Financial Literacy/Parenting

• In case you didn’t see this in your social media feed this past week, here is the NYT financial checklist for kids heading off to college by Ron Lieber.

Millennials

• Deloitte released the results of a study measuring the net worth of millennials (aged 18-35) and found that it dropped 34% from 1996 levels. Education cost increases may be largely to blame. (Yahoo)
• On a related note, lack of wealth is one reason millennials are delaying marriage, but they seem to be nailing the marriage thing. Millennials are bringing down the divorce rate in this country! (Cosmopolitan)

Investing

• Here are three takes on the new SEC rules involving brokers and conflict of interest. It does not go as far as the proposed “fiduciary rule.” Here are differing views on whether it goes far enough to actually protect investors. Reuters, AP, NYT 

• Fidelity cuts rates on its target date funds below Vanguard rates! (Bloomberg)  The race to zero is on! 

• How will Uber and Lyft turn a profit? The long-term plan is autonomous vehicles, but what about the short term? (NYT)

Paying for College

• Paying for SAT prep: Walmart is having trouble filling jobs, so it has decided to woo high school students by offering to pay for SAT prep. (WAPO)
• We have posted articles in the past on ISAs (Income Sharing Agreements). Inside Higher Education debates the role government (the Dept. of Ed) should/shouldn’t play in this college financing option.

Managing Credit

• It’s hard to manage credit if you don’t know if you are carrying a balance, or what that balance is. Read about the 20% of Americans who haven’t a clue. (PRN Newswire)

Self-Help

Summer is almost here, (it is here for many of you) and it is a great time for some self-reflection--try these to get you started.

• Do you often compare yourself to others? This post from Farnum Street will get you to stop that practice.

“You can be anything but you can’t be everything. When we compare ourselves to others, we’re often comparing their best features against our average ones. ….

There is one thing that you’re better at than other people: being you. This is the only game you can really win.”

• I found this article on procrastination to be helpful–-understanding the emotional underpinnings might just help you deal with it effectively (stop beating yourself up about it!) Fast Company
• Diversification is not just for investment portfolios. Tadas Viskanta of Abnormal Returns interviews Dr. Brett Steenberger in a mini-podcast the “Compound Show” and applies diversification to your personal portfolio of assets and interests. (Abnormal Returns)

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