TL;DR: Financial Literacy Series of Books
You know you need to learn more about personal finance in order to make financial decisions, but you just find it too overwhelming, too intimidating, and too time consuming. These books were written for you, giving you the basics in an hour or two, and then directing you to further resources (for all the books in the series; for scenario links, see the specific state book below) if you’d like to learn more.
These books aren’t about “getting rich quickly” (not that there’s anything wrong with that), but about gaining knowledge and building your capacity in order to live a good life. What’s a “good life”? I don’t know, everyone’s definition is different. What’s important is that you take the time to define what a good life is for you, and then align your financial decisions with that.
I say “books” because that’s what Amazon calls them, but they are more like really long blog posts. I wrote them because finances and financial decisions are such a huge part of everyone’s life that they should take the time to thoroughly educate themselves. Since many folks won’t do that, these books are an attempt to quickly give them the basics and hopefully encourage them – and give them the confidence – to learn more. All books are available in Kindle and Paperback versions. The great thing about the Kindle version – in addition to the instant download – is that if you have Kindle Unlimited, you can read it for free.
I am not a financial planner. I have taught students mathematics and computer science for over thirty years, but have no formal training in personal finance or investing, and no certifications. I am simply a lifelong learner, constantly curious, and have been interested in personal finance since working in a credit union during high school and college, and continued to be curious and learn more about finance during my career as a public school teacher. Over my years as a teacher, I discovered that not only did my students not know much about personal finance, but neither did my family, friends and colleagues (I often served as a resource for those folks).
Partially as a result of that experience, I see the necessity for a book such as this, as I wanted to do my part to try to help others become financially literate. While it would be nice to make a little bit of money from this, that’s not really my expectation or my goal. This is a passion project for me. I hope folks find it helpful. If you do buy it (or read it for free), it would be helpful if you could leave a review on Amazon and/or email me at karl@fischlearning.com a “testimonial” that I can add to this website.
By the way, I’d humbly suggest that the young adult version is an excellent graduation gift for high school or college students, and the employees of public school version is an excellent gift for any teacher in the respective state.
TL;DR: Financial Literacy for Young (and Not-So-Young) Adults is just the basics, in about 30 pages, and is broadly applicable to almost everyone.
This is an excellent book focusing on essential personal finance decisions. It is particularly helpful to the many young adults (20 somethings) who are just starting out in their adult lives and careers. Being the parent of 2, 23 year olds, I know first hand it contains information they want and need at this important stage in their lives. It is also written in a style that makes it easy and enjoyable to read. 30 pages that could make a huge benefit in the rest of their lives. The information can be found elsewhere but the convenience of having it boiled down to these essentials is wonderful.
– Dianne, Parent, Lexington, Kentucky
TL;DR: Financial Literacy for Alaska Public School Teachers: Optimizing Financial Decisions Based on Your TRS Benefits includes all the content of the young adult book in Part 1, but then adds about 90 more pages in Parts 2-4 specific to public school teachers in Alaska. These pages focus on how to optimize your financial decisions (discussed in Part 1) based on your TRS and school district benefits.
TL;DR: Financial Literacy for Employees of Arizona Public Schools includes all the content of the young adult book in Part 1, but then adds about 90 more pages in Parts 2-4 specific to employees of public schools in Arizona. These pages focus on how to optimize your financial decisions (discussed in Part 1) based on your ASRS and school district benefits.
TL;DR: Financial Literacy for California Public School Teachers includes all the content of the young adult book in Part 1, but then adds about 80 more pages in Parts 2-4 specific to public school teachers in California. These pages focus on how to optimize your financial decisions (discussed in Part 1) based on your CalSTRS and school district benefits.
TL;DR: Financial Literacy for Employees of Colorado Public Schools includes all the content of the young adult book in Part 1, but then adds about 70 more pages in Parts 2-4 specific to employees of public schools in Colorado. These pages focus on how to optimize your financial decisions (discussed in Part 1) based on your PERA and school district benefits.
Listen to Karl on the Teach and Retire Rich Podcast
– Ben, Teacher, Fort Collins, Colorado
TL;DR: Financial Literacy for District of Columbia Public School Teachers includes all the content of the young adult book in Part 1, but then adds about 70 more pages in Parts 2-4 specific to employees of public schools in the District of Columbia. These pages focus on how to optimize your financial decisions (discussed in Part 1) based on your DCRB and school district benefits.
