NPR's Tobia Smith reports on a popular personal finance class at Wellesley College. But why wait until college? When it comes to the fundamentals of personal finance every California schoolchild is being left behind. A decade ago I worked for a group of state securities regulators in Washington, D.C. that promoted financial literacy and personal finance classes in high school. One soundbite I crafted for our president: "We teach phys ed, sex ed and drivers ed, why not financial ed?" A question to be asked. The answer? Maybe that's the way some want it, to keep us stupid about money. Ignorant consumers, after all, don't read fine print, they don't ask questions, they don't comparison shop, they don't see through advertisements.
Welcome to the New Financial Realities: New Rules for a New Economy
If there is one thing that the financial crisis has taught us, it's that we can no longer afford to think about our personal finances as we did in the bubbly pre-recession days. In today's economy there are new financial realities that every consumer must understand.
Over the next few weeks Eleanor Blayney, CFP®, Consumer Advocate for Certified Financial Planner Board of Standards, Inc. (CFP Board), will help steer consumers through the shifting economic landscape, by outlining the new rules for the new economy, in a series of nine videos, which can be found at http://www.cfp.net/learn/advocate.asp
"In this uncertain economic climate, we must all -- as consumers, investors, and citizens -- become better informed, so that we can take control of our financial futures," said Kevin R. Keller, CEO of CFP Board. "As a seasoned CFP® practitioner, Eleanor understands that consumers need strategies for addressing the new and rapidly-changing financial realities."
Blayney said, "Our recent economic downturn has shown us that we must re-examine some basic assumptions about the ways we manage our finances. What made sense pre-recession no longer works today. In these videos, I offer consumers nine personal finance strategies to help them plan for what's ahead."
1. Put your own financial interests first, and work with an advisor you can trust
2. Use a multi-prong approach; investing by itself will not get you where you want to be. Spending, saving, and budgeting all play equal parts in building wealth
3. Think of yourself as an asset; investing in yourself can yield returns far greater than other investments
4. Learn the difference between good debt and bad debt
5. Get smart about the pros and cons of home ownership
6. Know it's no longer about retirement; it's about reinventing yourself for the last third of your life
7. Get your kids involved in family financial planning. Now is the time to talk to your kids about finances
8. Do not sacrifice your financial well-being for your children
9. Become financially literate. Commit to learning all that you can.
"As you consider your personal finances and prepare and respond to the new economic situation, remember you are not alone. CFP Board and the nearly 60,000 financial professionals who hold the CFP® marks stand ready to help you on your journey to a healthy financial future," said Blayney. "I wish you the best on your journey to a secure future."
Follow Eleanor on Twitter: http://twitter.com/EleanorBlayney
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