Financial Literacy for Kids + Are Annuities Actually Safe? SB1757

22 snips

Nov 5, 2025

Karen Holland, an economist and founder of Gifting Sense, joins the discussion to emphasize the importance of teaching financial literacy to kids. She highlights the ideal age for financial lessons, explains the DIMM score calculator, and shares strategies for mindful spending. The conversation shifts to annuities, questioning their safety and the hidden fees that often accompany them. With practical insights and engaging trivia, listeners gain valuable advice on educating the next generation about money and navigating modern financial products.

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INSIGHT

Early Money Habits Shape A Lifetime

Early financial habits form in childhood and create lifelong consequences if ignored.
Karen Holland argues teaching basics during developmentally sensitive years can prevent avoidable stress.

ADVICE

Target Middle School For Money Lessons

Teach middle schoolers mindful spending because their brains are primed for habit formation.
Use simple pausing and reflection exercises to build executive control and impulse resistance.

INSIGHT

Friction Often Protects Your Wallet

Reduced friction in purchases (BNPL, instant checkout) increases impulsive buying.
Karen calls many former 'friction points' useful opportunities to pause and reconsider purchases.

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Here's a question: If everyone's buying annuities right now, does that mean you should too?

Joe Saul-Sehy, OG, and Neighbor Doug tackle that exact question in this week's episode—but first, they're starting with the basics. Because before you can figure out complex financial products, you need to nail the fundamentals. And who better to teach them than Karen Holland, founder of Gifting Sense, who's made it her mission to help kids (and their parents) understand money in ways that actually stick.

Karen breaks down how to teach the next generation about "need vs. want," why middle schoolers need to understand the real cost of "cool," and how financial literacy can be empowering instead of intimidating. Whether you've got kids or just want a refresher on the money basics you wish someone had taught you, this conversation is the reset button you didn't know you needed.

Then things get timely: annuity sales are booming, and everyone's suddenly got an opinion. But are annuities the safe harbor they're marketed as, or just another way to lock up your money with fees you don't understand? Joe and OG cut through the sales pitch to help you figure out when annuities make sense—and when you're better off walking away.

Plus: Doug delivers "life-changing" trivia (his words), there's an iHeart Music Festival giveaway tied to financial literacy, and you'll get your weekly dose of basement wisdom served with laughs.

What You'll Walk Away With:

• Karen Holland's framework for teaching kids financial literacy that actually changes behavior (not just lectures that go in one ear and out the other)

• Why annuity sales are exploding right now—and the questions you MUST ask before signing anything

• The difference between annuities that solve real problems and annuities that just create expensive ones

• Financial habits that work at any age—whether you're teaching a 12-year-old or retraining yourself

• How supporting financial education can score you iHeart Music Festival tickets (because doing good shouldn't be boring)

This Episode Is For You If:

• You want to teach kids about money but don't know where to start (or worry you'll mess it up)

• Someone's pitched you an annuity and you're not sure if it's brilliant or a trap

• You've heard annuities are "safe" but want to understand what you're actually giving up

• You believe financial literacy is a gift worth giving—to your kids, your community, or yourself

• You want money advice that doesn't talk down to you or assume you already know everything

FULL SHOW NOTES: https://stackingbenjamins.com/raising-money-for-financial-literacy-1757

Deeper dives with curated links, topics, and discussions are in our newsletter, The 201, available at https://www.stackingbenjamins.com/201

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