TL;DR: Financial Literacy for Florida Public School Teachers: Optimizing Financial Decisions Based on Your FRS Benefits includes all the content of the young adult book in Part 1, but then adds about 80 more pages in Parts 2-4 specific to employees of Florida Public Schools. These pages focus on how to optimize your financial decisions (discussed in Part 1) based on your FRS and school district benefits.
Write a review on Amazon or email me your review.
TL;DR: Financial Literacy for Georgia Public School Teachers: Optimizing Financial Decisions Based on Your TRS Benefits includes all the content of the young adult book in Part 1, but then adds about 60 more pages in Parts 2-4 specific to employees of Georgia Public Schools. These pages focus on how to optimize your financial decisions (discussed in Part 1) based on your TRS and school district benefits.
Write a review on Amazon or email me your review.
TL;DR: Financial Literacy for Illinois Teachers’ Retirement System Members includes all the content of the young adult book in Part 1, but then adds about 90 more pages in Parts 2-4 specific to employees of Illinois public schools. These pages focus on how to optimize your financial decisions (discussed in Part 1) based on your TRS and school district benefits. Watch the book trailer.
TL;DR: Financial Literacy for Indiana Public School Teachers includes all the content of the young adult book in Part 1, but then adds about 80 more pages in Parts 2-4 specific to teachers of Indiana public schools. These pages focus on how to optimize your financial decisions (discussed in Part 1) based on your INPRS and school district benefits.
TL;DR: Financial Literacy for Employees of Iowa Public Schools includes all the content of the young adult book in Part 1, but then adds about 80 more pages in Parts 2-4 specific to employees of Iowa public schools. These pages focus on how to optimize your financial decisions (discussed in Part 1) based on your IPERS and school district benefits. Watch the book trailer.
– Kim, Iowa Educator
TL;DR: Financial Literacy for Teacher Members of MainePERS includes all the content of the young adult book in Part 1, but then adds about 80 more pages in Parts 2-4 specific to employees of Maine public schools. These pages focus on how to optimize your financial decisions (discussed in Part 1) based on your MainePERS and school district benefits.
TL;DR: Financial Literacy for Massachusetts Public School Teachers includes all the content of the young adult book in Part 1, but then adds about 70 more pages in Parts 2-4 specific to Massachusetts public school teachers who are members of MTRS. These pages focus on how to optimize your financial decisions (discussed in Part 1) based on your MTRS and school district benefits.
TL;DR: Financial Literacy for Employees of Michigan Public Schools includes all the content of the young adult book in Part 1, but then adds about 90 more pages in Parts 2-4 specific to Michigan public school employees who are members of MPSERS. These pages focus on how to optimize your financial decisions (discussed in Part 1) based on your MPSERS and school district benefits.
TL;DR: Financial Literacy for Minnesota Public School Teachers includes all the content of the young adult book in Part 1, but then adds about 80 more pages in Parts 2-4 specific to Minnesota public school teachers who are members of TRA. These pages focus on how to optimize your financial decisions (discussed in Part 1) based on your TRA and school district benefits.
TL;DR: Financial Literacy for Missouri Public School Educators includes all the content of the young adult book in Part 1, but then adds about 90 more pages in Parts 2-4 specific to employees of Missouri public schools. These pages focus on how to optimize your financial decisions (discussed in Part 1) based on your PSRS/PEERS and school district benefits.
TL;DR: Financial Literacy for Members of Nebraska School Employees Retirement System includes all the content of the young adult book in Part 1, but then adds about 80 more pages in Parts 2-4 specific to employees of Nebraska public schools. These pages focus on how to optimize your financial decisions (discussed in Part 1) based on your NPERS and school district benefits.
TL;DR: Financial Literacy for New Hampshire Public School Employees includes all the content of the young adult book in Part 1, but then adds about 80 more pages in Parts 2-4 specific to employees of New Hampshire public schools. These pages focus on how to optimize your financial decisions (discussed in Part 1) based on your NHRS and school district benefits.
