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There　is　a　Need

Does　school　prepare　children　for　the　real　world？　〃Study　hard　and　get　good　grades　and　you　will　find　a　high…paying　job　with　great　benefits；〃　my　parents　used　to　say。　Their　goal　in　life　was　to　provide　a　college　education　for　my　older　sister　and　me；　so　that　we　would　have　the　greatest　chance　for　success　in　life。　When　T　finally　earned　my　diploma　in　1976…graduating　with　honors；　and　near　the　top　of　my　class；　in　accounting　from　Florida　State　University…my　parents　had　realized　their　goal。　It　was　the　crowning　achievement　of　their　lives。　In　accordance　with　the　〃Master　Plan；〃　I　was　hired　by　a　〃Big　8〃　accounting　firm；　and　I　looked　forward　to　a　long　career　and　retirement　at　an　early　age。
My　husband；　Michael；　followed　a　similar　path。　We　both　came　from　hard…working　families；　of　modest　means　but　with　strong　work　ethics。　Michael　also　graduated　with　honors；　but　he　did　it　twice：　first　as　an　engineer　and　then　from　law　school。　He　was　quickly　recruited　by　a　prestigious　Washington；　D。C。；　law　firm　that　specialized　in　patent　law；　and　his　future　seemed　bright；　career　path　well…defined　and　early　retirement　guaranteed。
Although　we　have　been　successful　in　our　careers；　they　have　not　turned　out　quite　as　we　expected。　We　both　have　changed　positions　several　times…for　all　the　right　reasons…but　there　are　no　pension　plans　vesting　on　our　behalf。　Our　retirement　funds　are　growing　only　through　our　individual　contributions。
Michael　and　I　have　a　wonderful　marriage　with　three　great　children。　As　I　write　this；　two　are　in　college　and　one　is　just　beginning　high　school。　We　have　spent　a　fortune　making　sure　our　children　have　received　the　best　education　available。
One　day　in　1996；　one　of　my　children　came　home　disillusioned　with　school。　He　was　bored　and　tired　of　studying。　〃Why　should　I　put　time　into　studying　subjects　I　will　never　use　in　real　life？〃　he　protested。
Without　thinking；　I　responded；　〃Because　if　you　don't　get　good　grades；　you　won't　get　into　college。〃
〃Regardless　of　whether　I　go　to　college；〃　he　replied；　〃I'm　going　to　be　rich。〃
〃If　you　don't　graduate　from　college；　you　won't　get　a　good　job；〃　I　responded　with　a　tinge　of　panic　and　motherly　concern。　〃And　if　you　don't　have　a　good　job；　how　do　you　plan　to　get　rich？〃
My　son　smirked　and　slowly　shook　his　head　with　mild　boredom。　We　have　had　this　talk　many　times　before。　He　lowered　his　head　and　rolled　his　eyes。　My　words　of　motherly　wisdom　were　falling　on　deaf　ears　once　again。
Though　smart　and　strong…willed；　he　has　always　been　a　polite　and　respectful　young　man。
〃Mom；〃　he　began。　It　was　my　turn　to　be　lectured。　〃Get　with　the　times！　Look　around；　the　richest　people　didn't　get　rich　because　of　their　educations。　Look　at　Michael　Jordan　and　Madonna。　Even　Bill　Gates；　who　dropped　out　of　Harvard；　founded　Microsoft；　he　is　now　the　richest　man　in　America；　and　he's　still　in　his　30s。　There　is　a　baseball　pitcher　who　makes　more　than　4　million　a　year　even　though　he　has　been　labeled　‘mentally　challenged。'　〃
There　was　a　long　silence　between　us。　It　was　dawning　on　me　that　I　was　giving　my　son　the　same　advice　my　parents　had　given　me。　The　world　around　us　has　changed；　but　the　advice　hasn't。
Getting　a　good　education　and　making　good　grades　no　longer　ensures　success；　and　nobody　seems　to　have　noticed；　except　our　children。
〃Mom；〃　he　continued；　〃I　don't　want　to　work　as　hard　as　you　and　dad　do。　You　make　a　lot　of　money；　and　we　live　in　a　huge　house　with　lots　of　toys。　If　I　follow　your　advice；　I'll　wind　up　like　you；　working　harder　and　harder　only　to　pay　more　taxes　and　wind　up　in　debt。　There　is　no　job　security　anymore；　I　know　all　about　downsizing　and　rightsizing。　I　also　know　that　college　graduates　today　earn　less　than　you　did　when　you　graduated。　Look　at　doctors。　They　don't　make　nearly　as　much　money　as　they　used　to。　I　know　I　can't　rely　on　Social　Security　or　pany　pensions　for　retirement。　I　need　new　answers。〃
He　was　right。　He　needed　new　answers；　and　so　did　I。　My　parents'　advice　may　have　worked　for　people　born　before　1945；　but　it　may　be　disastrous　for　those　of　us　born　into　a　rapidly　changing　world。　No　longer　can　I　simply　say　to　my　children；　〃Go　to　school；　get　good　grades；　and　look　for　a　safe；　secure　job。〃
