This post first appeared on RightAboutMoney.com

It may be crazy to pick a fight with Warren Buffett. He’s not just a business and investing genius. He’s also a stalwart supporter  of financial education for the young—precisely my calling for the past 17 years. But here goes anyway.

At the Berkshire Hathaway annual meeting this year—known as the Woodstock of Capitalism—Buffett dished some advice  for youngsters that I found less than compelling. Here’s the gem that set me off: “When you go out in the world, look for the job you would take if you didn’t need the money.”

At least he didn’t say to “wait” for that job. But the message was darn close and, respectfully, I disagree.   Continue reading

A Harvard study confirms that children who do chores are more likely to be more successful in their future careers.

Start young. That’s what I’ve been sayin’!

This post first appeared on RightAboutMoney.com

Last month, as April and the yearly flood of financial literacy articles were just around the bend, the Wall Street Journal in a headline posed this not-so-new question: Should college students be required to take a course in personal finance?

I applaud any attempt to raise awareness around the crying need for financial education—and to stir the debate. But this question and, frankly, the responses from two prominent thinkers in the space miss the mark. Continue reading

Last week, our co-author and daughter, Allison Beacham, accepted the EIFLE “Adult Money Book of the Year” award for our book, O.M.G. Official Money Guide For College Students.  Both Michael and I could not attend. But through the miracle of FaceTime, we were able to watch her deliver the following comments.  Needless to say, we are pretty proud.

Allison Beacham’s Acceptance Speech – EIFLE Awards Dinner 2017:

I’d like to thank The Institute for Financial Literacy and, of course, the EIFLE judges for this honor.  Winning the “Adult Money Book of the Year” award with our book, O.M.G. Official Money Guide for College Students, says that we hit the mark when targeting our audience.

This book isn’t for “freshmen” or “18 year olds.” It’s for the young adults who – for the first time in their life – have to make smart and savvy every day decisions with their money on their own.

Continue reading