Are you looking for the pie in the sky?

2012-03-26T15:30:00.000-07:00

Imagine you are looking at the plans for your dream house. The blueprints have been drawn to your exact specifications, and it’s everything your wife has ever wanted in a house. You chose just the right builder for the project, and he is crafting it as if he were building for the President. The best subcontractors in the area are on board. An interior decorator is ready to match colors, fixtures, carpet and trim to your desired effect. The land is in a secluded area that you happened to find by word of mouth, and it was surprisingly affordable. You and your wife have been planning for this for a long time.

On the third day of construction, the two of you manage to drop by to check things out, and as you pull up, you cannot believe your eyes. They already have the decking in place for the roof! It’s certainly beautiful, but your excitement quickly fades when you get closer and discover that your builder has erected the roof first, before digging down and pouring concrete for the foundation. (Clearly, he wasn’t the right builder after all.)

As crazy and unlikely as this story might sound, it’s an appropriate way to describe how too many people today approach their finances. They’re trying to live in a mansion that has no foundation. They don’t have important values and principles in place that will guide their decisions and help them teach their children.

Maybe a better example is the people who build houses on the sides of hills or mountains. The views are beautiful, but the foundations are not secure. Due to mudslides or the gradual pull of gravity, many of these houses eventually start slipping down the mountain. Engineers warn of the inherent danger of building in such risky locations, but people do it anyway. The homeowners are more concerned about the view and they don't understand the vital importance of a firm foundation.

Are you helping your kids look at the view or build a solid foundation?

Welcome

2012-03-23T13:29:00.000-07:00

My name is Shane Barkley and I love to help parents teach their kids about money. I have written a book for parents called Dad Cents. I know you are thinking, but it has dad in the title, is it only for dads? No, it is for mom and dad. If you do not believe me, read how Angela Mackey that question.

"You and I know how important it is to manage our money. We want to teach our kids to be financially savvy, but it is difficult to know how and when to do it. Dad Cents written by Shane Barkley outlines effective financial management and provides practical tools for how to teach our kids financial principles. This book will give your husband the confidence, vocabulary, and tools to begin this very important conversation. Don’t let the title fool you. Dad Cents is for moms too. Reading this book will help you and your husband develop a strategy to teach your kids about being a wise with your resources. It answers common questions about allowance, teaching generosity, and the fundamentals of budgeting. All of those resources in one book."

Angela Mackey, BSN, RN Writer/Speaker

Is the book worth reading? Read what this reviewer had to say from Amazon.com.

"This is the best book, by far, that I've read on teaching personal finance to your children. This is a complete home run. Other authors include a chapter towards the end of their book. Shane Barkley has made every chapter pertinent and practical."

You might ask yourself why is a book like this needed? If you would research the availability of materials for dads and moms, you would be surprised. Your surprise would come from the amount of or better yet the lack of assistance for parents in regard to teaching principles of money. My passion for this subject comes from my 10 years’ experience in the financial consulting field and the fact that I have three daughters myself.

One truth in financial consulting field was at the forefront during the writing of Dad Cents. That truth is no matter how good the information may be it has to be practical and easily applicable or the information is useless! Dad Cents includes economic truths along with practical tools to give dads the ability to teach their children.

Over the last several years I have asked many dads one question. Do you want your children to know more about financial matters than you did when you left home? Every dad has given the same answer of yes! The natural follow up question is what are you doing to make that happen? At that point every dad realizes the situation but few feel they can make a difference. Most dads want to teach their children about money but feel ill equipped to do so. Dad Cents will give dads & moms the ability to give their children a solid foundation on money and the practical tools for every day living!

Shane Barkley

Author, Dad Cents

Teaching Your Kids About Money

Are you looking for the pie in the sky?

Welcome