On Thursday I attended the first-ever White House Summit on Financial Capability and Empowerment. This event was yet more evidence that President Obama has done more than any president before him to advance financial knowledge in this country -- particularly among the young, who were well represented in...
(3) Comments | Posted May 1, 2012 | 5:55 PM
We've heard it a million times: Sitting down for a family meal is good for us. Studies show it keeps us connected, instills healthy eating habits, and even helps our kids get better grades. But here's a new twist: It can make you wealthier.
It's true: A soon-to-be-released
(0) Comments | Posted April 21, 2012 | 2:05 PM
This month brings more than spring showers and tax deadlines. President Obama has proclaimed April National Financial Capability Month, urging Americans to learn more about their money. Which, of course, is music to my ears!
I spend a lot of time on this blog and, as a member...
(0) Comments | Posted April 11, 2012 | 3:44 PM
Some of you filed your taxes the moment you could lay hands on your W-2s. Good for you! But millions of Americans -- many of them overextended parents, is my guess -- wait until the last minute. So I'm here with a little inspiration for tax-frazzled folks everywhere. Nothing soothes...
(1) Comments | Posted April 4, 2012 | 7:00 PM
The No. 1 subject parents ask me about is allowance. At PTA meetings and dinner parties, I field more questions than a White House press secretary: "How much should I give?" "Should I pay my kids for household chores?" "Is it reasonable to make them save part of their allowance?"...
(0) Comments | Posted March 28, 2012 | 9:49 AM
(2) Comments | Posted March 21, 2012 | 11:04 AM
"Are we there yet?"
"Is it my turn now?"
"I'm bored!"
Waiting for anything is so hard for kids. Whether it's for a swing in the park, a trip to the zoo, or saving for a new pack of Gogo's (my son loves these plastic figurines -- anyone...
(30) Comments | Posted March 15, 2012 | 6:41 PM
Moms have been asking me this age-old question for years.
The short answer: start when your child is old enough to say, "Gimme!"
The long answer: Research shows that kids as young as three years old can learn about money. If it's hard to imagine your finger painting, peanut-butter eating...
(0) Comments | Posted February 29, 2012 | 11:00 PM
I was honored to speak at the recent White House Urban Economic Forum for women entrepreneurs at Barnard College in New York. Surrounded by inspiring leaders like Valerie Jarrett (senior advisor to President Obama), Arianna Huffington (needs no introduction here), and Reshma Saujani (deputy advocate in the Office of New...
(48) Comments | Posted August 17, 2011 | 4:36 PM
Although we know that the so-called Budget Control Act will hit us with massive cuts, everyone's been left in a game of 20 Questions trying to figure out just where the slicing and dicing will occur. Except for one, oddly specific directive. If you -- or your children -- are...
(2) Comments | Posted August 4, 2011 | 5:16 PM
Finally! The debt ceiling drama is over and we can all breathe a big sigh of... Wait a second. It's certainly not a sigh of relief that you're hearing from Wall Street. Because as we all now know, in the end, this was probably not the right time for spending...
(41) Comments | Posted July 29, 2011 | 12:10 PM
As recently as last week, the story about Washington's wrangling over the debt limit seemed like inside-the-Beltway baseball.
But now, with the week nearly over, and yet still no agreement, the potential ramifications of political dickering are hitting all too close to home for many Americans.
We all know...
(0) Comments | Posted April 26, 2011 | 2:39 PM
President Obama has made it a goal to add eight million college grads to the American workforce by 2020. To that end, last month Vice President Joe Biden announced an ambitious plan to increase the country's college graduation rates that includes $50 million in competitive grants for states that succeed...
(4) Comments | Posted April 14, 2011 | 2:19 PM
A few months ago, I got the kind of phone call that would have made my preschool-age self jump for joy: "Sesame Street" wanted me to talk to Elmo about money. OK, I admit it: Even my way-past-preschool self jumped for joy. After all, who better to teach kids than...
(10) Comments | Posted June 30, 2009 | 1:37 PM
It's that time of year, when we're sending our high school and college graduates off into the next phase of their lives with best wishes for a happy, successful future. But there's a serious threat to that secure future, brought to light by recent legislation, which has been overlooked.
Buried...

(0) Comments | Posted May 16, 2012 | 3:06 PM