Financial Literacy: Essential at Any Age
Presented by Christine Pikutis-Musuneggi
There has been a huge push towards STEM (Science, Technology, Engineering, and Mathematics) oriented curriculum in public schools. But classes focusing on an important and universally applicable topic are often ignored in favor of these scientifically-focused courses: financial literacy. It is common to hear recent graduates lament the fact that they were not taught the very basics of managing finances in school. While the idea of balancing a checkbook may be falling by the wayside in the digital age, concepts such as budgeting, opening and maintaining credit accounts, filing state and federal taxes, and saving for retirement remain the biggest obstacles in the path of financial independence for young adults, and these topics are rarely covered in high school or college courses.
To help our clients and their loved ones bridge this educational gap, we have researched and provided the below list of books that address the fundamental principles of finance. These critically reviewed books are appropriate for a variety of ages, from pre-teens to young adults, and can act as an invaluable aids in the path to learning financial independence.
1). The Little Book of Common Sense Investing by John Bogle
Age level: High schoolers or college students
“Investing is all about common sense. Owning a diversified portfolio of stocks and holding it for the long term is a winner’s game. Trying to beat the stock market is theoretically a zero-sum game (for every winner, there must be a loser), and after the substantial costs of investing are deducted, it becomes a loser’s game. Common sense tells us—and history confirms—that the simplest and most efficient investment strategy is to buy and hold all of the nation’s publicly held businesses at very low cost. The classic index fund that owns this market portfolio is the only investment that guarantees you with your fair share of stock market returns.
To learn how to make index investing work for you, there’s no better mentor than legendary mutual fund industry veteran John C. Bogle. Over the course of his long career, Bogle—founder of the Vanguard Group and creator of the world’s first index mutual fund—has relied primarily on index investing to help Vanguard’s clients build substantial wealth. Now, with The Little Book of Common Sense Investing, he wants to help you do the same.”
2.) Rich Dad Poor Dad by Robert Kiyosaki
Age level: High school or college age
“Rich Dad Poor Dad is Robert’s story of growing up with two dads — his real father and the father of his best friend, his rich dad — and the ways in which both men shaped his thoughts about money and investing. The book explodes the myth that you need to earn a high income to be rich and explains the difference between working for money and having your money work for you.”
3.) The Psychology of Money by Morgan Housel
Age level: High school or college age
“Doing well with money isn’t necessarily about what you know. It’s about how you behave. And behavior is hard to teach, even to really smart people.
Money―investing, personal finance, and business decisions―is typically taught as a math-based field, where data and formulas tell us exactly what to do. But in the real world people don’t make financial decisions on a spreadsheet. They make them at the dinner table, or in a meeting room, where personal history, your own unique view of the world, ego, pride, marketing, and odd incentives are scrambled together.
In The Psychology of Money, award-winning author Morgan Housel shares 19 short stories exploring the strange ways people think about money and teaches you how to make better sense of one of life’s most important topics.”
4.) The Total Money Makeover by Dave Ramsey
Age level: College age
“The success stories speak for themselves in this book from money maestro Dave Ramsey. Instead of promising the normal dose of quick fixes, Ramsey offers a bold, no-nonsense approach to money matters, providing not only the how-to but also a grounded and uplifting hope for getting out of debt and achieving total financial health.
Ramsey debunks the many myths of money (exposing the dangers of cash advance, rent-to-own, debt consolidation) and attacks the illusions and downright deceptions of the American dream, which encourages nothing but overspending and massive amounts of debt. “Don’t even consider keeping up with the Joneses,” Ramsey declares in his typically candid style. “They’re broke!”
The Total Money Makeover isn’t theory. It works every single time. It works because it is simple. It works because it gets to the heart of the money problems: you.”
5.) Why Didn’t They Teach Me This in School? by Cary Siegel
Age level: High school or college age
“Through Cary Siegel’s bestselling first book Why Didn’t They Teach Me This in School? 99 personal money management principles to live by he has educated and motivated over 200,000 people on improving their financial life. Now he is doing the same in regards to life management with his second book, Why Didn’t They Teach Me This in School, Too? 99 life management principles to live by.His latest book provides 8 important lessons with 99 principles of life management that are both simple and memorable. Written for his five children who are now in high school, college and the workforce, the author’s principles also apply to adults of all ages.In fact, by incorporating these easy life management principles, there is no doubt you will improve your current situation and make smarter decisions as you move forward in life. These are principles learned from real life experiences, not a textbook!”
