Can Bad News (Really) Be Good News?

We're up to our eyeballs in The Information Age. This certainly shouldn't be news to anyone given the fact that we can't seem to get away from the 24/7 world that technology has afforded us. There is news, views, and supposition coming at us from every angle, including on-line versions of traditional media like newspapers and magazines, millions of websites, 24-hour TV news, emails, text messages, cell phones, satellite uplinks that connect us to far corners of the world, and up-to-the-minute videos on YouTube. It seems like a gross understatement to say that we're bombarded with information. It’s Information Overload.

The economic turmoil that Americans find themselves embroiled in—communicated and amplified via technology into financial information overload—has set the stage for a new focus on the need for Financial Education. The Information Age (at least the Financial Information Age) has brought with it the need for individuals to make Financial Education a higher priority in their lives. I believe that in the Information Age—and in the upcoming Age of Turbulence alluded to by Former Fed Chief Alan Greenspan—education is more important than ever before…especially Financial Education.

Look at the headlines:

From the front page of USA Today (Friday, March 7, 2008)

'Home Equity Below 50% Level' – Falling prices sap owners' 'wealth'

And from the USA Today’s Money section—same day, front page --

'Record: 1 Million Homes in Foreclosure' – Nearly 3 million behind in mortgages for 4th quarter

Look at the issues that will drive this year's election:

Healthcare coverage and costs, the economy, shoring up Social Security and Medicare as baby boomers begin to tap those programs in droves. There’s more: jobs, skyrocketing oil (and gas!) prices and an ever-evolving technology revolution that is and will continue to change the way the world views jobs—and 'job security'—forever.

In a recent article I wrote for my column for Yahoo!Finance, I cited an article in the Friday, January 11, 2008, United States edition of the Financial Times. The newspaper posted one of the biggest "The End is Near" headlines I have ever seen. Unfortunately, not many people paid attention to it. Next to Federal Reserve Chairman’s Ben Bernake’s picture, the front-page headline read: "U.S.’s Triple-A Credit Rating Under Threat." The article begins with: "’The U.S. is at risk of losing its top-notch triple-A credit rating within a decade unless it takes radical action to curb soaring healthcare and social security spending,’ Moody’s, the credit rating agency, said yesterday."

I believe one of the reasons many people did not take much notice of this doom and gloom headline is because I doubt many people know what the headline means. I doubt many people know what Moody’s is or why their warning is important.

Are you one of them? Someone who doesn’t know what Moody’s is… or the role it plays in the financial world?

I rest my case.

Moody’s is an Investors Service that performs financial research and analysis on commercial and government entities (I pulled this directly from Moody’s website. It’s easier than ever today to learn things…to get definitions of words you aren’t familiar with and find resources and tools)

So… back to the quote from Moody’s:

Moody’s is essentially saying that the U.S. may soon become a sub-prime nation. The world markets will no longer recognize us as a financially responsible country and the U.S. will not be able to maintain its financial and economic supremacy. In other words, "The End is Near" and from Moody’s perspective it’s less than ten years away.

But now – not ten years from now – is the time for financial education. Now is the time to use The Information Age to your advantage and invest time (before you invest your money) into the financial education that will help you to understand the "headlines" that affect our day-to-day lives and understand how they do, could, or will affect you and your family.

Now is the time to learn so that when you are faced with important financial decisions you have the mental tools and toughness to understand your options. You’ll know where to go to learn more if you need to, how to find qualified people to advise and assist you (true advisors… not salespeople) and then make the best choices and decisions with respect to your personal financial situation with confidence.

I believe that the word 'stress' has taken on a new meaning for many people. Today stress is related to survival—not just keeping up with the Jones’. In his book Words That Work, Frank Luntz talks about the words that are important to us – today. Words like 'stress-free'... and ‘lifestyle’ and ‘imagine.’ True reflections on our world? Imagine a stress-free lifestyle – and the quality of life you deserve.

I have always believed that anything is possible – for anyone – if they are willing to do what (or whatever…because sometimes the ‘what it takes’ means making sacrifices and getting off the couch or choosing different friends or believing and trusting in yourself, against all odds) it will take. The Rich Dad Company was built on the belief that you can change the way you think about money and you can take control of your financial future and the life you want and deserve.

And it all starts with – you guessed it… financial education.

There are always challenges and obstacles on the road to success. And nothing comes without a price. In my opinion, investing some time today in Financial Education is a small price to pay if it could mean fewer sleepless nights, fewer arguments with a spouse or partner over money, and more quality time with those you love.

The headlines may shout (or imply) gloom and doom, but financially-educated investors see opportunities in adversity. Financial education will help you to see opportunities where others don’t and profit in good times – and in bad.

I wrote my new book Rich Dad's Increase Your Financial IQ – Get Smarter with Your Money because today becoming financially educated is more important than ever before. For you, your family, your children and your grandchildren. Now is the time for Financial Education. Now is the time to get smarter with your money. And today is a great day to start.

Copyright 2008 – The Rich Dad Company

Robert T. Kiyosaki, author of Rich Dad Poor Dad -- USA Today's #1 Money Book for two years running and the international runaway best seller -- is an investor, entrepreneur and educator whose perspectives on money and investing fly in the face of conventional wisdom. He has, virtually single-handedly, challenged and changed the way tens of millions, around the world, think about money.