How to Teach Kids About Money

Teaching Children About Personal Finances

First Published: ADawnJournal.com February 16, 2010

When it comes to teaching children about money and personal finances, we all seem to tumble and often it seems like a taboo. Here are some ideas that will help you teach your kids how to become financially responsible and successful in their adult lives.

You should start teaching your children the value of money at a young age. Explain to them the difference between needs and wants and tell them that money does not grow on trees. Money comes from hard work and each of us has responsibilities to our family, community, and the world.

Do not pay kids a straight allowance without guiding them towards what to do with it properly. When you give them an allowance, break it down into categories such as 10% or 15% should go to their savings account, and what other percentages that should be spent to pay for their books, activities, lunch, and so on.

Do not pay kids to do regular household chores that they would normally do. Explain to them what regular chores they are required to do and what chores can be considered special projects they can get paid for – if they are able to complete it successfully. These chores are outside regular ones and you would hire someone else to do it normally. Examples are: mowing the lawn, cleaning the backyard, and so on.

Once kids have a fair idea of what money is, start teaching them how a bank works, what a credit card is and why it charges interest, what a budget is and why it is important. The age range to discuss this would be 7 – 10.

Once kids start earning money, ask them to save 15 – 20 %. Explain to them that it is very important to spend less than what they earn and to save 15 – 20% continuously as they continue working into their adulthood. If they can follow this simple rule, they will be very rich one day.

It’s a very good idea to encourage kids to pursue entrepreneurial and marketable skills. Discuss with your kids what it means to be an entrepreneur and encourage them to use their creativity to find money making ideas or to open a business kids can operate in the surrounding neighbourhoods. Also, explain to them how some skills can pay off for their lifetime and it is worth learning these skills at an early age. Examples are: writing stories, setting up online blog and make money from it, learning graphics designing, learning how to repair a bike, learning how to paint, how to fix a computer, and so on. Don’t pressure kids to learn what you think will be in demand; rather, let them find the stuff they are interested in and wanting to learn.

Explain to your kids that education is very important. Even if they start making tons of money with their business or entrepreneurial skills, it is important to have a 4-year degree. Encourage them to pay their tuition with their own money – as much as possible. This will make them understand the value of each dollar and will teach them to appreciate what they have.

Giving is very important. Teach kids the joy of giving. Explain to them that we live on a small planet called “Earth” and not everyone is as fortunate as we are. We all can help those who need it most by donating, participating in voluntary works, helping charity organizations, and opening ourselves to build a better world.

Teaching kids about money is one of the best things you can ever give to your kids. It will build a solid financial roadmap for them to follow and will help them to secure a better financial future for their lifetime.

Mortgage Insurance-Always Read The Small Print

Mortgage Insurance Terms and Conditions

First Published: ADawnJournal.com February 28, 2010

Borrowing to pay for a house is something that can raise the hairs on the back of anyone’s neck. With a likely 25+ years’ term on the loan, there is plenty of scope for anything to go wrong and for the mortgage to end up posing you some real problems. Yet people keep doing it because, short of having substantial savings or a large windfall, there is no other way for most of us to own our own home – even if it belongs at least partly to the bank for the first quarter of a century. At the point where the mortgage is paid off in full, that house is 100% yours – something which a lot of people consider one of their proudest moments.

The twenty five years (or more) between taking out the loan and paying it off, though, is undoubtedly a long time. In that time any number of things can happen, which is why most mortgages come with an insurance package on top of the other options. Insurance works the same on a mortgage as it does with most other personal insurance packages. If death, illness or unemployment leave you struggling to pay off the mortgage, the insurance is there for the purposes of paying off the loan (or meeting monthly payments for a period) and freeing you from the financial burden on top of an already undesirable situation. Depending on the nature of the insurance and the contents of the terms and conditions, you could find that the mortgage is a god-send. The key matter as far as this goes is liability.

There are probably no insurance packages available in the world today that do not come with a list of terms and conditions that apply caveats to the insurance you are offered. If you claim on the insurance, it will pay out on the condition that none of the “small print” terms and conditions are violated. Your insurance package is likely to pay out if you can prove that you could not reasonably have foreseen the set of circumstances that necessitate the claim, and that it wasn’t your fault. In case of death, the insurance company may well ask for a medical report. Cases of suicide, or death from a long standing condition that the mortgage holder kept to themselves, can invalidate the insurance.

If health problems make it difficult or impossible for you to bring in enough money to meet the mortgage payments, it is possible that the insurance will come to your aid. Again, though, it is essential that you read the small print because if you suffered from this condition before you took out the insurance, the policy will not pay out in most cases.

Unemployment is another common reason for claiming on mortgage insurance, but this is perhaps the most laden with stipulations. Did you resign from your job? Insurance won’t cover you. Did you get fired for performance reasons? No cover there either. Were you sacked as a result of participation in industrial action? You’re not covered. The list of reasons for unemployment which actually do qualify is shorter than those which do not. If the insurance company judges you to be liable for the situation that has left you in this mess, they will not pay.

