A Quick Lesson on LIBRA
Not heard about Libra yet? Facebook announced details about its proposed cryptocurrency (Libra) this week, and set the financial services industry on fire! They could launch Libra as early as 2020, giving its 2.7 billion users the capability of paying and receiving money via WhatsApp or Messenger. Global transactions without fees!!!!
If you aren’t interested in listening to all the analysts and reading all the articles posted within the first 24 hours, here are the basics that I have been...
Reading List for May 18-19
By Beth Tallman
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May 17, 2019
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Financial Literacy, Economics, Investing, Parent Conversations, Career, Current Events
Financial Literacy
New GFLEC study was released and teachers support mandated personal finance. (PRN Newswire)
Tony Isola gives his take on the likely success (or lack of it) of mandated personal finance classes. The issue is not with the concept or the teachers…it is more about the structure of schools.
Education/Higher Ed
The Higher Ed headlines move from Varsity Blues to SATs new score. An “Adversity Score” being added to SAT scores. The student won’t know what...
Reading List for May 4-5
By Beth Tallman
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May 03, 2019
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Economics, Paying for College, Insurance, Investing, Retirement, Current Events
Economics
The jobs numbers were released today. 263,000 jobs were added and unemployment is now measured at 3.6%, a 49-year low. The NYT just published a primer explaining how this is measured.
A second NYT article explains why it has taken so long for wages to rise in the recovery, and which sectors are experiencing the most wage growth.
Paying for college
Apparently states in search of educated folks to fill jobs are offering assistance with student loan debt as a lure. (WSJ)
We...
Reading List for a holiday weekend (April 20-21)
By Beth Tallman
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Apr 19, 2019
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Financial Literacy, Career, Investing, Behavioral Finance, Payment Types, Retirement, Current Events
Financial Literacy
NGPF is in this list of quality free curriculum (and training) for personal finance teachers—no excuse for not being prepared!(Marketwatch)
Need some inspiration this weekend? Read this Marketwatch piece about Troy Murphy’s pursuit of spreading financial literacy. NGPF fellow Kerri Herrild’s Giving Project and Daniel LaSalle’s Philly Financial Cooperative are the beneficiaries of Troy’s work. Then listen to the podcasts Tim has done with all...
Reading List for April 13-14
By Beth Tallman
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Apr 12, 2019
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Financial Literacy, Investing, Payment Types, Career, Cryptocurrencies, Current Events
Financial Literacy
Our second list of Financial Literacy Month includes some extra articles on the topic.
An interview with the CEO of Chase Consumer Banking highlights her passion for financial literacy. (NYT)
Annamaria Lusardi presents data/research on why financial literacy matters. (CNBC)
Along similar lines, the St. Louis Fed discusses what financial literacy is. (St. Louis Fed)
MarketWatch republished one of Jonathan Clement’s Humble Dollar posts with the 45 steps to having a...
FinCap Friday: Not All It's Cracked Up To "G"
This week's FinCap Friday offers some details about the latest news related to 5G data and cellular service. From lawsuits to big announcements, the media is buzzing! There are some major differences between 4G/LTE data and 5G data, but does that mean everyone needs to push a 5G data plan to the top of their priority list? Find out about that and more below:
For those who prefer not to use the online Kahoot quiz, we've recently added a no-tech version with the questions embedded in...
Reading List for April 6-7
By Beth Tallman
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Apr 05, 2019
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Financial Literacy, Current Events, Economics, Investing, Paying for College, Insurance
The list is a bit longer today--perhaps more good stuff is popping up during Financial Literacy Month. In any case, there should be something for everyone here!
Financial Literacy Month
CNBC to recognize Financial Literacy Month with special coverage all month.(CNBC)
This was today’s CNBC post, crediting you wonderful finlit warriors for helping your students avoid payday lenders!
How much financial education is enough? (Cincinnati.com)
What men can learn from the way...
FinCap Friday: Getting Paid or Getting Played?
