Many adolescents and young people have their first bank appointment when they are around 18 years old and are often overwhelmed because they have never dealt with the topics of investment, inflation and compound interest in more detail in their life.
That is why there are so-called money teachers like Stefan Pflugmacher from Starnberg, who has made it his business to help young people to make their own money decisions competently.
Starnberg
- The money teacher also provides information about pensions, teaches how to calculate inflation and explains the financing options for a property.
Pflugmacher: “We are talking about around 15 topics from the world of finance.
Personally, I think my own retirement provision is the most important.
This topic has also become more aware of the young people themselves, as people are getting older and retirement is less secure these days.
The children are surprised that their own grandpa doesn't get a lot of money and would like to receive a higher pension themselves. "
Around 160 volunteer money teachers in Germany, Austria and Switzerland have been giving money lessons in schools under the umbrella of an association for ten years with the aim of teaching young people and trainees how to handle money safely.
“I want to convey my knowledge so that young people can form their own opinions.
It's great to make a positive change in your life, ”enthuses the full-time financial advisor.
The current problem: schools are closed due to the pandemic.
The association has been offering training courses for six weeks on a German online platform, each unit being 60 minutes long.
“The lessons are similar to those in school.
I give the young people their homework and at the end of the program they receive a certificate.
The teacher decides how many units take place, ”says the 58-year-old money teacher.
A total of six months comes together with hours.
Before that, the students receive their self-made school book and a specially programmed pocket calculator.
All the formulas that are important in the financial world are stored in it.
The entire program is free for the schools because it is financed by sponsors such as banks and companies.
Pflugmacher: “Trainees are taking part in our program more and more often because the large companies want to offer their young employees more.” The financial advisor has often asked himself why these topics are not integrated into regular school lessons.
Pflugmacher had two partnerships with schools in the district.
The Geldlehrer Association does not offer lessons for adults.
But Stefan Pflugmacher remembers: “It has happened quite often that the parents of our students approached us and said that, like their children, they themselves had no idea about the world of finance.
However, the offer for adults would go beyond the time frame.
After all, we do all of this on a voluntary basis. ”His advice to young people is to take the quote from the American scientist Benjamin Franklin to heart:“ An investment in knowledge always pays the best interest ”.
Pflugmacher advises: “Young people should deal with the issue of money and take care of their money.
In addition, they should put their savings into their own education. "