On Our Minds: How to Make the Next Generation Financially Strong

Growing up in small-town Alberta, investing wasn't talked about — not to me, not in my circles.

"Your money can grow while you're sleeping," I once heard when I was around 12. Really? My money didn't grow, ever. In fact, the bills sat still in my wallet all night.

I was good with money, managing my weekly allowance to perfection as I got older, ensuring enough for a bag of chips and all the beauty products a teenager could need. My job at the local hockey souvenir stand also allowed me to splurge on the latest fashion — if I saved, and I did.

The world of "finance," however, never felt like it was for me and I think most of my friends felt the same. Even going into my local bank branch felt uncomfortable...like someone might call me out, tell me I wasn't smart enough, old enough or rich enough to be there. But watching the numbers grow in my savings account booklet was encouraging, not unlike getting an A on a tough exam.

Later, in my 20s and 30s, I started to get interested in investing — a natural extension of my money-management skills. I asked my dad to share what he knew about investing and, gradually, I started investing myself. My new skills came at the right time, as my life evolved into family, buying a house and saving for our children's education.

Now I spend my days creating investment-literacy content to offer others the financial know-how, inspiration and confidence to be successful investors. Although our aim is to reach all investors (all ages, genders, incomes and education levels), my guess is we're not completely successful at it. Statistics still show that women are not as engaged in investing as men. That doesn't surprise me, based on my experience, but the fact is, we all can take control of our financial futures.

Nearly 40 per cent of Canadian women admit they know "very little" about finance and investing, according to a national survey commissioned by the Financial Planning Standards Council (FPSC). And fears abound, including a sense that investing is too complicated, requires a lot of money or "it's just not the right time."

But a balanced world, one where communities and economies can thrive, is a better world. In that spirit, let's consider a world where girls (and boys) are equally — and consciously — given opportunities to learn about investing. Central to that is teaching girls that, yes, investing is for them, too.

Let’s start that conversation. For inspiration, take a look at these resources:

• 3 Qualities of a Successful Investing Attitude
• Talk to Your Teen About Money: 5 Foolproof Conversation Starters
• 3 Women On First Trades, Cutting Losses and Making a Plan
• Women We Admire: Celebrating Firsts

Ready for a challenge? Leave a comment to share the most important investing lessons you've learned with the Community. Or, share what you wish you knew about investing when you were growing up.

On Our Minds is a regular feature written by RBC Direct Investing's Inspired Investor content team.