Sushi Money

Do you think you’re pretty smart financially speaking?  Or at least comfortable with most financial issues that affect consumers?  Well the fact that you’re reading this article says that you’re way ahead of most people in America.  Financial literacy speaks to the knowledge and experience one may have regarding personal financial management and practices.  It is an increasingly important issue in our society because we continue to empower people to take control of their future financial well-being…  those who do so have the ability to provide financial wellness for their families, their children’s futures, and security in retirement.  Each year we learn of new financial products and tools available to consumers to improve their financial future… Roth and traditional IRA’s, the new Roth 401(k), even regular 401(k)’s… brokerage and mutual fund accounts, credit scoring, credit card use, 529 plans… on and on.  Twenty years ago, many of these products were not available, especially to younger members of society.  Now college students are offered credit cards at every turn, and credit scores are used for approval of every type of loan origination.  

The strength and advantage of these tools is in opportunity and choice.  We have the ability to establish brokerage and mutual fund accounts, retirement accounts and so much more… technology has enabled the individual to make decisions and choose actions previously unavailable except to many professionals.  But this choice comes at a price… one that requires informed decision and knowledge, and the cost of admission is the time we spend learning how to function effectively within the sphere of financial choice.   Just think of… almost everything we do financially requires knowledge.  There are as many ways to “learn” as there are people perhaps, but I like to think of three primary ways:

1.  First there is “book learning” or academic knowledge.  We can read, study, examine and devour as much information as possible from books, the internet and other people. “Book learning” is important because it is one way we can learn from the knowledge, experience, mistakes and success of other people.  We can read and think about how things function or the most efficient way to do something.

2.  Next there is training… “OJT” or on-the-job training, systematic training, specific programs and how-to sessions, hands-on practice, etc.  Training is very helpful because it provides practice, rehearsal and reflecting on how things can be accomplished effectively.  We also learn from other people through training or discussion.  Mentors can help us reflect and understand in different ways, and training allows us to “play house” without potential hazards or pitfalls, and without the hardship of failure.  Certainly training encompasses academic learning as well as the third type of learning:

3.  Finally, there is Experience.  Perhaps no other tool or method of learning something is as effective as personal experience.  When we find success with something we do… we remember it.  When we see failure, we remember that.  Our mind, body and spirit remember the things we learn from our own experience in the world.  That’s how babies and children learn.  They kick, crawl, mimic, toddle, and walk and run with one experience providing knowledge and understanding as leverage for the next.   They babble and learn language through practice and observation… through their experience they receive feedback to modify behavior over time.  Without experience, we would not understand the give-and-take of life, and what works or does not work for us.  We must have experience to learn, to understand and to succeed.   Yet experience, or “just doing it” can also be a difficult way to learn.  Some people do not learn in any other way, and they go from experience to experience, sometimes back-tracking or falling down, and sometimes taking shortcuts or succeeding without really knowing why.  I would submit that learning only by experience is not the optimal method of learning, but on the contrary can be hazardous to both personal and financial well-being over the long-term.   Some people are unwilling to look at other ways to learn, but I believe we must be open to learning in as many ways as possible. 

“Experience keeps a dear school…. but fools will learn in no other.”   Benjamin Franklin

So where am I going with all this?  I’m advocating a position for increasing financial literacy in society, especially among children and young people.  Everything we will do in our lives revolves around the use of money in one form or another.  The ability to take control of our lives and futures hinges on the use of money.  The ability to “choose” our way in the world and the education, career and lifestyle we desire revolves around the use of money.  For those who disagree, and believe the use of money is not important to their life I say “good for you… wait a few years.”  The use of money itself is a lifestyle choice- in that I agree.  But money is simply a tool like any other resource in our life.  In and of itself, it does not bring happiness or misery.  Yet its use as a tool may or may not bring happiness depending on the choices one makes when using it.  But having it means we have the ability to choose in far more ways than not having it. 

I started out in life believing I didn’t need to worry about money, but just find a job or career I really enjoyed, and the rest would fall into place.  I was absolutely right… to a point.  What I learned (through experience) was that what I loved or really enjoyed was adventure, exploration, learning new things, and employing my knowledge and abilities in many different ways.  What I also learned was that money really helps you do those things.  I also learned my choices and desires changed over time.  I could not see at age 22 that twenty years later at age 42 I would desire a home and lifestyle for my family and children that provided current and future financial security.   Maybe I should have looked that far ahead, but who does so in their 20’s?!  Did I understand what I was doing when I purchased my first home?  Absolutely not… even though I made a valiant effort to read a few books.  Did I know what I was doing when I opened my first brokerage account (or second or third)?  Nope.  Did I know what I was doing when I bought my first car?  Double nope.  What could have helped was greater financial literacy and knowledge…   but it just didn’t “seem” that complicated then.  I think it is a lot more complicated now.  For those at the lower ends of the socio-economic spectrum financial literacy can make a world of difference for financial management, savings, spending, credit and debt.  I believe more people will be helped economically if we can educate them to using money in productive ways, and avoiding negative behaviors surrounding the use of money.

Today there is an article on from Yahoo/CBS Marketwatch where a recent study indicates that Few Consumers Really Know Real Estate.   The article talks about how conumers are not really prepared to make knowledgeable decisions regarding real estate.

David Berenbaum, executive vice president with the National Community Reinvestment Coalition, states that “Purchasing a home is the single most important financial transaction of your lifetime, and most people are ill prepared today for that transaction.” “We need to ensure that the laws and the disclosure requirements are very clear and actively enforced.”

I would also submit that we need to educate consumers better in every area of personal finance, not simply real estate.  To that end, many States and organizations have begun programs to help educate the younger members of society.  Many state education requirements now include personal finance management as a class for high school seniors.   And many college programs incorporate financial literacy as electives or other classes.  When I think of my youngest son… he won’t be heading to college until around 2020, and I wonder how different the world of personal finance will be.  If the past twenty years have been any indication he will have a lot to learn!  And I’ll keep learning as well… hopefully not always the hard way.

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