6.) The Automatic Millionaire by David Bach
Age level: College age
“The Automatic Millionaire starts with the powerful story of an average American couple–he’s a low-level manager, she’s a beautician–whose joint income never exceeds $55,000 a year, yet who somehow manage to own two homes debt-free, put two kids through college, and retire at 55 with more than $1 million in savings. Through their story you’ll learn the surprising fact that you cannot get rich with a budget! You have to have a plan to pay yourself first that is totally automatic, a plan that will automatically secure your future and pay for your present.”
7.) Broke Millennial by Erin Lowrey
Age level: College age
“If you’re a cash-strapped 20- or 30-something, it’s easy to get freaked out by finances. But you’re not doomed to spend your life drowning in debt or mystified by money. It’s time to stop scraping by and take control of your money and your life with this savvy and smart guide.
Broke Millennial shows step-by-step how to go from flat-broke to financial badass. Unlike most personal finance books out there, it doesn’t just cover boring stuff like credit card debt, investing, and dealing with the dreaded “B” word (budgeting). Financial expert Erin Lowry goes beyond the basics to tackle tricky money matters and situations most of us face #IRL, including:
– Understanding your relationship with moolah: do you treat it like a Tinder date or marriage material?
– Managing student loans without having a full-on panic attack
– What to do when you’re out with your crew and can’t afford to split the bill evenly
– How to get “financially naked” with your partner and find out his or her “number” (debt number, of course) . . . and much more.Packed with refreshingly simple advice and hilarious true stories, Broke Millennial is the essential roadmap every financially clueless millennial needs to become a money master. So what are you waiting for? Let’s #GYFLT!”
8.) How to Turn $100 into $1,000,000: Earn! Save! Invest! by James McKenna
Age level: Middle school
“Hey, kids, want to become a millionaire? Or get a business off the ground? Or save up some money to buy a new bike? All it takes is understanding and putting into practice a few simple strategies and concepts about money:
Make it: Learn the ins and outs of scoring a first job, or even better, starting a business.
Save it: That’s right, millionaires are people who have a million dollars, not people who spend a million dollars.
Grow it: Invest and use the most powerful force in the financial universe––compound interest.Next thing you know, you’re a bona fide financial whiz on the road to your first million. Now get going!
A thorough introduction to finance from the people behind BizKid$, How to Turn $100 into $1 Million includes chapters on setting financial goals, making a budget, getting a job, starting a business, and investing smartly – and how to think like a millionaire. Plus: a one-page business plan template, a two-page plan to become a millionaire, and a personal budget tracker.”
9.) Growing Money by Gail Karlitz
Age level: Middle school
“Never before has there been a time when the economy has been so much a part of our daily lives. Today’s young investors want to know the basics of finance, especially how to make money grow. This complete guide explains in kid-friendly terms all about savings accounts, bonds, stocks, and even mutual funds!”
10.) I Want More Pizza by Steve Burkholder
Age level: Middle school
“I Want More Pizza finally has teenagers excited about personal finance and is giving them the confidence that they can succeed. This resource is being used in classrooms around the nation as young adults enjoy the pizza model for learning about money management. Now available for the first time for you to bring into your home, give your young adult the gift of financial literacy and they will thank you for a lifetime. Primary topics discussed include saving, spending, prioritization, goal setting, compound growth, investing, debt, credit cards, student loans, mental blocks, and taking real world action.I am sure you have heard a few of these: “I don’t need it”, “I’m too young”, “I need to spend my money on _____ “, and the list goes on. The pizza model for learning personal finance breaks down those barriers because, well, everyone loves pizza!
Just because money management is extremely important doesn’t mean that it has to be extremely complex. I Want More Pizza leaves them in complete control to find the plan that works for your young adult – it’s their choice. If they don’t enjoy math or don’t like to plan, no problem, we’ve got them covered as well. And it’s only ~100 pages, which young adults love given their busy social calendars. Money doesn’t have to be stressful. Finally reach your young adult and help them become financially literate for a lifetime. After all, there is a lot of pizza in life to enjoy!”