I　knew　I　had　to　look　for　new　ways　to　guide　my　children's　education。
As　a　mother　as　well　as　an　accountant；　I　have　been　concerned　by　the　lack　of　financial　education　our　children　receive　in　school。　Many　of　today's　youth　have　credit　cards　before　they　leave　high　school；　yet　they　have　never　had　a　course　in　money　or　how　to　invest　it；　let　alone　understand　how　pound　interest　works　on　credit　cards。　Simply　put；　without　financial　literacy　and　the　knowledge　of　how　money　works；　they　are　not　prepared　to　face　the　world　that　awaits　them；　a　world　in　which　spending　is　emphasized　over　savings。
When　my　oldest　son　became　hopelessly　in　debt　with　his　credit　cards　as　a　freshman　in　college；　I　not　only　helped　him　destroy　the　credit　cards；　but　I　also　went　in　search　of　a　program　that　would　help　me　educate　my　children　on　financial　matters。
One　day　last　year；　my　husband　called　me　from　his　office。　〃I　have　someone　I　think　you　should　meet；〃　he　said。　〃His　name　is　Robert　Kiyosaki。　He's　a　businessman　and　investor；　and　he　is　here　applying　for　a　patent　on　an　educational　product。　I　think　it's　what　you　have　been　looking　for。〃

Just　What　I　Was　Looking　For

My　husband；　Mike；　was　so　impressed　with　CASHFLOW；　the　new　educational　product　that　Robert　Kiyosaki　was　developing；　that　he　arranged　for　both　of　us　to　participate　in　a　test　of　the　prototype。　Because　it　was　an　educational　game；　I　also　asked　my　19…year…old　daughter；　who　was　a　freshman　at　a　local　university；　if　she　would　like　to　take　part；　and　she　agreed。
About　fifteen　people；　broken　into　three　groups；　participated　in　the　test。
Mike　was　right。　It　was　the　educational　product　I　had　been　looking　for。　But　it　had　a　twist：　It　looked　like　a　colorful　Monopoly　board　with　a　giant　well…dressed　rat　in　the　middle。　Unlike　Monopoly；　however；　there　were　two　tracks：　one　inside　and　one　outside。　The　object　of　the　game　was　to　get　out　of　the　inside　track…what　Robert　called　the　〃Rat　Race〃　and　reach　the　outer　track；　or　the　〃Fast　Track。〃　As　Robert　put　it；　the　Fast　Track　simulates　how　rich　people　play　in　real　life。
Robert　then　defined　the　〃Rat　Race〃　for　us。
〃If　you　look　at　the　life　of　the　average…educated；　hard…working　person；　there　is　a　similar　path。　The　child　is　born　and　goes　to　school。　The　proud　parents　are　excited　because　the　child　excels；　gets　fair　to　good　grades；　and　is　accepted　into　a　college。　The　child　graduates；　maybe　goes　on　to　graduate　school　and　then　does　exactly　as　programmed：　looks　for　a　safe；　secure　job　or　career。　The　child　finds　that　job；　maybe　as　a　doctor　or　a　lawyer；　or　joins　the　Army　or　works　for　the　government。　Generally；　the　child　begins　to　make　money；　credit　cards　start　to　arrive　in　mass；　and　the　shopping　begins；　if　it　already　hasn't。
〃Having　money　to　burn；　the　child　goes　to　places　where　other　young　people　just　like　them　hang　out；　and　they　meet　people；　they　date；　and　sometimes　they　get　married。　Life　is　wonderful　now；　because　today；　both　men　and　women　work。　Two　ines　are　bliss。　They　feel　successful；　their　future　is　bright；　and　they　decide　to　buy　a　house；　a　car；　a　television；　take　vacations　and　have　children。　The　happy　bundle　arrives。　The　demand　for　cash　is　enormous。　The　happy　couple　decides　that　their　careers　are　vitally　important　and　begin　to　work　harder；　seeking　promotions　and　raises。　The　raises　e；　and　so　does　another　child　and　the　need　for　a　bigger　house。　They　work　harder；　bee　better　employees；　even　more　dedicated。　They　go　back　to　school　to　get　more　specialized　skills　so　they　can　earn　more　money。　Maybe　they　take　a　second　job。　Their　ines　go　up；　but　so　does　the　tax　bracket　they're　in　and　the　real　estate　taxes　on　their　new　large　home；　and　their　Social　Security　taxes；　and　all　the　other　taxes。　They　get　their　large　paycheck　and　wonder　where　all　the　money　went。　They　buy　some　mutual　funds　and　buy　groceries　with　their　credit　card。　The　children　reach　5　or　6　years　of　age；　and　the　need　to　save　for　college　increases　as　well　as　the　need　to　save　for　their　retirement。　。
〃That　happy　couple；　born　35　years　ago；　is　now　trapped　in　the　Rat　Race　for　the　rest　of　their　working　days。　They　work　for　the　owners　of　their　pany；　for　the　government　paying　taxes；　and　for　the　bank　paying　off　a　mortgage　and　credit　cards。
