include some of the biggest names in finance, such as investing oracle Warren Buffett, "Rich Dad Poor Dad" author Robert Kiyosaki and 2014's "Best Personal Finance Expert" Josh Felber. The finalists were chosen by the GOBankingRates editorial team in consultation with editors and financial enthusiasts from top financial publications and media outlets.

Check out each expert's 2015 money mantra and details about their books, podcasts, websites and approach to personal finance. You can vote for your favorite starting December 1.

Warren Buffett

Known as the "Oracle of Omaha" for his near-prescient investing success, Warren Buffett is the chairman and CEO of Berkshire Hathaway, which is worth over $300 billion and projected to be worth $1 trillion by 2030. Buffett's investing success has also amassed him a personal fortune of $63 billion and made him a top influencer in the world of finance whose actions and advice are closely followed.

2015 Money Mantra: "Rule No. 1: Never lose money. Rule No. 2: Never forget rule No. 1." Tweet this.

Josh Felber

The winner of the last year's GOBankingRates "Best Expert" Competition, Josh Felber is a leading voice on the topic of entrepreneurship who views it as his mission to help people turn their passions into successful enterprises and achieve financial freedom. Felber has co-authored two successful books, "Transform" with Brian Tracy and "SuccessOnomics" with Steve Forbes. He has also appeared as a financial and business guest expert on major media outlets including NBC, CBS, ABC and Fox.

2015 Money Mantra: "I am a money magnet and moneymaking opportunities always come my way." Tweet this.

Tim Ferriss

Tim Ferriss challenges the status quo with innovative ideas on finance, investing, career planning and more. He has shared his unique perspectives in three New York Times bestselling books, including "The 4-Hour Workweek," and via his popular podcast, blog and Twitter account. Ferriss has been named among Fast Company's "Most Innovative Business People" and Forbes' "Names You Need to Know." As an angel investor and adviser to major companies like Uber, Facebook, Twitter and more, Ferriss was also listed among Tech.co's "Top 20 Angel Investors" in 2014.

2015 Money Mantra: "Life is measured by the experiences you have and create, not by the number of zeros in your bank account." Tweet this.

Chris Hogan

Former all-American football player Chris Hogan is a speaker, financial coach and Ramsey Personality for Ramsey Solutions. Hogan is the author of upcoming book "Retired Inspired: It's Not an Age, It's a Financial Number," which will be released in January 2016, and shares his advice at ChrisHogan360.com. After retiring from sports, Hogan worked as vice president of a mortgage company. Seeing the financial struggles many families face, he made it his mission to help his audience successfully manage both their personal finances and professional lives.

2015 Money Mantra: "Retirement isn't an age; it's a financial number." Tweet this.

Clark Howard

Clark Howard is best known as the host of popular radio show and podcast  "The Clark Howard Show" and is also a consumer reporter for Atlanta's WSB-TV and columnist for The Atlanta Journal-Constitution. Through these outlets, Howard shares his expertise to help his audience get and keep "money in your pocket," per his show's tagline. Howard is the author of several books, including the recent "Clark Howard's Living Large for the Long Haul" and The New York Times bestseller "Clark Howard's Living Large in Lean Times: 250+ Ways to Buy Smarter, Spend Smarter, and Save Money."

2015 Money Mantra: "Helping people save more, spend less and avoid getting ripped off." Tweet this.

Robert Kiyosaki

Robert Kiyosaki challenges traditional financial advice to help millions of people see new possibilities for themselves and their money. The author of "Rich Dad Poor Dad," the No. 1 personal finance book of all time, Kiyosaki has expanded the success of this book into The Rich Dad Company. Kiyosaki has shared his financial and investing advice on national TV shows and outlets like "Larry King Live," "Oprah," "The Doctors," and CNN. He is a three-time winner of the GOBankingRates annual "Best Expert" competition, earning the title every year from 2011 to 2013.

2015 Money Mantra: "Financial education is self-defense for your money! Regain control of your money — so you can regain control of your life!" Tweet this.

