By Edrea Davis

Raleigh, NC - As the government debates the future of social security, employers eliminate pension plans and health benefits, and credit history increasingly becomes a hiring factor, it is critical for young people to take charge of their financial future at a very early age, cautions Patrick Lyons, author of Map Your Financial Future: Starting on the Right Path in Your Teens and Twenties (ISBN 978-1-4116-8677-9).

'With traditional safety nets diminishing, financial security in America will be limited to those who started on the right path early,' says Lyons, portfolio manager at NCM Capital Management Group, Inc in North Carolina. 'The ones who start early and manage well will cruise through life and retire comfortably while others struggle along. Map Your Financial Future gives youth a strong foundation that will help make their ride through life a smooth one,' he adds.

The book provides a roadmap for young people to understand personal finance in three easy to read sections. Part one covers budgeting and money saving tips; part two explores how to understand credit so it doesnt become a road block; and part three discusses ways that you can increase your earnings and build your nest egg for retirement. Each chapter also offers a 'Just for Teens' section.

Yearly, educational institutions graduate thousands of students armed with degrees ranging from law to physics, however, countless professionals are not equipped with a basic understanding of how to manage their personal finances. According to Nellie Mae, 92 % of college sophomores have at least one credit card, many have four or more, and the average combined credit card and student loan debt among graduating seniors is $20,900. According to a recent NACE salary survey the average starting salary for college graduates in the ten most popular majors is just under $36,000 per year.

'Clearly this is an equation for disaster at the beginning of your journey to financial freedom,' says Lyons, who earned a B.S. in Mathematics from Florida A&M University and an M.S. in Management from North Carolina State University. 'Many people, young and old, view credit as an extension of their income which starts a downward spiral not easy to recover from.'

Map Your Financial Future is an invaluable resource for parents, teachers, or anyone wishing to improve their financial outlook. 'Whether you are just learning about money or interested in credit and investments, this book shows you how to achieve your monetary goals,' says Maceo K. Sloan, Chairman, CEO and CIO, NCM Capital Management Group.

Pre-release copies of Map Your Financial Future are available at www.PatrickALyons.com and other online retailers. For phone orders call toll-free, 888-261-1850.

Edrea is a publicist and multimedia producer in Atlanta.

By Mike Freemen

When our parents and grandparents were young, planning for the financial future was largely unnecessary. Many people in these earlier generations were able to go to school, get an education and work for a single employer for their entire working lives. After those 20 or 30 years were up, there was a secure retirement and a solid financial future to look forward to in retirement.

Anyone who has been paying attention to the financial landscape knows just how radically things have changed. These days, the secure defined benefit pension is very much an exception to the rule, and most employees find themselves being asked to take charge of their own financial future by investing their own money in a 401(k), 403(b) or IRA plan. While this do it yourself financial approach can have a number of advantages, it can be a daunting task as well. This approach to financial matters provides a greater level of control than does a traditional pension plan, but it also introduces an element of risk to the equation.

To make matters worse, most employers will not provide financial advice to their 401(k) or 403(b) plan participants because they are worried about liability issues should the financial investment not work out favorably. It is up to each plan participant, therefore, to take control of his or her own financial future and to learn as much about financial matters as possible.

There are many places to seek out financial advice, including relatives, friends and professional financial advisors. Many people prefer to start locally, seeking out advice from their more financially successful friends and relatives. Professional financial advisors can also be a good choice, but it is important to study their track record carefully to make sure they are really qualified to hand out that financial advice.

Taking charge of your financial future may not be easy, but it is important. It I important to start planning for a secure financial future as soon as possible, since the power of time can help your money grow and make your financial future much more secure. There are many ways to save and invest for a more secure future, from Individual Retirement Accounts (IRAs) and 401(k) plans to mutual funds, stock market investments and bond funds. How you invest, how much you invest and how early you get started will have a significant impact on your future happiness and security, so it makes sense to get started as quickly as possible.

For more information on financial matters go to http://www.financialarrow.com

By Ken Austin

Millions of people give a lot of thought to financial planning but get frustrated and give up before ever making any progress. Making yourself aware of the most common reasons people fail to make a viable financial plan is the first step in reaching your financial goals. The uncertainty of the stock market, social security, and the declining world wide economy have made appropriate financial planning a must for every individual and family. Here are some tips that can make planning for your financial future a more successful experience:

A positive attitude is the most important factor in reaching your financial goals. If you continually have negative thoughts about your ability to plan for your future, you are most likely going to fail in your efforts. A good attitude and the desire to succeed in developing a proper budget and secure financial future will go a long way in helping you reach your goals. It is important to keep your long-term goals in mind and have a positive attitude about what it will take to reach those goals. In planning for your financial future, there is usually no instant gratification, but rather a long-range plan that will allow you to realize your financial dreams over time.

In planning for your financial future, you should identify your motivating factors. Ridding yourself of debts and attempting to appease family members are generally not motivating enough to keep you on the right path. Planning for your future involves developing a long-term plan that leads you to the desired location. Figure out what you want to achieve and stick with your plan. Financial planning is about securing your future, not gaining immediate financial rewards.

Financial planning is the most important thing you can do to provide security for yourself and your family over the long term. Start planning now by making a sensible, maintainable plan and your reward will be a stable, secure financial future.

Ken Austin is the webmaster at http://www.hazeydee.com
and http://creditrelief.kraustin.com