A Financial Education Is The Most Important Gift You Can Give Your Children

As a financial advisor and CPA who has done bits of marketing the last few years, I have come across a lot of individuals who need finance help.  Financial concepts and budgeting have always come easy to me, but I was also lucky enough to take accounting classes in high school and have a father who really enjoys to have CNBC on the television.  I entered college with a definitive edge on many other aspiring business students.  In my collegiate and professional life, I have witnessed first-hand the importance of financial literacy for young professionals starting out, and how financial illiteracy can be devastating to a person’s short- to medium-term balance sheet.  It’s important to understand personal finance at a young age so those problems never begin.

• How to plan for the unexpected expense?
• What about paying off student loans?
• What should rent/housing cost relative to income?
• When I invest, should I buy real estate, stocks, or bonds?
• What the hell is a bond???

Budgeting should be the start. Budget education helps young professionals develop a foundational understanding of personal finance. It covers topics such as everyday spending, saving, and managing debt, which are crucial for making informed financial decisions. So much of day-to-day activity adds up; the glass of wine out versus a glass at home, taking advantage of the zero interest payments today for higher rates in the future. There is also such a culture of immediacy these days with ads and easy one-click buying, spending habits are more likely to be out of control.

Most of these aforementioned questions aren’t covered in a standard education, even for a business student. Starting to understand personal finance before college I believe can provide a leg up to those in the know just like I had.  This is why we worked with Rebecca Pausley of RBP Instructional Designs on a budget tool for you to share with the current or to-be young professionals in your life.  It walks through what life may look like making an entry-level salary and how to budget for necessities and optional expenses. It also throws some curveballs to help a young professional understand the necessity of planning for the unexpected. You can share this link with anyone looking to start or improve their budget planning skills.

We’d love to know what you think. I want to continue to build out more content to help teenagers get a great start on a financial education just like I was able to.  I look forward to sharing more in the years to come.