NFCC Poll Shows Young Adults May be Overlooking Obvious Resources for Sound Financial Advice

News provided by

National Foundation for Credit Counseling

May 05, 2014, 15:30 ET


Washington, DC (PRWEB) May 05, 2014 -- Moms may receive a book on personal finance as their Mother’s Day gift this year, as the National Foundation for Credit Counseling (NFCC) recent online poll revealed that if financial advice were needed, more people would reach out to dad than mom for help.

Moreover, the majority of poll respondents, sixty-four percent, felt as though they could obtain better advice than what either mom or dad can offer. Considering the abundance of financial guidance available, consumers indeed have many options, but leaving parents out of the equation might mean missing an opportunity for solid, tried and true financial advice.

“Taken together, only slightly more than one-third of respondents would turn to either parent,” said Gail Cunningham, spokesperson for the NFCC. “Younger generations may want to reconsider where they seek financial advice, as the data associated with baby boomers from the NFCC’s 2014 Financial Literacy Survey indicates that the 55-64 age range has their financial act together in many areas associated with successful money management.”

Consider the following:

  • Sixty-four percent give themselves a grade of A or B on their knowledge of personal finance.
  • Eighty-two percent pay all of their bills on time and have no debts in collections. The only age group with a better record (91%) are those age 65 and above.
  • More than half (52%) carry no credit card debt over from month-to-month.
  • Only three percent are worried about not being able to pay their credit card debt, and a meager one percent has made a payment that was less than the required minimum in the past 12 months.
  • Seventy-two percent report having savings beyond that earmarked for retirement.
  • People in the two oldest age groups, 55-64 and those over 65, contribute at least 20 percent annually toward their retirement savings.

Cunningham also noted that many in the baby boomer generation apparently feel confident about the lifetime of financial decisions they’ve made. When asked if their money could talk, 45 percent indicated it would say “we’ve been a successful team.”

If consumers elect to seek advice from a business or organization, it is important to choose wisely when selecting who to turn to for help. In advance of making a decision, the NFCC recommends checking with the Better Business Bureau and the state Attorney General’s office. Also, ask friends or the Human Resource department at work for recommendations.

If you seek advice and answers beyond what your parents may offer, consider reaching out to a nonprofit NFCC member agency. To be automatically connected to the office closest to you, dial (800) 388-2227, or for assistance in Spanish call (800) 682-9832. Inquire about the NFCC’s Sharpen Your Financial Focus™ program which has helped tens of thousands of people find solutions to their financial concerns. To learn more about what the program has to offer, visit http://www.SharpenToday.org or http://www.agudicehoy.org.

The NFCC April poll question and results are as follows:
If I needed personal financial advice, I would ask

A. Mom, as she’s more financially savvy than Dad =16%
B. Dad, as he’s more financially savvy than Mom = 20%
C. Neither, as I could get better advice elsewhere = 64%

Note: The NFCC’s April Financial Literacy Opinion Index was conducted via the homepage of the NFCC website (http://www.DebtAdvice.org) from April 1–30, 2014, and was answered by 861 individuals.

The National Foundation for Credit Counseling (NFCC), founded in 1951, is the nation’s largest and longest serving national nonprofit financial counseling organization. The NFCC’s mission is to promote the national agenda for financially responsible behavior, and build capacity for its members to deliver the highest-quality financial education and counseling services. NFCC Members annually help millions of consumers through more than 600 community-based offices nationwide. For free and affordable confidential advice through a reputable NFCC Member, call (800) 388-2227, (en Español (800) 682-9832) or visit http://www.nfcc.org. Visit us on Facebook: http://www.facebook.com/NFCCDebtAdvice, on Twitter: twitter.com/NFCCDebtAdvice, on YouTube: http://www.YouTube.com/NFCC09 and our blog: http://financialeducation.nfcc.org/.

Gail Cunningham, National Foundation for Credit Counseling, http://www.DebtAdvice.org, +1 (940) 500-4100, [email protected]