Americans aren’t saving enough for retirement. Credit card debt, car and student loan debt is at an all-time high. Americans don’t have the knowledge need to save for retirement. Americans don’t have the self-disciple or the excess funds to save for retirement.
Financial literacy is the catch-all name for initiatives around education that, it’s hoped, will remedy the first of these problems – education that it’s hope, will occur in schools, through high school graduation requirements which exist or are slated to come in to effect in 21 states, according to Pew Research, but also through employer-sponsored programs, which are in place at 63% of employers according to the publication Plan Sponsor
The reality is that Americans are living paycheck to paycheck and are one paycheck from homelessness, or defaulting on car, credit card or student loans. Financial education should occur in school, the workplace, in the community, church, or in the local library.
Rev. Dr. Donna Taylor is the Pastor of Andrew Chapel, United Methodist Church on the Northern Neck in Montross, VA. Rev. Dr. Taylor promotes best practices for financial literacy and financial empowerment in the church and leads workshops throughout Northern Virginia. Currently, she serves as the Chair of the District Finance Committee. In May 2015, Rev. Dr. Taylor received her Doctor of Ministry from Virginia University of Lynchburg in Lynchburg, VA. Rev. Dr. Donna Taylor is married to Dr. David Taylor, who is also the Director of our church-based free clinic. They have two adult children and three grandchildren. In her leisure time, Rev. Dr. Taylor enjoys traveling, jogging, weightlifting, swimming, yoga, and interior decorating. In May 2015, Rev. Dr. Taylor received her Doctor of Ministry from Virginia University of Lynchburg in Lynchburg, Virginia. Rev. Dr. Taylor was born and raised in New York City and recently discovered her ancestral roots in Guinea-Bissau, West Africa. Rev. Dr. Donna Taylor is married to David Taylor and they have a son and a daughter. Their daughter is a educator and son is an Active-Duty Senior Seaman in the Navy married with three children. In her leisure time, she enjoys traveling, reading, swimming, writing poetry, crocheting and spending time with her family.