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Generation Y: the (modern) world of personal finance

The case for young people to receive a better financial education has never been  stronger. University education is no longer free, a job upon graduating is far from guaranteed, the housing ladder has been pulled up for many and predictable workbased pensions are a thing of the past.

Yet a survey of 440 young people aged 18 to 25, by the Centre for the Study of Financial Innovation, found that 64% had not had any formal financial education.
Other findings in a report entitled “Generation Y: the (modern) world of personal finance”, by the CSFI’s Sophie Robson (aged 26), include:

 Nearly all still visit their bank branch at least occasionally.
 Nearly three-quarters have never used mobile banking – and many of those
are worried about security considerations.
 Many don’t really consider student debt to be debt at all – apparently,
because it is taken directly from their gross pay.
 Most are virtuous – nearly two thirds pay off credit and store card debt within a month to avoid interest payments.
 Women generally tend to have lower savings than men and are less likely to take investment risks.
 More than four in 10 of those who contribute to a pension do not know what type of pension they have – money purchase, final salary etc.

Respondents also tended to have a traditional attitude to home ownership – 71% said buying a house or flat was “very important”. But they were (surely) over- optimistic about when this might happen: 41% expected to buy in their 20s, and only 10% thought they might have to wait until their 40s. (The average age of first-time buyers, according to various surveys, is in the mid to late 30s.)

The report is also based on 17 (unstructured) essays by young people on their attitudes to personal finance. On personal debt, one said: “As far as I’ve ever been concerned, debt is debt. It’s always bad.” But another pointed to the liabilities for  others that generation Y will shoulder: “I’m quite terrified about the monstrous unfunded pension liabilities that my generation will be lumbered with.”
And on financial literacy: “I think banks can rely on a lack of understanding from most of their customers who miss important clauses in contracts.”

Summing up the need to combat this, one said: “Improving financial literacy among consumers would increase confidence in financial services and managing money; there would be less of the fear which surrounds money and personal finance.”
One encouraging (and surprising) note for the financial services industry is that more than half of the young people surveyed find personal finance “interesting”.

The challenge for the industry is, therefore, to persuade young people that they can use its products and services with confidence and to help those at the beginning of their working lives to develop better financial habits.

Read the full report from the link below:

Click to access Generation_Y_by_Sophie_Robson_WEB.pdf

For more information, contact:
Sophie Robson, 020 7493 0173, or sophie@csfi.org
Jane Fuller, 07980 305 278, or jane@fulleranalysis.com
Andrew Hilton, 020 7493 0173 or andrew@economic-evaluation.com

The CSFI is a not-for-profit think-tank, set up in 1993, which looks at emerging threats and opportunities in the financial services sector. Chaired by Sir Brian Pearse, it is supported by around 70 public and private-sector organisations.

CSFI
5 Derby St
London
W1J 7AB
020 7493 0173

Peter Jones Launches £100,000 Tycoon in Schools Contest (UK)

Tycoon in Schools has been set up by businessman, entrepreneur and television personality, Peter Jones CBE, with a personal investment of £100,000.

This new enterprise competition is designed to encourage school-age youngsters from across the country to start their own business. The intention is to inspire pupils to pitch business plans to their tutors, in the hope of receiving seed funding.

If successful in their bids, students will have one month in which to commence trading and make a profit from their enterprise. Participants will compete for a place on the Tycoon League Table, by making as high a profit as possible.

Schools taking part in the contest will be given a loan of £1,000 to be allocated to those pupils who have displayed entrepreneurial aspirations. At the close of the competition, the students will repay their original loans to the Tycoon Bank, and remaining profits can be used by the school or donated to local charitable causes.

Schools across the UK may apply for funding through this scheme, on behalf of their entrepreneurial students.

Commenting on his new initiative, Mr. Jones said: “For too long schools across Britain have been calling out for an enterprise challenge to encourage their young people to ‘dream big’.

“Enterprise is the missing piece of the jigsaw in schools today. You can’t start early enough when it comes to learning about enterprise and through Tycoon in Schools we hope to reach young people of all ages and inspire them to realise their potential.

“This is just the beginning of an exciting new campaign to encourage the next generation of entrepreneurs to go for it. Our aim is to grow the competition each year, involving more schools and young people across the country and inspiring them to live out their entrepreneurial dreams.”

