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Paying For School

Learning to read and write is a cornerstone of modern education. But what about understanding money and personal finance? An increasing number of financial services organisations are recognising the importance of financial literacy and factoring it in to their communications and advocacy work.

It’s our belief that financial literacy is not only important, it is essential. But don’t just take our word for it. The Australian Securities and Investments Commission (ASIC) provides an apt summary of the importance of financial literacy on the Moneysmart website: “Good financial literacy skills help individuals and families to make the most of opportunities, meet their goals and secure their financial wellbeing, and contribute to the economic health of society.”

Which brings us to the question of who is responsible for ensuring our future generations are armed with the right financial skills?

In 2011, online savings experts RaboDirect found that 73% of Australians believed that financial literacy should be taught in schools. Equally, one may contend that, like so many other basic skills, children should also be taught such skills in the home.

Add to this the fact that a number of financial institutions are developing campaigns to target this issue head-on and it becomes clear – at least in our view – that promoting financial literacy requires input at every level of society.

The more people involved at different levels – from grass-roots to the corporate and government level – the more chance we have of delivering long term improvements in the ability of ordinary people to effectively manage and plan for a secure financial future.

Below are a couple of recent examples of financial services organisations addressing the issue head on. In the spirit of full disclosure, the following companies are BlueChip clients. Other organisations, too, are working to promote the cause. We were however keen to highlight these initiatives and point to an increased interest and understanding among many of our clients of the role they – and we as financial communicators – have to play in boosting the financial literacy of our population.

Financial Planning Week

Financial Planning Week is an annual initiative run by the Financial Planning Association (FPA). This year – the 13th Financial Planning Week – saw more Australians taking advantage of the opportunity to get free financial advice from the online ‘Ask an Expert’ forum than ever before. Over 10,000 people viewed the forum over the course of the week.

Recent research from the FPA shows that 61% of Australians do not receive financial advice, a worrying figure in light of the benefits of engaging a qualified professional to help with financial planning and management.

During Financial Planning Week, superannuation and retirement planning emerged as the key areas of concern for Australians.

Money Smart Week

Hot on the heels of Financial Planning Week was Money Smart Week , an ASIC initiative to encourage Australians to take simple steps to make a positive difference to their financial health.

One of the online tools available as part of Money Smart Week is the Money health check which encourages people to not only consider how they are spending and saving their money, but also to ensure they are protecting their assets with appropriate insurance and considering retirement and estate planning as financial priorities.

According to Certified Financial Planner, Ash McAuliffe, the three most common questions surrounding people’s financial concerns are:

  1. Have I got enough money for retirement?
  2. Should I pay off my mortgage or put the money into super?
  3. How can we cope on one income?

Initiatives such as Financial Planning Week and Money Smart Week give consumers an avenue to ask these questions and alleviate their concerns by reaching out to experts for advice. With more programs like this we hope to see the levels of financial literacy among adults improve. Likewise, if financial literacy becomes a key program on the school curriculum, we hope to see financial literacy taking root where it can serve us best: among children.

 

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