What's Different?

The best way to learn is to teach: that's the saying, right? So then, what's the best way to create greater financial literacy? Can't think of a better time than #financialliteracymonth to learn and re-engage with the essential content and think about the way it is delivered and everything that goes along with that.

The importance of the material is unquestioned. The impact of understanding our money lives is enormous. It can be positive or negative...money on its own is neutral; how we obtain it, what we do with it, what we embody and teach with it...that's what will give it meaning and importance.

How the message is communicated is directly proportional to how it's received. if it's not done with empathy and understanding, more jargon (and endless 3/4 letter acronym) than plain language - it won't hit where it's needed. we're just spinning wheels then, a pointless waste of time. So, like George W asked:

What does the lack of financial literacy cost people? A lot it seems from this study, shared by Tyrone Ross Jr. - and this number - $1,819 for 2022 seems to me on the low end

There's a million ways this hits home, every home. One small piece, that adds up to enormous sums over the years is having money in the wrong place - too many people in long term accounts are missing the boat on potential gains, or at least gaining back some losses from last year:

Miss the best days in any year and it'll cost way more than a couple thousand dollars over a lifetime...but fear of financial loss is one of the strongest emotions we hold. And it's totally justified and understandable; but we each need to understand our own limitations. Easier said than done, of course.

Is working in the financial world the only way to make some change? Probably not, but have a listen to this important podcast from Theodora Lau :

Great post from Henri Pierre-Jacques that can really illuminate your own situation: just knowing what's coming and going is not so common.

This talk from Jacki Zehner and Carrie Schwab-Pomerantz is must put in calendar - and hopefully there will be a recording to go back to if you miss it over the holidays.

Passover is a few hours away - it's the holiday of freedom, spring, liberation...but the Exodus was just the first part of a journey, a journey that's still going. Noone is complete, we are just trying to find our way in the great journey as best we can, a link between the past and the future. So how will these times be different, what will be different in your world in one year from now, 3, 5, 10?

How do you stay engaged? Who can you reach out to to get into the arena?

The best way to liberate yourself is to liberate others; the rest is commentary.