Entries must be submitted by 1 September 2012.

Click here to access the online registration form (opens in new window).

Fantastic information for parents and teachers

If you’ve got kids or teach kids you’ve probably wondered:

* How can I empower the children in my life to be the best they can, in school and out, so they experience success in all areas of life?

* What processes can I teach that will help them feel safe and able to cope with the stress and difficult situations they will encounter in life?

* How can I instill in a strong sense of self-confidence and self-esteem in my kids so they feel good about themselves and their abilities?

* How can I connect with and equip them with positive communication skills and behaviour patterns so they are able to overcome challenges, while expressing their feelings, wants and needs effectively?

* What techniques can I show them that will help raise their grades, increase their focus and concentration, while improving their overall mental, social and emotional well-beings?

*How do I teach life skills I’ve never been taught myself?

I think you will be very interested in Natural Intuitive Learning Life Skills for Kids Education Empowerment Event starting Tuesday, May 1 and get your questions answered by world renowned educational experts.

There is an excellent line up of experts – including some of my favourites Lisa Nicholls, Sharon Lechter, Bruce Lipton and many more

There will be 24+ experts in all sharing their best strategies, techniques, processes and best of all the information is FREE. Sign up here to register now:

More information

PS: Please help us help millions of children by telling your friends and family about it and talk about it on your Facebook, Twitter and blog if you have one.

The Last Gold Coin wins Children’s Book Award

The Last Gold Coin wins a Pinnacle Achievement AwardWe were delighted to hear that The Financial Fairy Tales: The Last Gold Coin has received a Pinnacle Book Award in the category of children’s interest.

The Last Gold Coin tells the story of a prince who inherits a once prosperous kingdom now in ruins. How did the people react once the gold ran out and who did they turn to for help? How does an act of kindness repay itself and what is the magic of the last gold coin?

Designed to teach children important messages around charity, saving and even compound interest – The Last Gold Coin is a fun and inspirational read for children up to the age of 10.

Part of the Financial Fairy Tales series of award winning stories designed to help children grow up with positive money values, tools and ideas. The books are available through Amazon and via our website.
The Financial Fairy Tales: The Last Gold Coin cover image

Helping your child with the aural tests in music exams

Most parents know that when their children take a music exam, they have to play three pieces, or sing three songs, that scales and arpeggios are required and that sight-reading an easy piece they have not seen before is involved.

The part of the exam that often remains something of a mystery to parents who have not taken music exams themselves is the aural tests. Unfortunately this is a part of the exam that usually worries the candidates, since they often feel a lack of confidence in giving correct answers. It is also an aspect of music tuition that is, understandably, often given a lower priority by teachers than the pieces – after all the student has lessons because they want to learn to play or sing.

Parents, of course, want to give all the support they can to ensure that their child has the best chance of doing well in music exams but until recently they have been unable to help. Now that E-MusicMaestro has developed Aural Test Training, children can go online not just to practise doing aural tests, but to actually learn how to answer them successfully.

E-MusicMaestro Aural Test Training supplements the work of instrumental and singing teachers and it is especially relevant for students who are taking ABRSM exams in playing an instrument or singing. The resource offers a free Aural Test Practice section, with the option of subscribing for a small monthly fee to an extensive Aural Test Training programme.

The Grades 1 – 5 Aural Test Training programme has hundreds of examples that appear in random order for each test selected at each grade. New examples are presented until they have all been attempted, then the ones that the student got wrong are offered again automatically. The programme also has easy to understand analytics, showing the student which examples they got right and which tests still need more practice. The analytics also allow parents to log in and find out how their child is doing and to check how often they are practising.

One subscription of £2.99 per month gives access to all the Grades 1 – 5 tests so, for no extra cost, the student can begin a grade or two lower than the one they are taking in the exam, then move up the grades when they are achieving success. The subscription may be cancelled any time after the first payment, with no further obligation. Free practice tests for Grades 6 – 8 are planned for later this year.

In an independent review, the Music Teacher magazine (pub. Rhinegold) rates  E-MusicMaestro as ‘a five-star operation’, describing Aural Test Training as  ‘a real lifeline for students … exceptionally good value’.

http://www.e-musicmaestro.com/auraltests