Who is Oliver Powers? Oliver Powers is my alter ego. I like to keep my personal life anonymous. I hide behind Oliver's identity, so I can be very public with financial advice. My path to financial independence wound through similar experiences as those of the characters in this book. While I was never a drug smuggler, avoided gambling in casinos, and managed to stay out of prison, I did struggle with finances early in my life. Through a series of seminar speakers, books, and my own disciplined measures, I eventually developed the 5 Steps to Financial Independence and followed them carefully. I wrote First Million and Wipeout! to help you become debt free and financially independent. These concepts really work. I am confident that you can attain your financial goals by following the steps within these books, regardless of your income and circumstances.