Link to New Hampshire Scenarios
TL;DR: Financial Literacy for Employees of New Jersey Public Schools Schools includes all the content of the young adult book in Part 1, but then adds about 90 more pages in Parts 2-4 specific to employees of New Jersey public schools. These pages focus on how to optimize your financial decisions (discussed in Part 1) based on your TPAF/PERS and school district benefits.
TL;DR: Financial Literacy for New York City Public School Teachers includes all the content of the young adult book in Part 1, but then adds about 90 more pages in Parts 2-4 specific to teachers in New York City public schools. These pages focus on how to optimize your financial decisions (discussed in Part 1) based on your TRSNYC and school district benefits.
- – Luisana, New York Educator
TL;DR: Financial Literacy for New York State Public School Teachers includes all the content of the young adult book in Part 1, but then adds about 90 more pages in Parts 2-4 specific to teachers in New York State public schools. These pages focus on how to optimize your financial decisions (discussed in Part 1) based on your NYSTRS and school district benefits.
TL;DR: Financial Literacy for Ohio Public School Teachers includes all the content of the young adult book in Part 1, but then adds about 90 more pages in Parts 2-4 specific to teachers in Ohio public schools. These pages focus on how to optimize your financial decisions (discussed in Part 1) based on your Ohio STRS and school district benefits.
TL;DR: Financial Literacy for Employees of Oregon Public Schools includes all the content of the young adult book in Part 1, but then adds about 90 more pages in Parts 2-4 specific to educators in Oregon public schools. These pages focus on how to optimize your financial decisions (discussed in Part 1) based on your Oregon PERS and school district benefits.
TL;DR: Financial Literacy for Employees of Pennsylvania Public Schools includes all the content of the young adult book in Part 1, but then adds about 120 more pages in Parts 2-4 specific to employees of Pennsylvania public schools. These pages focus on how to optimize your financial decisions (discussed in Part 1) based on your PSERS and school district benefits.
TL;DR: Financial Literacy for Employees of South Carolina Public Schools includes all the content of the young adult book in Part 1, but then adds about 80 more pages in Parts 2-4 specific to employees of South Carolina public schools. These pages focus on how to optimize your financial decisions (discussed in Part 1) based on your PEBA and school district benefits.
Link to South Carolina Scenarios
TL;DR: Financial Literacy for Employees of St. Paul Public Schools includes all the content of the young adult book in Part 1, but then adds about 80 more pages in Parts 2-4 specific to employees of St. Paul public schools. These pages focus on how to optimize your financial decisions (discussed in Part 1) based on your SPTRFA and school district benefits.
TL;DR: Financial Literacy for Employees of Texas Public Schools includes all the content of the young adult book in Part 1, but then adds about 80 more pages in Parts 2-4 specific to employees of Texas public schools. These pages focus on how to optimize your financial decisions (discussed in Part 1) based on your TRS and school district benefits.
TL;DR: Financial Literacy for Employees of Virginia Public Schools includes all the content of the young adult book in Part 1, but then adds about 80 more pages in Parts 2-4 specific to employees of Virginia public schools. These pages focus on how to optimize your financial decisions (discussed in Part 1) based on your VRS and school district benefits.
– Donna, Virginia Educator
TL;DR: Financial Literacy for Employees of Washington Public Schools includes all the content of the young adult book in Part 1, but then adds about 90 more pages in Parts 2-4 specific to employees of Washington public schools. These pages focus on how to optimize your financial decisions (discussed in Part 1) based on your TRS and school district benefits.
TL;DR: Financial Literacy for Employees in the Wyoming Public Employee Pension Plan includes all the content of the young adult book in Part 1, but then adds about 80 more pages in Parts 2-4 specific to employees of Wyoming public schools. These pages focus on how to optimize your financial decisions (discussed in Part 1) based on your WRS and school district benefits.
An eight-minute video that explains the importance of becoming financially literate - and why you might consider reading one of these books.
If you’ve already purchased and read any of the books, I would really, really, really (did I mention really?) appreciate it if you’d be willing to spend between one and five minutes to give me some constructive feedback. It would also be wonderful if you left a review on Amazon.
Have a question?
Email me
Karl@FischLearning.com
