2009-11-12

401(k) for Dummies

Your brain is your greatest asset. Protect it. It is up to you to decide what goes in it. Your brain does not belong to President Obama, the school system, Wall Street, the banks, financial planners, real estate agents, your boss, or even people like me. It is up to you to decide what is best for you, your family, and your future. ~ Robert Kiyosaki

Rather than teach students about money and investments, the schools to this day bring in the very agents of the rich, the financial planners and bankers, the very people that profit from financial ignorance, to teach our children about money.

In 1974, the 401(k) system (a kind of retirement planning, in many other names in other countries) began, forcing many people who did not trust the stock market to depend on it for their retirement.

"This is a great time to get rich."

But don't listen to insurance salespeople masquerading as financial planners, selling you the wonders of the 401(k). The 401(k) was designed for people who know nothing about investing, which is why the New York Times says, "401(k)'s might not be ideal, but they're all some investors have."

The reason the 401(k) is all most investors have is because our school system is failing us. Without an honest financial education, a 401(k) is all most people know. Even today, after the failure of the 401(k) is evident, our school system continues to invite financial planners and bankers into the classroom under the guise of financial education.

This is not honest. This is deceptive. This is self-serving. This is the conspiracy in action in our schools.