Why it just makes ‘cents’ to know your financial ABCs early in life – let our expert explain.

Managing money, understanding interest and how to avoid debt – all these elements make up some of the very basics of financial literacy.  However, despite a humming economy and record low unemployment, more and more Americans are falling deeper into debt. Just recently, CBS News reported that roughly 4 in 10 Americans can’t cover an unexpected bill of 400 dollars.

Something desperately needs to be done about not just how we are handling our money – but when we are taught the how banking, money and personal finances work.

It’s a topic of concern and one that is gaining traction.

Showbiz moguls Will Smith and Nas invested in a financial literacy app for teens (see attached article). The issue is finally on the radar of leaders in Washington and throughout the country as well, with 19 states now requiring financial education to graduate, according to the Council for Economic Education, up from 13 in 2011.

• Can these efforts make a real impact and reverse the tide of financial illiteracy?
• How did America get to this point?
• Is this about our spending habits and access to credit or a lack of education?
• And if we don’t correct the curse – what could it mean for our economy?

There are a lot of questions and that’s where our experts can help!

Professor Jonathan Clarke is an award-winning teacher and researcher in the fields of investment banking, finance and analysis. Clarke created a personal finance course that is offered to all Georgia Tech students that provides the importance of budgeting, basics of credit, as well as more advanced financial topics such as investing and trading. He’s an expert in the field and is available to speak with media about economics and the importance of financial literacy – simply click on his icon to arrange an interview. He has also developed a one-week summer course for high school students – Wall Street on West Peachtree and annually assists the Boy Scouts with obtaining their finance badge.