When Anthony ONeal first showed up on the Ramsey Solutions stage, he felt like a breath of fresh air. Dave Ramsey, the king of the "Baby Steps," had found a personality who could actually talk to Gen Z and the Black community without sounding like a stiff corporate lecture. It worked. For years, ONeal was the go-to expert for students and young adults trying to navigate the mess of student loans.
Then, he was just gone.
One day he was co-hosting the show, and the next, his name was wiped from the website. No big goodbye tour. No dramatic "last episode" montage. Just a quiet exit that left fans wondering if there was beef behind the scenes. Honestly, when a high-profile "Ramsey Personality" vanishes, people usually assume the worst. We've seen it before with others. But the story of Anthony ONeal and Dave Ramsey is a lot more nuanced than a simple bridge-burning session.
The Quiet Departure from Ramsey Solutions
It happened in mid-2021. If you were looking closely at the Ramsey Solutions "Personalities" page, ONeal’s face simply disappeared. He had been with the company since 2015, carving out a massive niche with his book Debt-Free Degree. He wasn't just a sidekick; he was a powerhouse.
So, did they fight?
According to Anthony ONeal himself, the split was actually amicable. He’s gone on record several times—most notably on his own podcast, The Table—to explain that he and Dave realized their brands were drifting. Dave has a very specific "one-way" path for his brand. It’s the Ramsey Way or the highway. Anthony, on the other hand, wanted to go deeper into topics that didn't always fit the strict Ramsey broadcast mold, like specific issues facing Black families and more "real talk" about relationships and mindset.
"It wasn't a bad situation," ONeal said in a 2023 interview. He basically described it as a graduation. Dave even reportedly helped seed Anthony’s new independent venture with some startup capital. That doesn't sound like a guy who was kicked to the curb for breaking a "righteousness clause."
Why Anthony ONeal and Dave Ramsey Had to Part Ways
Even if they like each other, the business math stopped adding up. You see, Ramsey Solutions is a massive machine. Every personality there has to stay in their lane. If Dave says credit cards are the devil, you can't go on your solo podcast and suggest a "starter card" to build a score.
For a long time, Anthony played the game. But as his own platform grew, the restrictions of being a "Ramsey Personality" likely felt like a tight suit. He wanted to talk about things Dave doesn't focus on—like the cultural nuances of wealth in the Black community.
The Difference in Philosophy
While ONeal still pushes the "no debt" lifestyle, his 2026 playbook has definitely evolved. He’s much more focused on income expansion through AI, digital products, and side hustles than just cutting coupons. Dave is about the "gazelle intense" budget; Anthony is about "maximizing your seat at the table."
The "Credit Score" Controversy
This is where the real separation shows. Recently, Anthony has been more vocal about the reality of credit. In late 2025 and early 2026, he started talking about how having no credit history can actually be a hurdle in the modern economy. This is a massive "no-no" in the Ramsey universe. Dave famously wants you to have an "indeterminable" credit score.
Anthony's shift toward recommending tools like Kikoff or Dovly (which help build credit) proves that he's no longer under the Ramsey thumb. He’s looking at the 2026 financial landscape and realizing that the "1990s debt-free" advice needs a software update for today's world.
Life After Dave: Is Anthony ONeal More Successful Now?
It’s a fair question. Usually, when people leave the Ramsey umbrella, they fade away. (Does anyone remember what happened to the others who left?) But Anthony ONeal seems to be the exception.
He’s currently a professor of Consumer Economics at Virginia Union University. He’s got over a million subscribers on YouTube. He isn't just a "budget guy" anymore; he’s a lifestyle brand. He talks about faith, mental health, and even "the neatness" of your home environment.
His podcast, The Table, is arguably doing better than it ever did when it was part of the Ramsey Network. Why? Because he’s allowed to be himself. He’s not waiting for Dave to give him the "okay" to share an opinion.
💡 You might also like: Cuanto es un billón de dólares: La enorme diferencia entre la palabra y la realidad
What Most People Get Wrong About the Breakup
The internet loves drama. People want to believe there was some secret scandal or a huge screaming match in the Franklin, Tennessee offices.
The reality is probably more boring: it was a contract expiration.
When you're a Ramsey Personality, you’re an employee. You don't own your YouTube channel. You don't own your books. The company does. For a guy like Anthony, who has a huge vision, that’s a ceiling. He wanted to own his work. He wanted to build his own "Neatness Network." To do that, he had to leave the nest.
Actionable Steps for Your Own Money Journey
If you’ve followed both Anthony ONeal and Dave Ramsey, you might feel conflicted. Who do you listen to? The truth is, you can take the best from both.
- Master the Foundation First: Dave is right about the emergency fund. Don't start "investing" in crypto if you can't pay your rent next month. Get that $1,000 (or $2,000 in 2026 money) tucked away.
- Focus on Your Income: This is where Anthony shines. Don't just settle for a 3% raise. Look into AI automation or digital skills to boost your "top-line" revenue.
- Be Real About Credit: If you're going to buy a house in 2026, you need a plan. If you're not going to use 100% cash (which most people can't), you need to manage your credit profile responsibly, even if you hate debt.
- Find Your "Table": Surround yourself with people who are actually winning, not just people who are "less broke" than you.
The relationship between Anthony ONeal and Dave Ramsey served its purpose for a season. It brought a lot of people into the world of financial literacy. But as we see in 2026, the student has become the teacher, and he's teaching a slightly different lesson now. It’s okay for mentors and mentees to move on. That’s just growth.
Next Steps for You
- Audit your circle: Are the people you listen to daily actually where you want to be in five years?
- Update your budget: If you haven't adjusted for the 2026 cost of living increases, your "Baby Steps" might be standing still.
- Research "Income Expansion": Stop looking for things to cut and start looking for things to build.