This week's FinCap Friday offers some information about the latest form of payment for many employees: the payroll card. Particularly relevant for teens, these prepaid debit cards are being offered as an alternative to paychecks or direct deposit. But do the fees that come the cards outweigh the benefits of having them? Find out below:
For those who prefer not to use the online Kahoot quiz, we've recently added a no-tech version with the questions embedded in the presentation...
Reading List for March 30-31
By Beth Tallman
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Mar 29, 2019
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Paying for College, Personal Finance, Advocacy, Current Events, Economics, Investing, Taxes
Advocacy
The value of Financial literacy is getting some traction ahead of financial literacy month. (WSJ)
Economics
Apparently the yield curve inverted last week and recession talk is on the rise. Here is a quick one on the subject from Forbes.
Here is a slightly meatier one on the inverted yield curve from SLATE.
New World (Retail) Order
Can Apple change TV/streaming? What will Apple morph into next? (Bloomberg)
Here is what Apple announced on Monday. (CNBC)
Can Amazon change grocery...
Chart: Most common jobs by income level
Background (from datavizblog.com):
NPR has written a lot about how income has changed (or not) for the rich, middle class and poor in the U.S. In the past, however, they have written much less about what the rich, middle class and poor actually do for work.
Questions:
What is the most common job for the top earning professionals?
What is the most common job for the lowest earning workers?
Is there any overlap where jobs show up in multiple income levels? Does it tend...
QoD: Are there more $1 bills or $100 bills in circulation?
Answer: $100 bills
Questions:
Any theories on why there are now more $100 bills than $1 bills in circulation [if stumped, read the CNBC article below for the answers]
Why do you think that criminals might prefer $100 bills as a store of value?
Lots of these $100 bills are held by people outside the U.S. Why might they prefer holding dollars rather than their own currencies?
Here's the ready-to-go slides for this Question of the Day that you can use in your classroom.
Behind...
QoD: What number was larger in 2018: Theater Box Office Sales or Netflix streaming revenues?
Answer: Movie Box Office Sales at $11.9 billion but Netflix is catching up quickly with $7.6 billion in 2018
Question:
When you think about your movie watching habits, what percent of your time is spent watching movies on Netflix (or other streaming service) compared to the movie theater?
How does the price of a monthly subscription to Netflix compare to a movie ticket?
Do you go to movie theaters more or less than you did five years ago?
Netflix recently announced that they...
QoD: This week, the CEO of a major U.S. bank said tens of thousands of call center jobs could be replaced by ____________________.
Answer: Machines
Questions:
What types of tasks do you think a bank call center employee handles (i.e. why do people call a bank's 800 number)?
If you were a call center employee at this bank or at other companies, would you be worried?
What kind of tasks do you think machines will likely replace humans in the future?
What kind of jobs do you think are safe and will not be automated in the future?
Click here for the ready-to-go slides for this Question of the...
Reading List for February 16-17
By Beth Tallman
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Feb 15, 2019
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Personal Finance, Budgeting, Paying for College, Taxes, Retirement, Current Events
Personal Finance
Valentines Day article: here is great pickup line: “Be my financially compatible Valentine?” (WSJ)
For those fans of “personal finance on a postcard” concept, here are the rules of thumb according to (Money Maven).
More on taxes from Michelle Singletary of the Washington Post, including what NOT to do if you find you owe the IRS money. (New tax laws > lower withholding > lower refunds, if any.)
Budgeting
Some fun celebrity facts to bring home the...
QoD: How much does the average adult spend on Valentine's Day?
Answer: $162
Questions:
What do you think are the most common items purchased on Valentine's Day?
Try and name 5 and estimate their cost.
Are there Valentine's Day purchases that cost a lot more around the big day than they do the rest of the year? What economic principle explains that phenomenon?
Why do you think that fewer people are spending on Valentine's Day compared to a decade ago?
What are some low-cost ways to celebrate Valentine's Day without "breaking the...
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