Financial literacy is important. According to CNBC, 77% of Americans are anxious about their financial situation. Intuit tells us 65% of Americans have no idea how much they spent last month. Only 32% of American households have a budget for the month. If employees cannot make ends meet, whoever offers them more money will get their loyalty. Trained employees will jump from job to job. Knowing how to live within your means is important.

Our American culture does not help get this message across. If consumer spending is almost 70% of GDP, the economy needs people to spend, spend and spend some more to keep the numbers up. This is not limited to people making at or near the minimum wage. CNBC reported not only are 63% of Americans are living paycheck to paycheck, 47% of Americans with six figure incomes are doing the same. The need for financial literacy extends across the earning spectrum.

Once upon a time, talking about money was simply not done. Then came the popularity of investing and the financial news channels on cable TV. What people do with money became a spectator sport. The problem of not knowing how to manage money became compounded because of bad advice.

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Bryce Sanders

Bryce Sanders, president of Perceptive Business Solutions Inc., has provided training for the financial services industry on high-net-worth client acquisition since 2001. He trains financial professionals on how to identify prospects within the wealthiest 2%-5% of their market, where to meet and socialize with them, how to talk with wealthy people and develop personal relationships, and how to transform wealthy friends into clients. Bryce spent 14 years with a major financial services firm as a successful financial advisor, two years as a district sales manager and four years as a home office manager. He developed personal relationships within the HNW community through his past involvement as a Trustee of the James A. Michener Art Museum, Board of Associates for the Bucks County Chapter of the Fox Chase Cancer Center, Board of Trustees for Stevens Institute of Technology and as a church lector. Bryce has been published in American City Business Journals, Barrons, InsuranceNewsNet, BenefitsPro, The Register, MDRT Round the Table, MDRT Blog, accountingweb.com, Advisorpedia and Horsesmouth.com. In Canada, his articles have appeared in Wealth Professional. He is the author of the book “Captivating the Wealthy Investor.”