Hey Suze, The Economy Stinks. Will You Promote My Detergent?
The self-help queen of money gains serious popularity as American economy tanks.
Whether you are a twentysomething trying to fix her credit score, or an Amazon customer looking at self-help books, Suze Orman is probably a familiar face. Now, with the Fed sending confusing, erratic signals to Main Street, who are Americans turning to?
Apparently, Suze. And not just Main Street, but Wall Street too. As recession has seemed more likely, both companies and banks have been pleading with her for endorsements– creating concerns among critics that she might have a conflict of interest. Laundry detergent companies, the Got Milk folks, and banks like Wells Fargo have all asked Orman to consider endorsing them. Orman has agreed to some products endorsements, but generally stays out of banking, believing it would be unethical to do so. Some critics argue that she doesn’t watch her potential conflicts of interest closely enough, and should avoid commercial endorsements to protect her consumer watchdog image.
But could a milk mustache be a conflict of interest? The self-help guru doesn’t think so. Orman picked up $25k for agreeing to don a foamy smile. In times like these, a Suze Orman cameo might be worth more than, let’s say, a Sarah Jessica Parker endorsement.
Sarah Who? As the economy crumbles, a Suze Orman endorsement is where it's at.