Fox's Dagen McDowell came up through biz journalism the hard way

Nancy Menefree Jackson of SmartWoman.com interviewed Fox Business Network anchor Dagen McDowell about her career and how she prepares for work each day.

Here is an excerpt:

Q: How did you educate yourself about the financial world?

McDowell: I started by reading as much as I could: newspapers, books, research. But I learned the most from talking to the smartest (and most patient) people: the best money managers, analysts, salesmen, executives. My sources were educators, even if they didn’t know it.

One thing I learned very quickly: You can’t fake it if you don’t understand a subject you’re writing about. Acting like you already know it all will get you nowhere. You will sit down to write a story and won’t have the slightest idea what you’re saying.

I’d ask simple questions and always press people if I didn’t understand what they were talking about. To this day, I try to bring that to TV and let the guests talk. They’re the experts.

I tell everyone the same thing when I get asked questions about investing, finance, business and the economy: “There are no stupid questions.”

Q: What areas of finance most fascinate you?

McDowell: I like the subjects that impact people’s everyday lives: mutual fund investing, home buying, taxes, retirement saving, Social Security. Lately, I am more and more excited about my focus on entrepreneurship. My Saturday show, “Your Questions Your Money,” [airs from 10 am to 2 pm (ET) on FOX Business Network] is largely about starting, running and growing your own business. Small businesses are the engine of our economy. I feel inspired hearing people’s stories and dreams and helping turn them into reality.

Read more here.