Investing is all about: Putting your money to work for you making more money.

One of the most glaring failures in the U.S. K-12 education system is the lack of even basic education in the areas of personal finance, budgeting, saving and investing. We’re becoming a nation in crisis with regard to our schools’ failure to prepare and educate K-12 students in personal finance and decision-making.

Financial illiteracy is an American epidemic and the crisis is growing, according to the non-profit American Public Education Foundation’s national report card on K-12 personal financial education: Vision 2020 Financial Literacy Report Card, 2019-2020. The 50-state review points to a nation in crisis with regard to our schools’ failure to prepare and educate K-12 students in personal finance and decision-making.

“America is facing a growing epidemic,” observed David A. Pickler, J.D., CFP®, ChFC®, CDFA®, an award-winning wealth advisor and education leader and one of Financial Times’ 400 Top Advisors. “Our nation is rapidly sinking into a sea of debt and financial dependency. We have created a collective culture where it is acceptable to pursue bankruptcy as a solution to irresponsible financial behavior and decision making. Each of us has a responsibility to change this culture, to become accountable partners in preparing our children to make sound financial choices, or face the consequences that will undermine America’s future and threaten our economic and national security interests.”

According to The Aspen Institute, 16% of suicides in the US occur in response to a financial problem. Further, a USA TODAY report states that less than one-fourth of young Americans ages 18 to 26 are “very optimistic” about their financial futures.

Financial literacy

One of the most successful traders in history once remarked, “If I’d only been taught in high school what I later managed to learn on my own about investing, I likely could have retired wealthy by age 35.”

Anyone can potentially reap massive financial benefits from simply taking the time to learn the basics about investing as early as possible in life. It’s not too late to begin building a fortune through investing, and the sooner you start, the sooner you’ll achieve your financial dreams.

There are two truths:

• Taking the time to acquire investing knowledge and skills, whether at sixteen or sixty, will put you well ahead of your peers in terms of financial literacy and in terms of financial success.
• An important “secret” about investing and wealth – “You can make a lot more money a lot faster by sending your money to work for you every day, rather than just sending yourself to work every day.”

The best, most successful investors are continually learning and continually honing and expanding their skills at making money in the financial markets.

Stocks, also known as equities, represent fractional ownership in a company, asset, or security. The stock market is a place where investors can buy and sell ownership of such investable assets.

References:

1. https://www.theapef.org/post/vision2020
2. https://corporatefinanceinstitute.com/resources/knowledge/trading-investing/investing-beginners-guide/