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Sean Savage
In Saving

My Biggest Takeaway from the Government Shutdown

Couple saving money

I felt horrible for the federal employees and their families who experienced severe financial challenges as a result of going without pay for a month. How stressful to be concerned about trying to cover basic needs and not knowing how long it would be until the next paycheck would arrive. I have tremendous empathy for these families. As a financial advisor, my biggest professional takeaway is the need for an increased focus on financial education and wellness in our country.

I grew up fortunate to have been taught the value and importance of saving money for a rainy day and for building long-term financial security. My father repeatedly preached the value of saving money for as long as I can remember. Far back in my early 20s, when my wife and I combined to make very little money, we made sure the bank continued to grow for the “what if” scenario and that retirement was funded for long-term security. I have built a career out of advising people on their finances and investments, and I believe the national experience of the last six weeks screams for a need to prioritize financial health in the U.S.

How do we do this? I believe financial wellness should become a standard employee benefit with employers receiving a tax credit incentive to help with funding this employee benefit. Public and private schools need to have basic financial education for students starting in preschool. Finally, there needs to be public service announcements educating the public on financial wellness.

A financially well person is a better employee and in general a more productive member of society. The government shutdown should be a tipping point for a national conversation and action on financial wellness.

The Savage Blog
In Saving

What to Teach Your Young Child About Money – Sean Savage

Financial Advisor, Sean Savage offers some great advice to young families on the importance of encouraging your kids to form good habits in regards to savings and investing. Here is his first in a series of articles published S

Parents cannot delegate financial lessons for our children to anyone else. Teach your children the importance of saving and investing for the future before poor habits are formed. I was fortunate to learn from my parents the discipline of saving money at a young age which put me on the path to make financial advising my profession. My wife Carolyn and I have six children ages 2-22. The following are a few simple ways I teach financial responsibility to our three young daughters (age 6, 6, & 9).

  • Lead by Example – If you want your child to be a good saver, be a good saver yourself. Kids will model the behaviors they observe at home. Talk to your children about the importance of saving money for the future. This does not mean saving for a specific purpose, but saving with the idea of accumulating funds to invest.
  • Keep it Simple – The most important financial concept for a child under the age of 10 to learn is the importance of saving money. It’s something you can teach before they learn how to read. As your children earn money through chores, achievement, and gifts, encourage them save in their piggy bank and, ultimately, the real bank. Enthusiastically celebrate their savings success so they feel good about their behavior.
  • Bank Accounts – Each child should have a bank account by the time they are 5 years old. We make a big deal out of organizing their money and taking it to the bank for deposit. About every 2 months, I load the kids in the car for a Saturday morning trip to the bank. Each of them goes to the counter to deposit their money, get an update on their account balance and, of course, pick out a sucker. A small percent of the money is held back and used to pick out a toy as an immediate reward for saving.
  • Drop a Hint about Investing – I introduce simple ideas about investing and why it is important to eventually transition money from the bank to investments. Understanding investing in terms of owning part of a company and getting paid when people buy things from that company is as complex as you should be at this age.

Planting the seeds of financial discipline at a very young age is good parenting. The education must continue as your child becomes older and the message needs to change at each age bracket.

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