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"Working to help parents raise money-smart kids."

​​3 Ideas to Share & Save​
(Click the link above 👆 to read this week's edition on the web.)

Hello friends!

I am still basking in the glow of the Dodgers World Series win!

So is Joe the Monkey.

I feel for Yankee fans since I once was one, and many in my family still are. Until that fifth inning of that fifth game, it looked like the Bronx Bombers might stage a series comeback. Please believe me when I say I have empathy for a difficult season's end. I'm a Seahawks fan.

I'm glad the series is over because it gives us time to focus on this week's three ideas.

— 1 —

A Monkey of Nothing: Did you know that when I first drew Joe the Monkey, I was thinking about creating a show about nothing? Just a monkey living his life, eating cereal, reading the paper. A bit like a simian Seinfeld.

I worked in animation then and thought an animated Seinfeld, a show famously described as being about nothing, could be funny. (My love for Seinfeld is one reason why Piggs the Bank is one part George and one part Kramer. 😉)

I'm glad Joe the Monkey evolved. Unlike their Seinfeld counterparts, he and The Money Mammals are about something very meaningful—helping kids get excited about money smarts.

I also love finding out when Joe's meaningful message has made a specific impact on a particular person. Courtney Fulmer, a recent podcast guest and CEO of our credit union partner, SECNY, recently shared how Joe has made a difference in one child's life.

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I owe a debt of gratitude to Courtney and all the wonderful people at our credit union partners nationwide. They've done so much to bring Joe and friends into hundreds of thousands of kids' lives.

Fatboy Slim might say, "You've Come a Long Way, Monkey!"

If you are a credit union leader or member, and you'd like Joe and his Money Mammals to make a difference at your institution, please email me back or find a time on my calendar to connect.

— 2 —

To share or not to share: Art of Allowance podcast guest Cameron Huddleston wrote about financial transparency between aging parents and their kids in her book, Mom and Dad, We Need to Talk: How to Have Essential Conversations with Your Parents About Their Finances.

But how much should you tell your younger kids about your money situation? Should your teenager know your salary? What about your eight-year-old? Cameron explores this topic in her latest blog post, and she invited Andy Hill (another previous podcast guest) and me to weigh in.

Here are three valuable passages from Cameron's post in age order:

For young children:

For tweens and early teens:

For teens thinking beyond high school:

As I mentioned in Cameron's post, what you choose to share is a personal decision affected by family dynamics and cultural background. I hope this idea gets you thinking about when and if you plan to have this conversation with your kids.

— 3 —

Weekly Wisdom: Knowing where to focus is vital in a world of infinite information. This week, we have two related bits of wisdom.

The first is pictorial, and it comes from The NY Times' Carl Richards, author of The Behavior Gap: Simple Ways to Stop Doing Dumb Things with Money.

The second is courtesy of Shane Parrish of Farnam Street blog fame.

I hope you enjoyed this week's three ideas.

Enjoy the journey!

John,
Chief Mammal

P.S. Please consult with a financial or investment professional before making any decisions that might affect your financial well-being.

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