〃Then；　they　advise　their　own　children　to　‘study　hard；　get　good　grades；　and　find　a　safe　job　or　career。'　They　learn　nothing　about　money；　except　from　those　who　profit　from　their　na飗et？　and　work　hard　all　their　lives。　The　process　repeats　into　another　hard…working　generation。　This　is　the　‘Rat　Race'。〃
The　only　way　to　get　out　of　the　〃Rat　Race〃　is　to　prove　your　proficiency　at　both　accounting　and　investing；　arguably　two　of　the　most　difficult　subjects　to　master。　As　a　trained　CPA　who　once　worked　for　a　Big　8　accounting　firm；　I　was　surprised　that　Robert　had　made　the　learning　of　these　two　subjects　both　fun　and　exciting。　The　process　was　so　well　disguised　that　while　we　were　diligently　working　to　get　out　of　the　〃Rat　Race；〃　we　quickly　forgot　we　were　learning。
Soon　a　product　test　turned　into　a　fun　afternoon　with　my　daughter；　talking　about　things　we　had　never　discussed　before。　As　an　accountant；　playing　a　game　that　required　an　Ine　Statement　and　Balance　Sheet　was　easy。　So　I　had　the　time　to　help　my　daughter　and　the　other　players　at　my　table　with　concepts　they　did　not　understand。　I　was　the　first　person…and　the　only　person　in　the　entire　test　group…to　get　out　of　the　〃Rat　Race〃　that　day。　I　was　out　within　50　minutes；　although　the　game　went　on　for　nearly　three　hours。
At　my　table　was　a　banker；　a　business　owner　and　a　puter　programmer。　What　greatly　disturbed　me　was　how　little　these　people　knew　about　either　accounting　or　investing；　subjects　so　important　in　their　lives。　I　wondered　how　they　managed　their　own　financial　affairs　in　real　life。　I　could　understand　why　my　19…year…old　daughter　would　not　understand；　but　these　were　grown　adults；　at　least　twice　her　age。
After　I　was　out　of　the　〃Rat　Race；〃　for　the　next　two　hours　I　watched　my　daughter　and　these　educated；　affluent　adults　roll　the　dice　and　move　their　markers。　Although　I　was　glad　they　were　all　learning　so　much；　I　was　disturbed　by　how　much　the　adults　did　not　know　about　the　basics　of　simple　accounting　and　investing。　They　had　difficulty　grasping　the　relationship　between　their　Ine　Statement　and　their　Balance　Sheet。　As　they　bought　and　sold　assets；　they　had　trouble　remembering　that　each　transaction　could　impact　their　monthly　cash　flow。　I　thought；　how　many　millions　of　people　are　out　there　in　the　real　world　struggling　financially；　only　because　they　have　never　been　taught　these　subjects？
Thank　goodness　they're　having　fun　and　are　distracted　by　the　desire　to　win　the　game；　I　said　to　myself。　After　Robert　ended　the　contest；　he　allowed　us　fifteen　minutes　to　discuss　and　critique　CASHFLOW　among　ourselves。
The　business　owner　at　my　table　was　not　happy。　He　did　not　like　the　game。　〃I　don't　need　to　know　this；〃　he　said　out　loud。　〃I　hire　accountants；　bankers　and　attorneys　to　tell　me　about　this　stuff。〃
To　which　Robert　replied；　〃Have　you　ever　noticed　that　there　are　a　lot　of　accountants　who　aren't　rich？　And　bankers；　and　attorneys；　and　stockbrokers　and　real　estate　brokers。　They　know　a　lot；　and　for　the　most　part　are　smart　people；　but　most　of　them　are　not　rich。　Since　our　schools　do　not　teach　people　what　the　rich　know；　we　take　advice　from　these　people。　But　one　day；　you're　driving　down　the　highway；　stuck　in　traffic；　struggling　to　get　to　work；　and　you　look　over　to　your　right　and　you　see　your　accountant　stuck　in　the　same　traffic　jam。　You　look　to　your　left　and　you　see　your　banker。　That　should　tell　you　something。〃
The　puter　programmer　was　also　unimpressed　by　the　game：　〃I　can　buy　software　to　teach　me　this。〃
The　banker；　however；　was　moved。　〃I　studied　this　in　school…the　accounting　part；　that　is…but　I　never　knew　how　to　apply　it　to　real　life。　Now　I　know。　I　need　to　get　myself　out　of　the　‘Rat　Race。'　〃
But　it　was　my　daughter's　ments　that　most　touched　me。　〃I　had　fun　learning；〃　she　said。　〃I　learned　a　lot　about　how　money　really　works　and　how　to　invest。〃
Then　she　added：　〃Now　I　know　I　can　choose　a　profession　for　the　work　I　want　to　perform　and　not　because　of　job　security；　benefits　or　howmuch　I　get　paid。　If　I　learn　what　this　game　teaches；　I'm　free　to　do　and　study　what　my　heart　wants　to　study。　。