Why Schools Fail at Teaching Financial Literacy and What You Can Do About It

If you’re reading this article, chances are you’re already interested in improving your financial literacy. While schools may not provide comprehensive education on the subject, many resources are available to help you take control of your economic life.

To get started, you can take a Trading Quiz, a quick and fun way to test your trading knowledge and identify areas for improvement.

Of course, financial literacy is about more than just trading. It’s about understanding taxes, debt, financial planning for life events, and the intersection of finance and technology. By building a solid foundation in these areas, you can make informed decisions about your money and build a secure financial future. So, let’s dive in and explore these key topics in more detail.

What We Don’t Learn in School We Do Learn in Real Life

When we think about education, we often think about learning the basics of reading, writing, and arithmetic. However, many practical life skills need to be taught in schools, and financial literacy is one of them.

Although managing money is a critical skill necessary for navigating life, many students graduate without the practical knowledge needed to succeed financially.

One reason may be that schools prioritise standardised test scores over practical life skills. Additionally, financial literacy is constantly evolving, and it can be difficult for schools to keep up with the latest trends and best practices.

That said, individuals need to take control of their financial education. Here are five key areas to focus on:

What is Behavioral economics?

Behavioural economics studies how psychological biases can influence our financial decisions. For example, the sunk cost fallacy causes us to continue investing in a project or a stock even when it’s no longer profitable simply because we’ve already sunk money into it.

The availability heuristic causes us to overestimate the likelihood of events that we can easily recall, such as recent stock market crashes. And loss aversion causes us to feel the pain of losses more strongly than the pleasure of gains. By understanding these biases, we can make better investments, spending, and saving decisions.

What is Tax planning?

Tax planning is the process of arranging your finances to minimise your tax liability. This involves understanding the taxed income types (such as earned income, investment income, and capital gains), as well as deductions and credits that can reduce your tax bill.

For example, contributing to a retirement account can reduce your taxable income, while taking advantage of tax credits for education or energy-efficient home improvements can reduce your tax liability. By planning and taking advantage of all available tax breaks, you can save money and keep more of your hard-earned income.

What is Debt Management?

Debt can be a significant source of financial stress, but there are ways to manage it effectively. One strategy is to refinance high-interest debt, such as credit card balances, into a lower-interest loan, such as a personal loan or a home equity line of credit.

Consolidating multiple debts into a single loan can simplify your finances and reduce your interest rate. Negotiating with creditors can also be effective, especially if facing financial hardship. Finally, developing a budget and sticking to it can help you stay on track and avoid accumulating more debt.

What is Financial planning for life events?

Life events such as getting married, having children, buying a home, and retiring can all have significant financial implications. For example, getting married can affect your taxes, insurance, and estate planning, while having children can require significant expenses for child care, education, and health care.

Buying a home involves a significant up-front investment and ongoing expenses such as mortgage payments, property taxes, and maintenance. And retiring requires careful planning to ensure that you have enough income to support yourself for the rest of your life.

By understanding the financial implications of these life events and planning, you can avoid financial stress and achieve your goals.

What is Fintech?

The way we manage our money is changing, thanks to new technologies such as mobile banking apps, robo-advisors, and cryptocurrency exchanges. These tools can make our financial lives more convenient and efficient, but they also come with risks and challenges.

For instance, mobile banking apps may be vulnerable to hacking & fraud, while robo-advisors may not always offer customers the personalized attention that some of them want or need. 

There are also cryptocurrencies. These can be volatile and difficult to understand and manage. To take advantage of these technologies while minimizing the risks, it’s important to stay informed and take steps to protect your privacy & security.

Financial Literacy – Neatly Bundled Up!

In today’s world, financial literacy is a critical life skill everyone should have. Unfortunately, many schools do not provide comprehensive education, leaving students without the practical knowledge they need to succeed financially. However, many resources are available to help individuals take control of their financial lives.

This article covers five key areas of financial literacy, including understanding behavioural economics, tax planning, managing debt, financial planning for life events, and the intersection of finance and technology. By building a solid foundation in these areas, individuals can make informed decisions about their money and achieve their financial goals.