Nicole Lapin

Nicole Lapin is a news anchor who has reported for finance-centered shows on CNN and CNBC, where she anchored "Worldwide Exchange." Lapin has also been a contributor to other major networks and TV shows, from MSNBC and Bloomberg Television to "Today" and "The Wendy Williams Show." Lapin created an AOL Originals show, "I'll Never Forget My First," which features influential women discussing their success, and she is the author of popular personal finance book "Rich Bitch: A Simple 12-Step Plan for Getting Your Financial Life Together … Finally."

2015 Money Mantra: "No matter how you feel: Get up, dress up, show up, and never give up." Tweet this.

Jeanette Pavini

A finance reporter and author, Jeanette Pavini is the national spokesperson for deals and coupons site Coupons.com. Pavini is also a contributor for MarketWatch, The Wall Street Journal Sunday, Huffington Post and Better Homes and Gardens as well as co-author of the book "Raising Baby Green." With a goal to help consumers save money, Pavini hosted her own award-winning TV show, "The Real Deal," for seven years. She also appeared on other TV programs such as the "Today" show, "Hallmark Home & Family" and "The Better Show."

2015 Money Mantra: "No amount of savings is too small. Always take advantage of opportunities to spend less and save more." Tweet this.

Dave Ramsey

Dave Ramsey is a bestselling author and the host of nationally syndicated radio program "The Dave Ramsey Show." Ramsey's books include his recent hit "Smart Money Smart Kids," co-authored with his daughter Rachel Cruze, as well as his classics, "The Total Money Makeover" and "Financial Peace." His wisdom stems from his personal experience of recovering from financial disaster after his $4 million real estate venture failed and he went bankrupt. With a no-nonsense approach to personal finance, Ramsey helps his followers take the right steps to live a wealthy life and achieve financial peace.

2015 Money Mantra: "Debt free!" Tweet this.

Tony Robbins

As a life coach and No. 1 New York Times bestselling author, Tony Robbins helps his massive following improve themselves, their habits and their finances to achieve their best lives. His recent bestseller, "Money: Master the Game," simplifies financial and investing information from Robbins' interviews with 50 money experts into practical and actionable advice that anyone can use. Robbins is also a philanthropist, award-winning speaker and has landed on lists such as Harvard Business Press's "Top 200 Business Gurus" and American Express's "Top Six Business Leaders in the World."

2015 Money Mantra: "Stop being the chess piece and start being the chess player. It's time to master the game of money once and for all." Tweet this.

Kyle Taylor

Kyle Taylor is the founder and owner of the No. 1 personal finance blog in the U.S., ThePennyHoarder.com, with a monthly readership of over 5 million and over 1.9 million active subscribers and social media followers. Taylor regularly shares his financial advice and passion for saving money with readers of ThePennyHoarder.com. His money tips have also been featured by outlets like Oprah.com, Men's Health, LifeHacker.com and Daily Finance.

2015 Money Mantra: "Small changes matter. By finding small, easy ways to make extra money, you can take charge of your financial future." Tweet this.

Liz Weston

Award-winning columnist and personal finance journalist Liz Weston is one of the most widely read experts in the finance world thanks to her nationally syndicated column "Money Talk" and her work for Reuters. Weston excels at turning complex financial topics into easy-to-follow advice, as seen in her bestselling books "Your Credit Score" and "Deal With Your Debt: Free Yourself From What You Owe." Weston is a regular commentator on radio and TV programs such as NPR's "All Things Considered," "Dr. Phil," and the "Today" show.

2015 Money Mantra: "Get smart with your money. Educate yourself, listen to wise counsel, take action and keep at it. No one is born smart about money — we're all learners." Tweet this.

Cast your vote for your #MoneyIdol on December 1. Check back to read each expert's No. 1 money tip for 2016. Throughout December, you can:

Double your votes when you share your picks on Facebook or Twitter using GOBankingRates' native "share" option.

Read profiles of the finalists and articles featuring their advice on getting out of debt, how to stretch a dollar, and more.

The winner will be announced Jan. 11, 2016.

Source: 12 Best Money Experts of 2015