One of the fundamental reforms that is nowhere to be seen on the horizon…that I believe is absolutely critical to addressing one of the key root causes of the current crisis of confidence in the global financial markets is the lack of any significant education on the topic of personal finances and money management in middle/high school and college curriculums worldwide, including in the US.

So here’s my idea Mr. Paulson and (hopefully future) President Obama: add a mandatory requirement that every middle school, high school, and college student in America get a basic education in how to think about personal finances (budgeting, money management, borrowing, net worth, financial ethics etc.). The long term benefits of such an addition to educational standards in the US and other countries would be invaluable.

I am regularly amazed by how little formal or informal education any of us receive (unless we have very diligent and focused parents with good personal financial habits…a rarity) on the topic of money. Yet, understanding money and making/managing it (in whatever quantities “work” for each individual) is critical for the achievement of personal success and happiness.