What I’ve Learned: The Importance of Financial Education
Last year, my colleague Danica Goshert and I were fortunate to teach retirement planning courses in partnership with Prior Lake-Savage Area Schools’ Continuing Education series. This was one of many times I entered a classroom to meet and educate the public on the importance of financial education.
It’s truly an honor to have someone like Danica by my side and guide me with her experience in presenting the nuances and facets of financial education – her mentorship and ability to communicate complex financial topics into simpler terms is quite fascinating to me!
Even though our classes are tailored to ages 50-70 thinking about their retirement strategy, it’s never too early to think about it yourself if you fall below those age ranges. As we enter another round of doing these courses, here are some of the things I learned last year that are good financial/life nuggets to hold onto:
Education is KEY. In order to set yourself up for the best financial future as possible, it ultimately falls on the individual to be eager & curious about educated financial decisions. We can most certainly guide you along the process, but it takes a simple willingness to learn!
It’s tough to know what you don’t know, and there really is no such thing as a dumb question when it comes to finances and retirement. It’s never too early to think about, question, and adjust your finances.
At a certain point, I think it’s very important to ask yourself some difficult questions and reflect honestly. Do you want to shift the burden of managing and making all your financial decisions? Do you think it’s time to share with someone else (i.e., an advisor)? If you need help in that arena, our talented IEM advisors and I are here to help!
Finally, these courses opened my eyes and helped me remember our attendees are from all walks of life. Everyone that attends puts the time and effort to come learn from Danica and me. It’s so easy, but treating people from all walks of life with dignity and respect goes a long way!
I hope you share our retirement planning courses with someone interested. We would love to see you, your friends, or family members there!
~ Presented by Charles Stewart