School
UCLA Anderson School of Management, United States Military Academy, University of Hawaii at Manoa, Covenant Theological Seminary, American College of Financial Planning
Expertise
Wealth management, Behavioral insights for smarter money habits, Investment strategies across stocks, real estate, entrepreneurship, and more
- David has written over 1,000 articles spanning personal finance, investing, and entrepreneurship, featured by USA Today, Nasdaq.com, and The Motley Fool.
- He is a contributing author to McGraw-Hill Education business, finance, and entrepreneurship textbooks for college and graduate-level courses.
- David created an educational leadership and finance blog that was #36 of the Top 50 Financial Advisor Blogs and Bloggers by Kitces.com.
Experience
David previously built an award-winning wealth management firm from scratch, helping people achieve their financial goals and build wealth for over 15 years. He was selected for InvestmentNews' 40 Under 40 list of top advisers in the financial planning industry. He's a regular on TV and radio, turning thorny topics like budget rebalancing and real-estate investing into relatable, real-world advice. David is a Colonel in the CA Army National Guard and leads the global team for IoT Solutions and Emerging Technology for a top Fortune 200 Company.
Education
Upon attaining his B.S. in computer science and economics from the U.S. Military Academy at West Point, he was selected as an East-West Graduate Degree Fellow. He holds an MBA from the UCLA Anderson School of Management, a Master of Theological Studies from Covenant Theological Seminary, and an M.A. in political science and Asian politics from the University of Hawaii at Manoa. He attained Chartered Financial Consultant (ChFC) and Chartered Life Underwriter (CLU) certifications from the American College of Financial Planning. He also completed the Goldman Sachs 10kSB Program at Babson College and the Command and Staff General College Operations Course at Fort Leavenworth, KS.
The unique content on Money Digest is a result of skilled collaboration between writers and editors with a broad array of expertise in everything from monetary history to banking to personal finance. Our goal is to provide accurate and diverse content bolstered by expert input.
Focused on accuracy and ethical coverage, the Money Digest editorial team consistently fact-checks and reviews site content to provide readers with an informative, entertaining, and engaging experience. Click here for more information on our editorial process.
-
Retirement
By David S. Chang, ChFC®, CLU® 10 months ago
Retirement is supposed to be the golden phase of life, but without proper planning and a solid routine it can be more stressful than necessary.
By David S. Chang, ChFC®, CLU® 10 months ago
Read More
-
Investing
By David S. Chang, ChFC®, CLU® 10 months ago
Most deals made on Shark Tank land in the six figures, but now and then a company comes forward that draws seven-figure interest from the sharks.
By David S. Chang, ChFC®, CLU® 10 months ago
Read More
-
Investing
By David S. Chang, ChFC®, CLU® 11 months ago
Companies including FTX and Enron were at the peak of their game when it was revealed that they'd been skirting the rules all along.
By David S. Chang, ChFC®, CLU® 11 months ago
Read More
-
Auto
By David S. Chang, ChFC®, CLU® 11 months ago
A Consumer Reports ranking ranks automakers by how satisfied owners of their vehicles are, with an upstart EV brand coming out on top.
By David S. Chang, ChFC®, CLU® 11 months ago
Read More
-
Retirement
By David S. Chang, ChFC®, CLU® 11 months ago
While the factors that determine your Social Security payment are largely consistent nationwide, where you collect your income plays a role in your payout.
By David S. Chang, ChFC®, CLU® 11 months ago
Read More
-
Investing
By David S. Chang, ChFC®, CLU® 11 months ago
Most private sector employees no longer have access to a pension, but if you're employed by one of these states, you're still in luck.
By David S. Chang, ChFC®, CLU® 11 months ago
Read More
-
Auto
By David S. Chang, ChFC®, CLU® 11 months ago
Ford tops the list with three of the most unreliable vehicles according to Consumer Reports, but some other brands aren't far behind.
By David S. Chang, ChFC®, CLU® 11 months ago
Read More
-
History
By David S. Chang, ChFC®, CLU® 11 months ago
Most of the U.S. states with the highest median income are located on the east and west coasts, with Colorado as the sole inland exception.
By David S. Chang, ChFC®, CLU® 11 months ago
Read More
-
Taxes
By David S. Chang, ChFC®, CLU® 11 months ago
Property taxes are determined locally and can vary not only by state, but even by where you live within that state and by the type of home.
By David S. Chang, ChFC®, CLU® 11 months ago
Read More
-
Shopping
By David S. Chang, ChFC®, CLU® 11 months ago
States including California, Washington, and Idaho face higher gas prices due to their location, local tax policy, and other factors.
By David S. Chang, ChFC®, CLU® 11 months ago
Read More
-
Budgeting
By David S. Chang, ChFC®, CLU® 12 months ago
Housing and maintenance, food costs, and leisure activities eat up much of retirees' budget, but there are other factors at play, as well.
By David S. Chang, ChFC®, CLU® 12 months ago
Read More
-
Auto
By David S. Chang, ChFC®, CLU® 12 months ago
Entering the luxury vehicle market is more approachable than it may seem, with brands like Audi offering multiple options under $40,000.
By David S. Chang, ChFC®, CLU® 12 months ago
Read More
-
Shopping
By David S. Chang, ChFC®, CLU® 12 months ago
Many Costco products are affected by Donald Trump's tariffs, and prices could rise in the future if trade talks don't go as planned.
By David S. Chang, ChFC®, CLU® 12 months ago
Read More
-
Spending
By David S. Chang, ChFC®, CLU® 3 months ago
Domestic and inbound international travel performed well across the United States in 2024, with states from Wyoming to Tennessee experiencing booms.
By David S. Chang, ChFC®, CLU® 3 months ago
Read More
-
Budgeting
By David S. Chang, ChFC®, CLU® 12 months ago
California is not a cheap place to live, but cities like Bakersfield and Fresno offer a more affordable cost of living than coastal metros.
By David S. Chang, ChFC®, CLU® 12 months ago
Read More
-
Budgeting
By David S. Chang, ChFC®, CLU® September 23rd, 2025
Celebrities like Whitney Houston and Marvin Gaye made boat loads of money during their careers, but for various reasons it didn't stick around.
By David S. Chang, ChFC®, CLU® September 23rd, 2025
Read More
-
Shopping
By David S. Chang, ChFC®, CLU® September 18th, 2025
Shopping at Costco generally means lower prices on bulk options than at other grocery retailers, but certain items like gas and milk don't cut it.
By David S. Chang, ChFC®, CLU® September 18th, 2025
Read More
-
Earning
By David S. Chang, ChFC®, CLU® September 17th, 2025
The amount a person receives in Social Security benefits depends on lifetime income, the age at which that person claims benefits, and more.
By David S. Chang, ChFC®, CLU® September 17th, 2025
Read More
-
Shopping
By David S. Chang, ChFC®, CLU® September 12th, 2025
Foods like Elvin honey and coffee that's passed through an elephant's body can fetch thousands of dollars per serving -- if they're even available.
By David S. Chang, ChFC®, CLU® September 12th, 2025
Read More