Mel Clark writes about personal finance, retirement planning, and martial arts. His blue-collar parents raised him and his two sisters in a wonderful environment for children. The family, however, was always in debt, always making payments, and never saving. As a result, Mel is compelled to share hard-won money lessons with working folks. He wants them to know the benefits of saving and investing. You don't have to be rich to become financially independent. Mel and his lovely wife Linda live near Virginia's Blue Ridge Parkway. They enjoy ballroom dancing, the occasional camping trip and a silly game called Bananagrams. Mel is a graduate of the United States Military Academy at West Point and the Darden School of Business at the University of Virginia.