How to Build a Successful Website for Financial Literacy
By Annamaria Lusardi
04 August 2009 @ 07:44 pm EDT
At an international conference on financial literacy held in Washington, D.C. the Retirement Commissioner from New Zealand stood up and stated that New Zealand has the best website in the world to promote financial literacy and financial education. I liked her instantly; you need to have a lot of guts-as well as a good website-to make that statement in front of an international audience of academics and policymakers. I checked out that website, and it really is good! It is called Sorted: Your Independent Money Guide (http://www.sorted.org.nz/). Sorted is a term that New Zealanders use to mean having things figured out and being prepared. The website is very well organized and provides information related to financial decisions at every stage of life. One can find information about managing debt, mortgages, investments, and planning for retirement. There are a variety of calculators to help people figure out interest payments on credit cards, how wealth can grow with the power of interest compounding, how much to save for retirement, and much more. On the website one can also take a money personality test "to help you work out your financial strengths and possible blind spots."