Operation Hope: The common sense approach to financial education

An interesting global initiative that is comprised of a 3-principaled concept founded by John Hope Bryant, Operation Hope features Banking on Our Future (teaching school children about money), HOPE Coalition America (financial emergency preparedness and disaster recovery), and the HOPE Center Banking Network (loans, bill pay, computer literacy, understanding banking principles).  HOPE is leading the “silver rights” movement towards making free enterprise and capitalism relevant to all underserved communities.

Bryant’s mantra from Civil rights to Silver rights is appropriately explained as follows:  ” SILVER RIGHTS- a concept that documents and validates the next phase of civil rights: the empowerment movement not only of American minorities, but of majorities as well. That is, we transition beyond giving a fish, beyond teaching to fish, to owning the pond itself. In the time of a vanishing middle class, John Bryant and Operation Hope, his brainchild, would develop stakeholders, that group between the working class and the middle class, not making more money, but making better decisions with the money they have.”

Although hindsight is oftentimes 20-20, a fundamental notion of primary monetary education is necessary.  So many of our youth and young adults are not trained in common sense practice of how to appropriately handle money. 

Taking this a step further, it is essential that anyone who is market invested either in brokerage accounts or pension plans (including 401-K plans) should know the basic principles of sound financial management.  Investment ideas need to be born from prudent research.  The National Association of Investment Clubs (NAIC) does  a good job of  providing basic adult education.

It is up to you to acquire modern due diligence.  Careful scrutiny of the financial statements, management’s discussion and analysis and copious notes to the financial statements all of which are found in a company’s annual report.   Also, reading through the corporation’s social responsibility and sustainability is paramount  as a well-informed stakeholder. 

Annual reports can be easily found on over 5,000 publicly held companies at publicregister.com and publicregisteronline.com.   CSR and Sustainability reports are also available for select companies.