Click here for quick search
Student money management programme launched
Posted on Mar 27, 2019
It is important for students at universities to deepen their knowledge on credit management and financial literacy before stepping out as professionals in the working world or future entrepreneurs running their own business.
This is in view of the glaring lack of financial literacy and rise of bankrupcty among youths in the country. According to Youth and Sports Minister Syed Saddiq Syed AbdulRahman, around 30 per cent of bankruptcy cases registered involve people under age 30.
“The unfortunate reality in Malaysia today is that household debt is exceptionally high and financial literacy is relatively low. This must be addressed well and early, or it will lead to a downward spiral.
“We cannot address this issue reactively. To ensure financial literacy among youths, we must begin at universities because they are where graduates and professionals will emerge from, and it is critical that we reach out to this group,” he said before launching the Kembara Bijak Wang AKPK HSBC 2019 in Universiti Kebangsaan Malaysia (UKM) recently.
The financial literacy programme for youths is a joint effort between Agensi Kaunseling dan Pengurusan Kredit (AKPK) and HSBC Bank Malaysia Bhd, with UKM as co-partner.
About 4,000 students from 14 universities nationwide are expected to take part in the six-month programme.
Syed Saddiq commended the collaboration between the government agency, bank and university as an ideal way to reach out to young people.
I hope university students will take this golden opportunity to learn how to manage money effectively. We want all youths in Malaysia to start saving from today because a penny saved is a penny earned,” he said.
The first phase of the progamme will run until April. The second phase will see groups of students completing online learning modules on cashflow management, wealth management and borrowing basics in three months.
The third and final phase is in September, where 30 best-performing groups will qualify for a financial treasure hunt around Kuala Lumpur, which will test them on the knowledge they learned.
Recent News
Tertiary
The world we live in is increasingly complex, especially for the youths, and they will eventually need to take charge of their future and finances. Financial education in the tertiary stage is for those between the ages of 18 to 25 currently pursuing post-secondary education. Providing them with the appropriate financial know-how at this point will build up their competence in dealing with future financial decisions. This module focuses on cash flow management, the importance of savings and setting up a budget, internet banking and other appropriate topics for university and college students.
Entering Workforce
This stage comprises those between the ages of 20 to 30, i.e. mainly those who are just starting out in life. Financial education is essential to this age group as they learn to be independent in most matters especially financial management. In their minds, a car is a want rather than a need, and normally sits at the top of their list of things to acquire. Our Entering Workforce module focuses on understanding the fundamentals of borrowing and the importance of borrowing productively to encourage positive net worth. Financial education at this stage is also aimed at inculcating the habit of managing debts wisely. The module also introduces the fundamentals of investments and the importance of insurance for a better tomorrow.
Starting and Raising a Family
The module for the next life stage is for those who are starting and raising a family. People in this category are approaching that time in their life when they will normally experience important and meaningful life’s milestones: marriage, children and a new home. Designed for those between 30 to 40 years of age, this module will focus on settling unproductive loans while reducing debt commitments as they prepare for retirement. Emphasis will again be placed on the importance of planning for and protecting against uncertainties by talking about the types of financial tools available. They will learn the various types of insurance policies and be able to decide on the best coverage based on their affordability for their precious family. Education will also be given on the appropriate investments that will provide passive income for a better tomorrow.
Retirement
The transition from working to retiring involves many tough decisions regarding income and lifestyle needs and whether one plans to ease into retirement or otherwise, while considering factors such as wealth management, whether a pension is enjoyed, and EPF balances. These are big decisions with long-term impact on their financial well-being during retirement. To make the best choices, they require sufficient knowledge and intense awareness of how they want to live through their retirement years. Therefore, our pre-retirement module will prepare them for retirement by teaching them the proper use of their investments and review of their portfolio while servicing their insurance policies and settling unproductive debts to improve their net worth positively.
Post – Retirement
You have retired. How would you manage your money now? Considering that the average life expectancy in Malaysia has improved, it is more important now than ever to ensure that you have the financial resources to live a comfortable and happy lifestyle—particularly if you are looking forward to retiring with peace of mind. Taking care of your wealth and making it last are important at this stage. Financial literacy and education is a continuous life lesson that does not end at retirement. Now, more than ever, you need to manage your finances wisely and plan for the unexpected. Our post-retirement module is focused on those who are currently transitioning into retirement or are in the early stages of retirement.