It wasn’t his most important lesson, but it was his final one.”

Last night my nephew, James Fitzgerald launched his book, “Bulletproof Investor.”  It’s about financial literacy and is written for those under 30, who have done all the right things and still found themselves in a debt spiral, not sure of where and how to get ahead.

In the book, he tells the story of his wonderful, fun loving dad (my brother ) whose life was tragically cut short in a train accident 2 years ago.  Only after his death did James learn of his battle with anxiety and the role money played in it.

Since the release of my book, “The Pink Hard Hat,” in 2018, I have been inundated with stories of women who have taken a wrong step and found themselves in unimaginable places, embarrassed and alone.  While money is not a panacea, it is a necessary pre-requisite to survival. 

Teaching the basics is important.

Teaching money principles to our kids helps them feel control over one aspect of their lives, so that in times of trouble, they do not financially unravel.

The actress, Marlene Dietrich summed it up well when she said,

“There is a gigantic difference between earning a great deal of money and being rich.”

What legacy are you teaching about money confidence today?