Financial literacy needs government input

I read Jim Pavia’s Just Thinking column [Dec. 6] “Advisers should advocate financial literacy” with great interest.

I have spent my entire 20-plus year career in the financial services industry and have been a vocal advocate for financial literacy. However, over and over I have been disappointed by the approach the government or other entities have taken towards “solving” the problem.

Three years ago I was then introduced to a local organization that has grown from the ground up with little funding to be a provider of basic financial literacy to High School youth called Make a Difference – Wisconsin. The organization’s story is too interesting to cover in this letter but suffice it to say that in a little over four years they went from a start up non-profit to having reached over 17,000 high school students with their program.

To say I am proud to be a board member, volunteer and financial supporter would be an understatement. It shows that when a passionate group of people get behind a worthwhile cause, amazing things can happen. All too often, people talk about the problem but never go to work to fix it – this organization never bought into that approach.

Like any non-profit, the recession has caused us to think differently in order to be financially viable. An outcome of our creative thinking was the annual Make a Difference – Wisconsin Investment Conference.

We are often referred to as the best kept secret in non-profits with the “success” we have had but that is beginning to change.

I appreciate you highlighting this subject and would encourage you and others to keep the conversation going.

Joe Schlidt

Private family office director

Godfrey & Kahn

Milwaukee, Wis.

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