無論是在小學階段學習如何區分需求與欲望,還是在高中階段掌握投資、信貸和學生貸款等復雜主題,早期的金融教育都至關重要。目前,美國已有26個州將金融教育列為高中必修課程,這一數字在過去十年中增長了一倍多。
大多數重大的財務決策都是在高中畢業之后做出的,而只有48%的成年人具備必要的財務知識。與必須通過路考才能獲得駕照不同,辦理信用卡、投資股票甚至購買房產都無需通過任何考試;如果不經過深思熟慮和充分理解就做出這些決定,可能會帶來嚴重的財務后果。
那么,解決方案是什么呢?答案可能會讓你感到意外——需要私營部門加大參與力度。公司在協助制定高質量的金融教育項目方面具有得天獨厚的優勢,這些項目不僅能夠幫助員工、客戶和社區,還能為業務帶來積極影響。不過,不要只聽我們的一面之詞:就在我們撰寫本文的時候,美國財政部發布了首份《普惠金融國家戰略》,其中包括金融機構和雇主如何為促進金融準入、韌性和健康做出貢獻的建議。
被忽視的機會
對于企業而言,為員工提供金融教育資源不僅是一項正確的舉措,而且能夠支持員工做出更明智的財務決策,進而使員工更加健康、快樂和高效。對于金融機構而言,這不僅能提升金融包容性,還能培養出更忠誠、參與度更高的客戶群體。
這是因為缺乏金融知識會對家庭產生切實的日常影響。2023年,因金融知識匱乏,美國人支付了更高的信用卡利息和費用、超支以及更易遭受欺詐,平均損失高達1506美元。這還不包括金融知識匱乏對健康造成的影響及其對生產力的級聯效應。
美國心理學會最近的一項“美國壓力”調查研究證實了許多人已經知曉并親身經歷的事實:金錢和經濟問題是主要的壓力來源,自2019年以來,財務壓力顯著上升。
由于普通美國人的現金儲蓄只有400美元,而且過著月光族的生活,因此不難看出財務問題是如何造成巨大壓力的。承受過大壓力的員工可能會導致工作效率下降,通常表現為工作質量降低、工作積極性降低和決策失誤。
受過財務教育的消費者往往會成為更優質的客戶,他們具備更強的財務能力、更多的可支配收入和更高的信用評分。對金融機構而言,精通財務知識的客戶不僅傾向于使用銀行或信用合作社提供的更多產品,而且更可能一開始就在這些機構開設賬戶。
盡管他們想要了解更多關于財務方面的知識,但大多數成年人往往缺乏明確的途徑來獲取財務方面的建議。相反,他們會向朋友、家人尋求信息,或是依賴互聯網和社會媒體。出生于2010年至2010年之間的Z世代尤其希望雇主能夠填補這一空白。根據“職場世代”(Generations in the Workplace)的研究,70%的Z世代認為,雇主通過倡議、項目、政策和文化支持員工的財務健康是重要或非常重要的。
好消息是什么?隨著教育技術的興起,金融機構和各類雇主現在比以往任何時候都更易于為員工、客戶和社區提供優質的金融教育資源。蒙特利爾銀行的近期實踐就是一個值得借鑒的范例。
精通財務知識的客戶參與度更高
蒙特利爾銀行是北美第八大銀行,正致力于利用教育技術平臺打造一個創新的金融健康教育項目,該項目將免費向其網站的任何訪客開放。該銀行希望提供便捷的數字優先體驗,從而提高用戶的參與度,并帶來參與者行為上顯著的積極變化。
蒙特利爾銀行利用技術和全國性的資源網絡,為其客戶、員工和任何有興趣學習個人理財的人打造了免費的數字教育平臺SmartProgress(CA)和SmartProgress(US)。該教育平臺在北美地區擁有超過28萬名用戶,其教育內容是根據學習者的具體目標量身定制的,引導他們訪問包括銀行業務、房屋所有權、投資、小企業和退休規劃等基礎知識的不同資源。平臺以互動練習和現實生活場景為特色,使學習者能夠有效地管理自己的財務,做出明智的決策,并成為未來財務規劃的能手。
通過提供無門檻、用戶友好的金融知識普及平臺,蒙特利爾銀行不僅大幅提升了客戶參與度,還強化了其致力于支持員工和社區長期財務健康的企業承諾。
行善對企業有益
成年人金融知識匱乏是一個隱蔽的問題,它會侵蝕美國家庭和企業的財富、生產力乃至健康。
然而,企業實際上擁有一個真正的、經常被忽視的機會,通過逐步填補成人高質量教育的空白,它們可以培養參與度更高的客戶、更高效的員工和更繁榮的社區,從而助力自己的業務發展。與技術平臺合作的途徑多種多樣,而如今這樣做比以往任何時候都更便捷。
投資成人金融教育是一個令人信服的“雙贏”解決方案,能為公司帶來真正的競爭優勢。這還是一個絕佳例證,表明行善對企業有益。(財富中文網)
本評論由《財富》影響力倡議的合作伙伴Everfi提供。埃倫·帕特森(Ellen Patterson)擔任總裁兼總經理,雷·馬丁內斯(Ray Martinez)擔任總裁兼聯合創始人。
譯者:中慧言-王芳
無論是在小學階段學習如何區分需求與欲望,還是在高中階段掌握投資、信貸和學生貸款等復雜主題,早期的金融教育都至關重要。目前,美國已有26個州將金融教育列為高中必修課程,這一數字在過去十年中增長了一倍多。
大多數重大的財務決策都是在高中畢業之后做出的,而只有48%的成年人具備必要的財務知識。與必須通過路考才能獲得駕照不同,辦理信用卡、投資股票甚至購買房產都無需通過任何考試;如果不經過深思熟慮和充分理解就做出這些決定,可能會帶來嚴重的財務后果。