What Is Asset Allocation?

Asset Allocation, Diversification, and Your Portfolio

First Published: ADawnJournal.com March 3, 2010

Asset allocation is an investment strategy which simply entails allocating your assets (your investment portfolio) among different categories of investments, such as stocks, bonds, money market funds, cash etc. Asset allocation helps to minimize risks and maximize gains because it diversifies your portfolio among various types of investment or investment products instead of keeping them in one place.

What Types of Asset Allocation Will Work Best For Me?

Although there are many rules of thumb regarding asset allocation, no one can tell you exactly which one is right or which one is wrong for you – as this is a very personal matter which largely depends on various factors as described below:

·   Time Horizon: Time horizon is how much time you have ahead of you to invest in reaching your financial goals. An investor with a longer time horizon has time on his side and will be able to choose volatile or riskier products for maximum returns – because if markets go down, this investor can wait to ride out the volatility. On the other hand, an investor with shorter time horizon will not be able to afford risky product, as he will not have the luxury to wait for the market to go up if he falls into financial meltdown.

·   Risk Tolerance: Risk tolerance is your ability to take risks for better returns. In the investment world, risk and reward are inextricably entwined. If you are young (like in your 20s or 30s), you may not care that much about losing 35% of your value, as you know you have a long way to go. But when you are in your 40s or 50s, with kids’ education and retirement in mind, a 20% drop in your portfolio may be enough to lose sleep at night.

·   Investing Is An Ongoing Learning Process: In my book Invest Now, I have mentioned that investment is nothing but a discipline, and it has to be orchestrated with great passion and care. Investment is not like going to the shopping mall and buying a few things impulsively – it is a lifelong learning process. Asset allocation or any other investment ideas are not set in stone and these will change as time changes. Always upgrade yourself with financial changes in the broad global perspective and you will have to change your investment strategies to bridge the gap between the present and the future.

·   Individuality Counts: Although you will find there are many rules of thumb or pre-made portfolios when it comes to asset allocation, there is no single allocation or portfolio available that will be right for everyone. Everyone is different and so should be their asset allocation. The onus is on you to find out the best asset allocation that suits your needs.

What Are Some Major Asset Categories?

These days, a wide array of investment products exist to give you a wide range of asset allocation with a broad diversification. However, there are only three major asset categories I will mention here:

·   Equities or Stocks: The word “stock” is interchangeable with “share,” “equity,” “security” and so on. Stocks represent ownership in a company and historically offer the greatest risk and highest returns among other asset groups mentioned here. Stocks should not be used as a short term investment as it can be very volatile to hold for a short period of time.

·   Fixed Income Investments or Bonds: Some other fixed income investment products are government savings bonds, bond mutual funds, etc. These types of products are less volatile than equities and offer modest returns as well. Fixed income products can offer steady flow of income – depending on its objective.

·   Cash Equivalents or Cash: This can be plain cash or products like savings accounts, money market funds, treasury bills, etc. These are considered the safest investments with minimal returns with almost no risks.

Why Asset Allocation Works?

Due to economic and market conditions, no one can predict the best performing assets and it varies year to year. Time has proved that during bad and good economic times, all asset classes do not move in the same direction. By diversifying your assets among various categories, you are minimizing your risks. If one asset class goes down, the other asset class is there to protect you by averaging out. Also, to reach your financial goals, you need to balance your portfolio by keeping both high-return and low-return investment products. If you keep only one type of product in your portfolio, you may never be able to reach your investment objectives – as it will be either too risky or too safe. Asset allocation helps you to diversify and balance your portfolio.

What Are Some Common Asset Allocation Rules of Thumb?

There are so many rules of thumb on this topic that it can be overwhelming. Many consider a neutral asset allocation should be 60% stocks and 40% bonds. Another rule of thumb goes like: subtract your age from 100 and you will get the percentage to hold in stocks. For example, if you are 40, 100-40 = 60% of your portfolio should be in stocks and 40% should be in bonds.

Is Diversification Same As Asset Allocation?

The old saying “Don’t put all your eggs in one basket” was good advice 100 years ago, and it will be good advice forever. Whether you are a first-time or a veteran investor, you always need to spread out your investments to minimize your risks. Diversification refers to the process of spreading investments among various equities. Asset allocation refers to the process of spreading investments beyond multiple equities and over several asset classes such equities, bonds, cash, etc.

Asset Allocation is a diversification strategy that helps you to offset decline in any particular asset classes by gains in other asset classes – thus reducing the fluctuations of performance of a portfolio. It is unlikely that all asset classes will go downhill at the same time.

Do You Have Your Own Asset Allocation Model Portfolio?

Yes, to make investing simple and worry-free, I have invented a model portfolio called “A Dawn Timeless Portfolio” or simply ADTP. You can read more about ADTP here – (I am still working on this project and will add a link once done)

To find many other online asset allocation calculators, do a search by entering these keyword phrases: “asset allocation calculators,” “portfolio asset allocations tools,” etc.

