Leslie E. Linfield, Esq. is a national authority on adult financial literacy education and consumer finance issues. As the Executive Director and Founder of the Institute for Financial Literacy®, she has conducted hundreds of presentations on budgeting and consumer credit. Her work has been covered widely in the media, including the New York Times, Newsweek, Wall Street Journal, Washington Post and Boston Globe. As an expert on personal financial management, she has been published in professional journals, magazines and newspapers. She has also authored demographics research on bankrupt debtors, in two papers titled “Who Went Bankrupt in 2006? A Demographic Analysis of American Debtors” and “Aging and Bankruptcy: Are Older Americans Truly Afforded an Economic Fresh Start.”  Her most recent research paper was titled “Proposed Rebates in 2008: How will Americans Spend Their Tax Rebate Checks?” Ms. Linfield is also contributing editor for the American Bankruptcy Institute Journal and appears regularly on television as a personal finance expert. She serves on two ABI committees and on the advisory board for the Center for Consumer Financial Services at R.I.T.  She has been committed to financial education throughout her career as a banker, stock broker, HUD housing counselor, certified consumer credit counselor and practicing attorney.

Ms. Linfield is the author of several books, including: Fresh Start (FLA Publishing), The Personal Finance Series (FLA Publishing) and Budget! It’s not a Four Letter Word (FLA Publishing). Her most recent book, First Step: Family Financial Management (FLA Publishing), was published in 2008. Ms. Linfield earned her Bachelors of Science from Charter Oak State College in Connecticut and her Juris Doctorate from New England School of Law in Boston.