Kristin

Chick Kristin flew the coop and is living and working in Atlanta, Georgia.

I remember the days when, as a young chick, I clucked happily while counting the pennies my grandfather lovingly saved for me. Little did I know he was teaching me the value of money - that short word that has so much impact on our social standing, our education, our daily lives. It’s hard for me to understand why anyone, myself included, would not be interested in learning how to earn more money.

I did not have a credit card or an Automated Teller Machine (ATM) card until I went to college. In fact, I rarely spent money. I was more concerned about counting the pennies in my piggy bank and watching the numbers grow in my savings account. Even my junior high and high school curriculum did not include a how-to-balance-a-checkbook class or invest-your-money-for-the-future class. Only one class came close to the magical monetary balancing act -- high school accounting; however, it did not cover the basics on credit cards, finance rates and loans.

So, I went to college. My dad took me to the bank to set up a checking account and get credit and ATM cards. I can remember that look of pride in my father’s face, or maybe it was fear? Regardless, he knew these things were necessary and did the best he could to explain how and when to balance. Thanks to my parents, I survived college with no credit card debt. Yahoo! Moreover, I had no debt, no car payment, no liabilities -- I was a broker’s dream.

I did not make my first investment until I was 25. I invested in two mutual funds recommended by my banker. I had absolutely no idea what a dividend was, what a 1099-INT was. I knew nada. A few years later, I participated in a 401K and carried that, plus the mutuals, to my next job. I never thought to question the fund managers or the brokers responsible for my investments. I had no clue about NAVs, being vested, cafeteria plans, etc. Their lingo intimidated me. Instead of learning on my own, I trusted the fund managers with my future.

Along came the Chicks Laying Nest Eggs club. I cannot begin to tell you what a positive difference the Chicks have made in my life. I have learned so much from these women. I am in an environment where I feel comfortable talking about investing. I make silly comments, and they laugh. I make serious comments, and they listen. I now talk confidently with my coworkers, family and friends about investing. I trust myself to manage my accounts on-line via the Internet. I have a Roth IRA invested in stocks, a Simplified Employee Pension (SEP) IRA retirement plan invested in stocks, a 401K plan invested in index funds and a money market account invested in stocks.

OK, enough clucking. If I have not intrigued you enough, remember that if little ol’ me from Wisconsin can do this, you can and should do this. Your future economic stability depends on you alone.

Kristin