Albert
Einstein once said, “The true sign of intelligence is not knowledge, but
imagination.” People may have different views on that point. Would someone with
an MBA from Harvard be considered more intelligent than a painter with an art degree?
Certainly,
it’s an open discussion. Regardless of who attends college or what profession
they pursue, intelligence is not relegated to the well-off. Doctors and lawyers
have earned the right to be highly respected and paid, but they may not
necessarily be more intelligent than someone who couldn’t afford that caliber
of education.
We
believe that keeping their children on track for a dream profession or
education is a top priority for parents, but perhaps enrolling in full-day
kindergarten or an overly structured preschool may be a step too far. Lego recently
conducted a study placing more importance on creative play than receiving
formal education at a young age. It’s an interesting concept, as it weighs more
toward Einstein’s theory of intelligence than we generally associate with our common
core standards and higher-learning institutions.
One
of the biggest concerns for many who do attend the finest educational
institutions is often affordability, but the challenges don’t stop there. Some
may hesitate to venture out of their comfort zones, asking what they may
consider “stupid” questions in front of their peers. However, the main purpose
in the classroom is to learn. We believe learning doesn’t stop in the
classroom; some experts believe that a willingness to admit what you don’t know
is the mark of a good manager.
[CLICK HERE to read the article, “Children
Should Learn Mainly Through Play Until the Age of Eight, Says Lego,” from The
Guardian, March 15, 2016.]
[CLICK HERE to view the video, “Are Good
Managers Born or Made?” from Knowledge@Wharton, March 15, 2016.]
Without
proper guidance, the financial industry can be one of those areas that make
people feel like they’re not that smart. The truth is, you can spend a lifetime
in this field and still not know everything. It evolves, and there’s always
some new trend, product or phenomenon that we must analyze and figure out how
it may impact our clients’ financial goals.
We
want you to know that we’re here to help do that. You can come to us, regardless
of your education on the matter, and we will help find answers to your
questions based on your individual needs and objectives.
[CLICK HERE to read the article, “5
Reasons You Need a Financial Advisor in 2016,” from Guide Vine, Jan. 6, 2016.]
Not
all of us are academics. With the Internet at our fingertips, there are more
methods than ever to gain knowledge without entering a classroom. For some,
it’s just a matter of priority and focus. Studies have found that focus is less
about zoning in and more about ignoring extraneous distractions. If you can
master the art of “blocking out,” your ability to learn gets much easier.
[CLICK HERE to read the article, “Learning
what to ignore is a powerful tool for improving your focus,” from World
Economic Forum, March 9, 2016.]
Certainly
Thomas Jefferson was not fully on board with the idea of formal classroom
learning. He advocated education through exploration not confined to a specific
major or course of study. After all, students used to go to college to figure
out what they wanted to be when they grew up. These days, students are
encouraged to declare their major within their first year or two and spend
their learning time preparing for a specific occupation.
There’s
learning for the sake of information, and then there’s learning for the sake of
accomplishing a specific goal. Perhaps Einstein fully explains this best. In
his own words: “Imagination is more important than knowledge. For knowledge is
limited to all we now know and understand, while imagination embraces the
entire world, and all there ever will be to know and understand.”
[CLICK HERE to read the article, “Thomas
Jefferson would not have liked this college trend,” from The Washington Post, March
18, 2016.]
[CLICK HERE to read the article, “Creativity
and learning for the Conceptual Age,” from The Brookings Institution, March 14,
2016.]
We are an independent firm helping individuals create retirement
strategies using a variety of insurance and investment products to custom suit
their needs and objectives.
This material has been prepared for our
firm and contains general information to help you understand basic financial
planning strategies that may help you work toward your financial goals. Please
understand that we cannot make any promises or guarantees that you will
accomplish such goals. All investments are subject to risk including the
complete loss of principal.
Throughout, we may generally discuss
different financial vehicles; however, nothing contained herein should be
construed as a recommendation to buy or sell any financial vehicle, nor should
it be used to make decisions about your investments.
The information contained in this material has been obtained from third-party sources believed to be reliable, but accuracy and completeness cannot be guaranteed; it is not intended to be used as the sole basis for financial decisions.
If you are unable to access any of the news articles and sources through the links provided in this text, please contact us to request a copy of the desired reference.
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