I had the great privilege of working with Jonathan Clements on 34 of his personal finance columns published in The Wall Street Journal. That gave me a “behind-the-scenes” view of him that most readers never saw or heard.

Jonathan was old school in the best sense—thorough, thoughtful, caring, and never one to take shortcuts. He combined writing excellence with a good heart. He cared deeply about his readers, not just the rich and powerful, and always aimed to deliver practical, actionable information. He believed that good financial writing wasn’t about impressing peers—it was about genuinely helping everyday people make wiser, more confident decisions.

Though best known as a personal finance columnist, Jonathan often wrote about the intersection of money and happiness. He reminded readers that spending money on experiences usually brought more joy than endlessly buying “more stuff.” He had an uncanny ability to translate research and real-world behavior into simple, meaningful lessons readers could apply immediately.

I always enjoyed reading his columns. On one occasion, I left him a voicemail on how he could have improved a particular column—never expecting a reply. To my surprise, Jonathan called back. I suggested an idea for a future column that he liked, and he graciously included me as a source.

Later, while in New York on personal travel, I asked if I could stop by his office to present additional ideas. Jonathan agreed. My wife, Cindy, came along and acted as a scribe while I presented ideas for columns, and we brainstormed for hours. That meeting began a true lifelong professional relationship. He never pretended to know everything. He believed the best journalism came from testing and refining ideas with others.

From there, we developed a rhythm: he would often email me when he was considering a new topic, usually giving me a week to respond. I would spend hours developing ideas. Many didn’t make the cut—but many did, forming the foundation of those 34 published pieces.

Jonathan was meticulous, thorough, and determined that everything he published was accurate, well-reasoned, and useful. Although The Wall Street Journal had a policy prohibiting writers from sharing columns before publication, Jonathan still wanted to ensure his work was airtight. He would often call me about a specific passage. Sometimes I’d confirm it was correct as written; other times I’d suggest an edit or a relevant related idea. He always welcomed that feedback. He wasn’t seeking praise—he was seeking the best possible column. That is rare in journalism, and rarer still in personal finance journalism.

Jonathan had a charming English accent that made his thoughtful insights even more engaging. Jonathan was also one of my favorite guests. He was gracious enough to appear eight times on my former radio show, The Lange Money Hour: Where Smart Money Talks. All these interviews are still available both in audio and typed transcript form at PayTaxesLater.com/Guests/Jonathan-Clements/. Most of the content in our radio show discussions is as relevant today as it was during the interview.

In addition to his Wall Street Journal columns, I also admired his books. While I would recommend them all, my personal favorite is The Little Book of Main Street Money. It captures his core philosophy: that financial security—and even happiness—comes more from smart habits than from chasing the latest investment fad.

Jonathan Clements was my favorite personal finance columnist of our era, and his influence will continue to guide readers and writers for years to come.