​The Financial Education Gap, and Why it Matters for Your Child

Your student may never need to calculate the area of a circle in her adult life, but she will certainly need to calculate an interest rate. So why is financial literacy completely left out of most high school curricula?

The answer to that question is complex, but the result of widespread financial illiteracy is crystal clear: Americans have more debt and less financial freedom than in the past.

Consumer debt in the United States is at an all-time high, with the average American household carrying more than $130k in debt. More importantly, this debt is growing faster than our incomes.

Large debt can be especially burdensome for young people, who sometimes borrow huge sums to fund their higher education. While borrowing for college is often a worthwhile investment, it can also burden young professionals with monthly payments their salaries do not cover. Thus, it's critical for teenagers to understand the rudiments of borrowing and saving in order to make smart financial decisions as they plan for college.

Student Loan Debt: The Facts

As the cost of college rises beyond what most families and student can pay out of pocket, college debt has become more common - and more problematic.

• The average college graduate in 2016 held $37,172 in student loans. This figure has increased 70 percent in the past decade.
• In 2016, student loan delinquency hit 11.2 percent. That indicates that for many borrowers, student loan payments take a backseat to other financial pressures. The resultant dip in these borrowers' credit scores makes it more challenging to buy homes and accumulate wealth.
• According to a study by the Pew Research Center, young adults with college debt are more likely to have a second job and to struggle financially.
• Only half of young adults with college debt report that the benefits of borrowing for college outweigh the costs.

While the "student debt crisis" is fueled primarily by the inflation of college costs, students' attitudes toward borrowing and saving are another important factor. That's why it's critical to seek out opportunities for your teen to become more financially literate.

Building Financial Literacy

A 2016 study by the FINRA Foundation showed that two-thirds of Americans cannot pass a basic financial literacy test. This result makes sense, given that most people never receive a formal financial education. Financial literacy is often passed from parents to children, and these financial skills can make a huge difference to your child's future.

Wondering how to build financial savvy at home? Here are a few tips to get you started:

• Make money real: Credit cards, debit cards and virtual payments are so common that your teen may rarely see real money change hands. Bring them with you on trips to the bank, or have them sit with you as you balance a checkbook. These small chores remind kids that money is a part of your life - and not an unlimited resource. If your child receives an allowance, make sure it is tied to the completion of chores or other goals. Additionally, make sure they receive their allowance in cash - instead of gifts or money transfers - so they can visualize how much they have and how much they are spending.
• Save, spend, give: Maintaining a balance among saving, spending and giving is essential for a healthy financial life. Help your child budget her money into these three categories so she can learn to save long-term for things she wants, like college, a car, or a new outfit.
• Learn about interest: Take your child to the bank to set up checking and savings accounts. Then, do some practice calculations so he can see how his interest will compound over time. Discuss the differences between earning interest as you save and accumulating interest when you borrow.
• Invest: Learning about stocks and investments at a young age makes this strategy more accessible later in life. As your child divides her money into saving, spending and giving, give her the option to invest her savings. She may not be interested in Microsoft, but she'll likely be delighted to invest in Disney! Help her track her stocks to illustrate how investment can grow her earnings over time.
• Plan for college: If your student is college bound, it's important to talk early and often about how he plans to finance his education. Research 529 savings plans, assess part-time jobs, and discuss the benefits and drawbacks of student loans. Sometimes, this conversation can be a tough one. If your student does not want to be saddled with decades of student loan payments, he may need to reconsider his dream school or desired career. However, there are many options for reducing the cost of college - from community college credits to athletic and merit-based scholarships.

Strong financial skills will benefit your child for the rest of his or her life. To learn what you and your teen can do now to build a strong financial foundation for the future, join us for a free, one-hour workshop for students and parents on Saturday, Jan. 26 at iLearn Academy. This event will cover budgeting, tax-advantaged college savings plans, credit scores, and long-term investing.
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Seating is limited; you can RSVP here.