This post is a posthumous farewell letter written by renowned financial journalist and HumbleDollar founder, Jonathan Clements, dated September 22, 2025, detailing his passing due to cancer at the age of 62. Clements expresses profound gratitude for his life, summarizing his core principles as "Family, Readers, Words." The letter provides a comprehensive biographical recap, spanning his birth in London in 1963, his difficult but formative years in British boarding schools, his time at Cambridge, and his influential career in financial journalism, highlighted by his 13-year run writing the Getting Going column for The Wall Street Journal (starting 1994). He recounts his transition to Citigroup (2008-2014) and his eventual launch of his independent platform, HumbleDollar (2016). Clements also reflects on his successful running career and his journey through three marriages, emphasizing the fortune of meeting his third wife, Elaine, whom he married five days after his cancer diagnosis in May 2024. He faces his end with candor and pragmatism, leaving instructions for a memorial service and encouraging his community to carry on.
Jonathan Clements' Farewell: A Legacy of Family, Readers, and Words
A Posthumous Farewell (Sept 22, 2025): Jonathan Clements addresses his readers, confirming his passing from cancer, asking them not to feel sad, and expressing gratitude for a life filled with love, experiences, and a wonderful career.
The Epitaph: He requests his stone tablet read: Family • Readers • Words. Family includes his wife Elaine, children Hannah and Henry, and close friends; Readers are those he served; and Words were his medium for sharing insights.
Early Life & Education: Born in London (Jan 2, 1963), moved to Washington D.C. (1966). Sent to a "brutal" English boarding school in 1972, which ultimately led him to Cambridge University (graduated 1985).
Career Start (1986): After working at Euromoney in London, he moved to New York and began as a "fact checker" (reporter) at Forbes magazine, a desperately needed first paycheck.
The Wall Street Journal Era (1990s): Joined the WSJ and, in 1994, at age 31, launched the Getting Going column, which he wrote for over 13 years (1,009 columns), championing index funds and simple financial advice.
Athletic Success (1995-2007): Committed to running, achieving a sub-three-hour marathon in 1996 and winning several half-marathons, including one off Antarctica in 2001.
Career Transition (2008-2014): Left the WSJ for Citigroup's startup myFi (2008), which failed during the financial crisis. Remained at Citi as Director of Financial Education until 2014, giving many speeches and earning a large salary.
Independent Work & HumbleDollar (2014-2016): After leaving Citi, he returned to the WSJ as a freelancer, wrote nine books (including his favorite, How to Think About Money), and launched the HumbleDollar website on December 31, 2016.
Late Career Partnership: Served as Director of Financial Education for Creative Planning, hosting a monthly podcast with Peter Mallouk.
Diagnosis and Final Year (May 2024): He met Elaine in 2020 and married her in May 2024, five days after his cancer diagnosis. He spent his final months preparing HumbleDollar for the future and dealing with media attention surrounding his candor about dying.
Key Takeaway: Clements maintained an attitude of "great gratitude" until the end, focusing on his purpose: doing work he loved and being surrounded by those he loved.