Sharon Epperson Biography
Sharon Epperson is an American journalist who was named one of the “12 to Watch in TV News,” which can be seen on CNBC and other media outlets on a regular basis. Epperson covers the many facets of how people manage, grow, and protect their money as CNBC’s senior personal finance correspondent. Saving and investing for retirement, paying for college, managing mortgage, student loan, credit card, and other debt, and creating a financial legacy through estate planning are all areas of expertise for her.
How old is Sharon Epperson? – Age
She is 53 years old as of 12 April 2021. She was born Sharon Emily Epperson in 1968 in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania, United States.
Sharon Epperson Family
Epperson was born to David E. Epperson and Ceceila T. Epperson, a retired Pittsburgh Public School System teacher who most recently taught at Lincoln Elementary School. Her grandfather worked in the steel industry. Her father, who is now deceased, was the first African-American dean of the University of Pittsburgh’s School of Social Work for nearly 30 years. Sharon’s sister, Lia Epperson, is a civil rights lawyer and law professor at American University Washington College of Law, and Sharon’s former brother-in-law, former NAACP CEO Ben Jealous, is a civil rights lawyer and law professor at American University Washington College of Law.
Sharon Epperson Husband
She and her husband, Christopher John Farley, an award-winning journalist and author, have two children and live in Westchester County, New York. The couple married on August 30, 1997.
Sharon Epperson Education
Epperson attended Taylor Allderdice High School in Pittsburgh and was inducted into the school’s alumni hall of fame in 2011. She did a summer internship in the library department of the Pittsburgh Press when she was 18 years old. Epperson graduated from Harvard University with a bachelor’s degree in sociology and government, a master’s degree in international affairs from Columbia, and an honorary doctorate from Carlow University in Pittsburgh. She became a member of the Alpha Kappa Alpha sorority’s Lambda Upsilon chapter at Harvard. Since 2000, she has taught international affairs as an adjunct professor at Columbia University’s School of International Public Affairs.
Sharon Epperson Career
Another important (and personal) aspect of her reporting is preparing your finances for the unexpected. Epperson had a ruptured brain aneurysm in September 2016 and was on the verge of death. She has become a strong advocate for health and wellness issues, raising awareness and funding for research into brain aneurysms. Through the Brain Aneurysm Foundation, she and her family established “The Sharon Epperson Chair of Research” in September 2018, which will provide grants for research on early detection and innovative treatments.
Epperson is a co-creator of “Invest in You: Ready. Set. Grow.,” a multi-platform financial wellness and education initiative at CNBC in collaboration with the micro-investing app Acorns, as well as the “Invest in You: Money 101” 8-week learning course and weekly newsletter. She also contributes to TODAY, NBC Nightly News, Today.com, and NBCNews.com.
Her book, The Big Payoff: 8 Steps Couples Can Take to Make the Most of Their Money-and Live Richly Ever After, was a finalist in the Books for a Better Life Awards, which recognize works that have “changed the lives of millions.” She also contributed to The Experts’ Guide to Doing Things Faster as a contributing writer.
Her personal finance expertise has been featured in a variety of publications, including The Wall Street Journal, The Washington Post, The Boston Globe, USA Weekend, Self, Essence, Ebony, and TIME, where she previously worked as a correspondent covering business, culture, social issues, and health.
Epperson has received numerous industry and civic honors, including the National Association of Personal Financial Advisors (NAPFA) Special Achievement Award and the Savvy Inspiration Award from the non-profit financial empowerment organization Savvy Ladies. Her “Financial Advisor Playbook” video series on CNBC.com earned her a Gracie Award for Outstanding Online Host from the Alliance for Women in Media.
Epperson is dedicated to increasing financial literacy, especially in underserved areas. During President Obama’s presidency, she was invited to the White House to speak about financial literacy and to moderate a public meeting of the President’s Advisory Council on Financial Capability at the U.S. Treasury. Department of the Treasury She also speaks on a variety of topics related to personal finance at conferences and events for local and national organizations, colleges, and universities.