Joe Saul-Sehy of the Stacking Benjamins podcast explains how he would circle back with his kids to help them learn from purchases that might not have been the best choices ..read more

“Money is barely about money at all. It’s about the person. It’s about the emotions they struggle with or feel. It’s about the things they don’t say.” — Colin Ryan Guest Colin Ryan speaks to college-age kids nationwide and shares humorous anecdotes to help them grapple with money. He also encourages parents to see their children as the heroes of their financial stories, understand their kids’ unique perspectives and personalize conversations to foster connections. During his podcast appearance, Colin and host John Lanza discuss the concept of “earning by saving,” the role of money modeling an ..read more

“I always wanted my kids to be a little bit reflective on ‘Did that work?’ and […] treat their own purchases as experiments for the future.” — Joe Saul-Sehy Self-professed “money disaster” Joe Saul-Sehy shares his experiences with and insights on raising money-smart kids with host John Lanza. Joe recounts his own credit card debacle, which influenced how he approached money with his twins. He shares how he introduced them to money when they were young, his family’s allowance system, his “circling back” strategy and how he tackled money conversations. He also discusses money tracking, the diff ..read more

Hi there, credit union friends, Have you ever had the “pleasure” of helping a child assemble Valentines for their classmates or friends? As the mom of a preschooler, I can say that it’s a tough choice between including a treat or a toy. This year we went the toy route, as my daughter selected lightning bug-themed cards with glow stick accessories: And on Valentine’s Day, she bounded out of daycare with a bag brimming with goodies. From lollipops attached to hand-scribbled notes to curated containers featuring mini LEGO sets, she was just as excited to open one prize as she was to reach for t ..read more

“It [financial education] starts in the home. It starts with families. It starts with parents making sure their kids are empowered and getting the lessons. Because if it’s not you, it’s really not in schools. It’s not in colleges. There’s nowhere else.” — Vince Shorb Host John Lanza speaks with Vince Shorb about the importance of financial education, the need for financial literacy programs in schools and the challenges of scaling these programs. They address the underappreciated role of parents in financial literacy education and the importance of teaching kids to save, earn money and contro ..read more

Hi there, credit union friends, Remember how, in the last installment of this newsletter, I mentioned that my family and I were traveling for the holidays? We made it to North Carolina and back safely, but we picked up an unwanted hitchhiker along the way. And upon our return, it reared its ugly head. (Insert dramatic music here!) For the next two weeks, everyone in my house fell victim to a superbug that started as a stomach virus, morphed into a chest cold, and ended as pink eye. As we all dropped one after another like dominoes, we wondered why we were beginning 2024 on such a ba ..read more

Hi there, credit union friends, ‘Tis the season for holiday travel! My family and I are leaving tomorrow for our ten-hour trek up to North Carolina. So I’m currently trying to figure out how to Tetris two adults, two kids, and two beagles into a midsize SUV. And oh yeah … all of our gifts and suitcases. : Giphy If you’re like me, then you’ll need some entertainment during your seasonal sojourns. So I hope this edition of “Marketing Manatee Musings” leaves you delightfully distracted! — 1 — The Power of Patience: Let’s start with something to listen to as you travel by plane, train, or ..read more

“The gating factor for most people’s dreams, they think is money. But it very rarely is.” — Kevin Kelly Looking for some fresh perspective on your family’s money-smart journey? Kevin Kelly’s approaches to finances are sure to be conversation starters. Kevin is the Senior Maverick at Wired, an award-winning magazine he co-founded in 1993. He is also the co-chair of The Long Now Foundation, a membership organization that champions long-term thinking, and the founder of the popular Cool Tools website, which has been reviewing tools daily for 20 years. What’s more, Kevin has authored multiple bes ..read more

“Working to help parents raise money-smart kids.” Hello, friends! Before we jump into this week’s newsletter, I want to help you check a name or two off your holiday list. My book, ​The Art of Allowance: A Short, Practical Guide to Raising Money-Smart, Money-Empowered Kids​, makes a great gift for friends and relatives who happen to be parents. Speaking of gifts, I’m also offering a special treat to frequent newsletter readers like you. See the postscript of this edition for the details. Now onto this week’s “3 {Festive} Ideas to Share & Save”! — 1 — Managing the Madness: There are ma ..read more

“Working to help parents raise money-smart kids.” Hello, friends! This week I am excited to share my conversation with ​Will Rainey​. Following in the footsteps of Tim Ferriss’ ​4-Hour Workweek​, Will embarked on a “mini retirement.” He realized that raising his daughters was a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity, so he wanted to be as present as possible. Will and his wife afforded themselves this time by diligently saving throughout their careers. And as fortune would have it, this freedom borne of saving inspired Will to write ​Grandpa’s Fortune Fable$​. He wanted to pass along his money-smart ..read more