那么,解決方案是什么呢?答案可能會讓你感到意外——需要私營部門加大參與力度。公司在協助制定高質量的金融教育項目方面具有得天獨厚的優勢,這些項目不僅能夠幫助員工、客戶和社區,還能為業務帶來積極影響。不過,不要只聽我們的一面之詞:就在我們撰寫本文的時候,美國財政部發布了首份《普惠金融國家戰略》,其中包括金融機構和雇主如何為促進金融準入、韌性和健康做出貢獻的建議。
被忽視的機會
對于企業而言,為員工提供金融教育資源不僅是一項正確的舉措,而且能夠支持員工做出更明智的財務決策,進而使員工更加健康、快樂和高效。對于金融機構而言,這不僅能提升金融包容性,還能培養出更忠誠、參與度更高的客戶群體。
這是因為缺乏金融知識會對家庭產生切實的日常影響。2023年,因金融知識匱乏,美國人支付了更高的信用卡利息和費用、超支以及更易遭受欺詐,平均損失高達1506美元。這還不包括金融知識匱乏對健康造成的影響及其對生產力的級聯效應。
美國心理學會最近的一項“美國壓力”調查研究證實了許多人已經知曉并親身經歷的事實:金錢和經濟問題是主要的壓力來源,自2019年以來,財務壓力顯著上升。
由于普通美國人的現金儲蓄只有400美元,而且過著月光族的生活,因此不難看出財務問題是如何造成巨大壓力的。承受過大壓力的員工可能會導致工作效率下降,通常表現為工作質量降低、工作積極性降低和決策失誤。
受過財務教育的消費者往往會成為更優質的客戶,他們具備更強的財務能力、更多的可支配收入和更高的信用評分。對金融機構而言,精通財務知識的客戶不僅傾向于使用銀行或信用合作社提供的更多產品,而且更可能一開始就在這些機構開設賬戶。
盡管他們想要了解更多關于財務方面的知識,但大多數成年人往往缺乏明確的途徑來獲取財務方面的建議。相反,他們會向朋友、家人尋求信息,或是依賴互聯網和社會媒體。出生于2010年至2010年之間的Z世代尤其希望雇主能夠填補這一空白。根據“職場世代”(Generations in the Workplace)的研究,70%的Z世代認為,雇主通過倡議、項目、政策和文化支持員工的財務健康是重要或非常重要的。
好消息是什么?隨著教育技術的興起,金融機構和各類雇主現在比以往任何時候都更易于為員工、客戶和社區提供優質的金融教育資源。蒙特利爾銀行的近期實踐就是一個值得借鑒的范例。
精通財務知識的客戶參與度更高
蒙特利爾銀行是北美第八大銀行,正致力于利用教育技術平臺打造一個創新的金融健康教育項目,該項目將免費向其網站的任何訪客開放。該銀行希望提供便捷的數字優先體驗,從而提高用戶的參與度,并帶來參與者行為上顯著的積極變化。
蒙特利爾銀行利用技術和全國性的資源網絡,為其客戶、員工和任何有興趣學習個人理財的人打造了免費的數字教育平臺SmartProgress(CA)和SmartProgress(US)。該教育平臺在北美地區擁有超過28萬名用戶,其教育內容是根據學習者的具體目標量身定制的,引導他們訪問包括銀行業務、房屋所有權、投資、小企業和退休規劃等基礎知識的不同資源。平臺以互動練習和現實生活場景為特色,使學習者能夠有效地管理自己的財務,做出明智的決策,并成為未來財務規劃的能手。
通過提供無門檻、用戶友好的金融知識普及平臺,蒙特利爾銀行不僅大幅提升了客戶參與度,還強化了其致力于支持員工和社區長期財務健康的企業承諾。
行善對企業有益
成年人金融知識匱乏是一個隱蔽的問題,它會侵蝕美國家庭和企業的財富、生產力乃至健康。
然而,企業實際上擁有一個真正的、經常被忽視的機會,通過逐步填補成人高質量教育的空白,它們可以培養參與度更高的客戶、更高效的員工和更繁榮的社區,從而助力自己的業務發展。與技術平臺合作的途徑多種多樣,而如今這樣做比以往任何時候都更便捷。
投資成人金融教育是一個令人信服的“雙贏”解決方案,能為公司帶來真正的競爭優勢。這還是一個絕佳例證,表明行善對企業有益。(財富中文網)
本評論由《財富》影響力倡議的合作伙伴Everfi提供。埃倫·帕特森(Ellen Patterson)擔任總裁兼總經理,雷·馬丁內斯(Ray Martinez)擔任總裁兼聯合創始人。
譯者:中慧言-王芳
Whether it’s learning about needs vs. wants in elementary school, or mastering more complex topics like investing, credit, and student loans in high school, early financial education is critical. Today, 26 states mandate financial education as a high school graduation requirement, and that number has more than doubled in the last decade.