Last Word

Model portfolios and asset allocation tools are to help you understand asset allocation. Do not blindly follow any model portfolios or tools just because it looks cool. You are different than anyone else – make an educated decision based on your time horizon, risk tolerance, financial goals, and your overall financial situation.

What Is Inflation?

Inflation: Definition and Causes

First Published: ADawnJournal.com March 7, 2010

When there is economic trouble, you often hear about inflation. Inflation is something that many people know about, but few people actually understand. Yet, inflation plays a very important part in our lives. If not for inflation, everything would still cost a few cents, but because of inflation the price of a can of Coca-Cola has gone from five cents to over a dollar.

Essentially, inflation is the rise in the price of goods and services over a period of time. Some define inflation as the loss of purchasing power because when a price level rises, the unit of currency (the dollar for example) buys few goods and services. While in the past one dollar could buy a lot of things, these days it buys barely a can of Pepsi.

Governments around the world, as a result, pay a great amount of attention to the inflation rate, which is the percentage change in the price index over time.

Inflation is not all bad of course. There are both good and bad effects of inflation that should be understood. The good things about inflation include the fact that it prevents recessions and provides debt relief by lowering the real level of the debt. In addition, it helps to eliminate expensive debt since the value of the dollar changes over time. However, there are some bad points and they include lowering the economic productivity rate, cause shortages of goods and services and reduce the investment in capital that helps keep an economy going.

Canada has gone though many different levels of inflation during good and bad times. For example, between 1966 and 2004, the country reached an extreme low of level of inflation in 1994, when it was near zero, while in 1974 the inflation rate went past 14 percent. This just shows how much the inflation rate can shift for a country during good and bad times.

High inflation is caused by huge growth in the supply of money, while low inflation is caused by small fluctuations in the demand for goods and services. The growth of inflation at a steady rate over time is usually attributed to the growth of an economy. For example, the United States had its economy grow slowly between 1900 and 1950, and inflation moved slowly. However, the economy grew greatly from 1950 to 2000, which accounted for the huge increase in the price of items.

Most western countries, including most of Europe, Canada and the United States, have very low levels of inflation. This shows that these economies are relatively healthy and less volatile. The inflation rate of Canada and the United States is usually about 1.5 percent per year.  Many developing countries have a very high rate of inflation, including Afghanistan and Mongolia, which both have inflation rates in excess of 25 percent. This shows that these countries lack stability and have a very volatile economic situation. As well, the worse the inflation, the less likely investors will invest in a currency of a country.

As for what causes inflation, this is much harder to determine. When economies are in trouble, inflation rates can increase, but they also increase when economies are doing well. Most economists have a general idea of how inflation works, but more or less it is seen as a by-product of our modern capitalistic world and something that is not completely understood, least of all by regular people

Globe Investor’s New Terrible Site Redesign and Why Is It Time to Switch to Google Finance Canada

Globe Investor’s Recent Terrible Revamped Website

First Published: ADawnJournal.com March 7, 2010

I know what you will say once see the title of this article: Globe Investor comes nowhere near comparing with Google Finance Canada and they are meant to be used for different purposes. And up to now, I have totally agreed with you. However, I have changed my mind once I actually experienced their new redesigned site last week.

It is hilarious to see these mega sites trying to put on a huge show through online advertisements and campaigns to announce their new revamped site design – and then come up with a site that is much worse and more user unfriendly than previous versions.

What don’t I like about the new Globe Investor? Basically everything. They tried to make it look like a high-tech website by putting too many nice pictures and big stock market chart; however, they forgot one main element – simplicity.

When you open globeinvestor.com, the first thing that you notice is that almost all of your screen is covered with a gigantic market summary chart and a couple of pictures. And then, if you keep scrolling down, you will be bombarded with about 15-20 sections/columns with big pictures representing each one of them. Let’s say, if you want to find your favourite sections, or any specific columns, there is no way you can find it in a snap. The front page takes about 5-6 page down to see the whole thing.

A simple test you can do right now to see how inefficient and cluttered Globe Investor is. How much time you would need to browse all sections and important highlights on mega sites like Google.ca/finance, Economist.com or IHT.com? I can do in about 20-30 seconds. How long it would take to do the same birds-eye-view scan of heavily cluttered Globe Investor home page? Give yourself an A+ if you can do it in 1 minute.

On a regular weekday, I usually browse Globe Investor 10-12 times and Google.ca/finance 2-3 times. However, starting now, I will flip it to Globe Investor 2-3 times and Google.ca/finance 10-12 times. Finding time is complicated enough and there is no point making it more complicated with the new revamped Globe Investor. Google Finance is may be miles away from Globe Investor in terms of offering features and customization, but I know it won’t take long for Google Finance Canada to catch up. After all, Google always seems to redesign and add features keeping simplicity and what readers want in mind – not the other way around.