Letter of the month Could life skills advice be the key to success? Free advice for all and sundry

Susan Hely’s article (“Hard job choosing a career”, October) struck a chord for me. I think back to the time I was 14 or 15 and being nudged toward choosing a career. I was pretty sure it was the IT industry at the time. Two years later I was not so sure. Instead I took a fairly windy road that, at this point, has me working as a hearing clinician. Fortunately, my parents taught me to work hard and save money so I find myself in my mid 30s with a good base.

Many 15-year-olds are simply not able to identify a career path. I do not believe it is fair to make them choose. The end result is often many wasted years at university before they discover what they want to do. That is if they do discover it. Many end up falling into jobs and end up “stuck”, with responsibilities In the December/January issue you answered a question from a 40-year-old reader Henry who has more than $4 million in assets and an annual income of $250,000! Any wonder he has $4 million when he writes to a column asking for free advice. I think sometimes they are just skiting, to let everyone know how well off they are and for the rest of us to feel like a bunch of underachievers. I see this time and again.

Why don’t you tell these people to stick their making it hard for them to move on. How much better would it be if instead of career advisers in schools we had life skills advisers? They could teach financial literacy, the impact of choices, present the opportunities of youth but the potential costs as well, the value of hard work and independence.

The list goes on. It doesn’t really matter if a 15-year-old is not able to choose a career but it does matter if he or she has the financial skills to keep themselves ahead of the game in the years that follow.

A career is a means to an end, not the end in itself. Think of the economic benefit to the nation if life skills were a targeted program in schools, not to mention the benefit to individuals and families themselves.

Derek, WA

hands in their deep pockets and pay for advice. They annoy me no end, as you can probably tell. They are in the same category as the affluent retirees who try and hide assets to qualify for the aged pension.

I prefer to see you address genuine questions from people who are in genuine need of “free” advice. Love the mag, keep up the good work. Garry, Grumpy Old Geezer, NSW

Ed’s note: I often find those who do well with money are frugal and as Henry proves it’s all