The financial freedom experts that make up our Catch Fire University faculty are passionate about sharing their expertise and insights to help others break out of their personal financial prison and become financially free.

 

Founder Doug Nelson

Doug Nelson's story is a quintessential rags-to-riches journey. His experience as a child growing up in poverty became the catalyst that made him decide he would create his own wealth and freedom. When he was 23, Doug started the first of many successful businesses. By age 34, he was completely financially free. At 35, Doug lived through an event that would forever change his life - he was in a serious natural gas explosion. Coming back from the brink of death and spending a year in rehabilitation, Doug realized the power of his unique financial situation. His passion and his mission became teaching people
"How to Ignite their Own Economy" so that no matter what happens in their life they are financially bulletproof. He has taught tens of thousands of students all over North America the principals and skills of creating Financial Freedom. Doug and his wife are currently creating an online curriculum called the Catch Fire University; Making Money Learning Experience. Doug currently resides in northern Minnesota with his wife Melanie and two dogs Cash and Prosper.

 

Founder Melanie Nelson

After graduating top of her class Melanie built a very successful practice working in the health Industry. She worked with clients such as top professional athletes and teaching health classes to those who desired a higher level of vitality; many of these people suffering from chronic diseases. A mentor and example to many, she changed her own life around, trained for and completed a triathlon, raised tens of thousands of dollars for Charities and has trained internationally for one of the largest personal and financial growth companies. She is a woman who at a young age has never shied away from a challenge and because of that has achieved many "firsts". Creating her first level of financial freedom at the age of 26, and achieving her goal of personally becoming a Millionaire by age 30; she is now the President of Ignite Promotions. Melanie is known for saying; "The only difference between your dreams and making them a reality is a plan of action and sticking to it". Melanie is an advocate for people who want to help themselves reach new levels. She still helps people today achieve their own "firsts".

 

Faculty Member Mr. Money; Mark Rothstein

Known to millions of radio listeners across the USA as "Mr. Money," Mark Rothstein is widely recognized as one of the Country's top Certified Financial Planners and Income Tax Specialists. His career in personal finance and investment-related fields spans over 27 years. A graduate of Syracuse University, Mark is the Founder and President of TriStar Financial Services, one of the largest wealth management firms in Los Angeles. He has been featured on NBC nightly news and is a frequent guest commentator on Fox Business Channel. He was recognized as one of the top financial planners in the United States in both 2008 and 2009 by the Research Council of America, a respected peer review group for the financial industry. His number one passion in life is teaching people about their money: "Everybody can become educated and with this knowledge become rich," he says. He leads a three-day intensive money seminar. His students graduate with their entire financial life in order and structured for massive wealth creation. Visit his web site at www.MrMoneyTalks.com

 

Faculty Member Stewart Welch III

Stewart is the author of several books, including The Complete Idiot's Guide to Getting Rich, J.K. Lasser's New Rules for Estate and Tax Planning, and the 10 Minute Guide to Personal Finances for Newlyweds. His financial expertise has drawn national attention and he is often sought out by the national media for his opinions. He has appeared on CNN , CNBC and Fox News as well as hosting his own show, "Welch Profiles: Personal Success Stories" where he interviewed such notables as legendary investor and author Jimmy Rogers and Stephen Forbes, Editor of Forbes magazine. He has been quoted in, among other publications, The Wall Street Journal, Money, Forbes, Kiplinger, The New York Times, Smart Money and Worth. You can find out more about Stewart by visiting his website at www.GetRichOnPurpose.com

 

Faculty Member Dino Watt

Dino Watt has always had a passion for improving marriages, but his mission really ignited in 2006 while working as a success coach. That year he was awarded Coach of the Year by the Enlightened Wealth Institute. Many of his students were married couples trying to start or grow a business. In his coaching sessions, Dino noticed how frequently couples struggled to effectively work together in their business. This realization gave him the opportunity to teach his clients how to incorporate specific systems into their business, and more importantly, marriage. Soon couples were achieving the success they desired as a result of Dino's individual coaching. It was through this feedback and encouragement that Dino created The Business of Marriage training program. Dino and his wife, Shannon, recently celebrated their 15th wedding anniversary. They have three children, ages 12, 10 and 9 years old.

 

Faculty Member Brad  Freeman

Brad's journey towards self awareness and fulfillment started many years ago when he realized that there must be more to life than Monday to Friday, 9-5, Saturday and Sunday, rest and repeat. He began to consume as many self development products as he could that covered areas of happiness, relationships, wealth, health and many more. Along the way another realization came to him. His success at achieving fulfillment and abundance would only be complete if he had others to share it with. From then on he committed himself to using his abilities of objectivity, neutrality, inspiration and genuine compassion to support others towards their dreams. To increase his ability to support even more people, he started Ascendancy Coaching. Trained as a certified Jump Start Coach with an Alberta based development company and being a basic Neurolinguistic Programming practitioner, Brad is able to ask the better questions that move people to solutions or affirmative actions that propel them to success. His ability to truly "coach", empowers and guides his clients to reaching places within themselves they didn't know existed and in turn achieving more, feeling better and wasting much less time.

brad@catchfireuniversity.com

 

Faculty Member Simon  Cornelius

Simon Cornelius was born & raised in England. As a teenager, he became very enamored with the American lifestyle portrayed on TV. One of his dreams was to move to the US and live a life of luxury, and a "larger-than-life" lifestyle. After graduating with an engineering degree, getting a prestigious job and making more money than most of his friends, Simon was presented an opportunity to relocate to South Florida - he took it!

Even though he had a "good job" and was living "the good life" as a single guy, he quickly found himself running out of money before the month had finished, Over the next decade, he had his house foreclosed upon, almost had a car repossessed and had saved just few a thousand dollars in the bank. How could a well educated person making a good salary not be able to figure this money thing out?

It took a dot com bubble burst and the threat of layoffs to force him into action. Over the course of the next several years, he studied and practiced everything he could about personal finance; what worked, what didn't and what was a waste of time! Through consistent effort and discipline, the six figure mountain of debt that Simon and his family had amassed was obliterated, and they became totally and utterly debt free, including their mortgage.

This feeling of freedom inspired Simon to teach others the principles and provide real tools to achieve the same goal of being Debt Free! Everything Simon teaches is from experience and from the heart. His compassion comes from his desire to educate and inspire others to live a debt free life.