Scott Bilker

I'm the founder of DebtSmart.com, the DebtSmart(r) Column, and the free DebtSmart(r) Email Newsletter, which is continuously helping consumers find their best borrowing options.

I'm an electrical engineer, with a Bachelor of Science from the Newark College of Engineering, and a member of Tau Beta Pi (National Engineering Honor Society). In my last year of college I had to turn to my credit cards to pay for books, tuition, gas, etc. At that point I decided to focus my analytical skills toward saving as much money as possible because the cost of all my loans and financing were so expensive. In 1996 I released my first book, and eventually, because of its success and later that of DebtSmart.com, I decided to resign from my position at the Naval Air Engineering Station (NAES) Lakehurst to pursue the website and other book projects full-time.

I'm a big supporter of education and served three years as an elected Board of Education member in Barnegat, NJ. I've always been involved in education in some way either by volunteering as a coach, Calculus tutor, and Physics tutor.

I've spent the past 13+ years finding great credit deals and saving thousands of dollars for others and myself. My credit card advice has been featured in several magazines, newspapers, and online resources including "Consumer Reports," "Money" magazine, "The Wall Street Journal," "Newsweek," "The Christian Science Monitor," SmartMoney.com, "Kiplinger's Personal Finance Magazine," "Reader's Digest," CNN/Money, BankRate.com, CBS Marketwatch, "Woman's World," The Motley Fool, CBS News (The Early Show), "Men's Health," "Woman's Day," "The San Francisco Chronicle," "Glamour," "Greensburg Tribune-Review," "The Sun," and "Valley Voice." Plus,

I've also appeared on CNN's "American Morning" with Miles O'Brien & Soledad O'Brien, "Today in NY" with Roseanne Colletti, CNNfn's "Your Money" with Ali Velshi, NBC 10 News' "Consumer Alert," NBC 6 News' "Consumer Connection," PBS's "Take Note" with Patty Satalia, WB 17's "Community Close-Up" (WPHL-TV Philadelphia) with Dorie Lenz, the Extra Help Channel's "In the Money" with J. J. Burns (C.F.P.), and CN8's "Family Talk" with Mary Amoroso.

Additionally, I've been interviewed on more than 1,000 radio stations (coast-to-coast, in Canada, and the UK) including National Public Radio's (NPR) "Morning Edition" with Steve Inskeep, WSJ Radio, "The Wall Street Journal This Morning" with Michael Wallace, WFAN (NY) with Bob Salter, KFMB (San Diego) with Jeff & Jer, and Talk America Network's "It's Your Money" with Dr. William Bailey.