However, the majority of significant financial decisions happen after high school, and only 48% of adults arefinancially literate. Unlike the requirement to pass a road test to earn a driver’s license, there is no test for opening a credit card, investing in stocks, or even buying a house; actions that can have serious financial consequences if not entered into with forethought and understanding.
So, what’s the solution? It might surprise you, but the answer is there needs to be more engagement from the private sector. Companies are uniquely positioned to help produce high quality financial education programs that can be a net positive for their business while helping their employees, customers, and communities. Don’t just take our word for it though: As we were writing this article, the U.S. Treasury Department released its inaugural National Strategy for Financial Inclusion which includes recommendations for how financial institutions and employers can contribute to fostering financial access, resilience, and well-being.
An Overlooked Opportunity
For businesses, helping their employees by providing financial education resources is more than just the right thing to do. It can also support informed financial decision making, leading to healthier, happier, and more productive workers. For financial institutions it can lend itself to greater financial inclusion and create better, more engaged customers
That’s because deficits in financial knowledge have a real, everyday impact on families. Americans lost an average of $1,506 in 2023 due to financial illiteracy, paying higher credit card interest and fees, overspending more, and falling victim to fraud at a higher rate. That doesn’t even take into account the health impact of financial illiteracy, and its cascading effect on productivity.
Recent research gathered from the American Psychological Association’s Stress in America survey has confirmed what many already know and experience: Money and the economy are a top source of stress, and financial stress has increased significantly since 2019.
With the average American having only $400 in cash savings and living paycheck to paycheck, it’s easy to see how financial matters can cause significant stress. And stressed employees are associated with decreased productivity in the form of lower quality work, reduced motivation, and poor decision making.
Financially educated consumers are better customers as well, with higher financial capability, more disposable income, and higher credit scores. For financial institutions, customers who are more financially savvy not only use more products from their bank or credit union but are more likely to open an account at a bank or credit union to begin with.
But even if they want to learn more about finances, most adults don’t have a definitive resource to turn to for financial advice. Instead, they seek information from friends, family, or rely on the internet or social media. Gen Z, the cohort born between 1997 and 2010, specifically is looking to their employer to fill this void. According to the “Generations in the Workplace” study, 70% of Gen Zers believe it is important or very important that places of employment support employees’ financial well-being through initiatives, programs, policies, and culture.
The good news? With the rise of education technology, it’s easier than ever for financial institutions along with employers of all types to provide high-quality financial education resources optimized for employees, customers, and community. BMO’s recent experience can help serve as a model.
Financially Savvy Customers are More Engaged Customers
BMO, the eighth-largest bank in North America, was interested in using an educational technology platform to build an innovative financial wellness education program that would be available free of cost to any visitor to its website. It wanted to deliver highly accessible, digital-first experiences that could increase engagement and drive measurable, positive change in participant behavior.
Using technology and a national network of resources, BMO created SmartProgress(CA) and SmartProgress(US), free digital education platforms for its customers, employees, and anyone else interested in learning about personal finance. With more than 280,000 users across North America, the educational content is tailored to learners’ specific goals, directing them to different resources such as the basics of banking, homeownership, investing, small business, and retirement planning. It features interactive exercises and real-life scenarios so learners can effectively manage their finances, make sound decisions, and become better stewards of their financial future.
By offering a free, easy to use financial literacy platform, BMO has greatly enhanced customer engagement while reinforcing its commitment to helping its employees and the community achieve long-term financial well-being.
Doing Good is Good for Business
Adult financial illiteracy is an insidious problem that saps money, productivity, and even health from American families and US businesses.
Yet, by stepping up to fill the void of high-quality adult education, companies have a real and often overlooked opportunity to help their businesses by creating more engaged customers, more productive employees, and more thriving communities. With many different avenues to partner with technology platforms, doing so is easier than ever.
Investing in adult financial education is a compelling “win-win” solution that provides companies with a real competitive edge. It’s another great example of how doing good is good for business.
This commentary is from Everfi, a partner of Fortune Impact Initiative. Ellen Patterson is president and general manager, and Ray Martinez is president and co-founder.