Excerpt from-           True North Press (Second Edition)           ISBN 0-9686624-0-4

JUST MAKING CHANGE: The 100 Percent Pure, Honest to Goodness Truth about Our User-Friendly Financial System and How We Can Break Free of It

The language of money
Have you ever visited a country where you didn't speak the language? Did this experience leave you feeling stupid? Since most people don't speak the language of money, they feel stupid about finances. However, most people know more about money than they realize, and they can learn about money more quickly than they expect. If you are terrible at math (or think you are), don't be shy. Much of finance involves understanding ideas, not crunching numbers. There are calculators, computer programs and professional advisers to help with that part. However, just like learning any new language, speaking "money" takes practice.

Making time for your money
Most people find getting from one pay cheque to the next time-consuming enough, without taking on a third job—learning about money (or the lack of it). Begin looking for ways to make small improvements, not huge changes, and you will probably be surprised to discover that tackling your money is easier and more rewarding (in all senses of the word) than you imagined. Becoming a buying consumer can begin this easily:

• Stay skeptical. Don't believe everything you hear. Ask "Why?" a lot. In doing so, you will learn how well the speaker understands what he or she is saying, how this item or topic is important to your finances, and how to question everything you hear and think.


• Stop whining. If you think there are excuses, you will plan for them. Treating your money like an inconvenience got you where you are. If you want to improve your situation, improve your attitude.


• Get exposed. At least once a day expose yourself to the world of finance by reading an article, visiting a web site, watching a television show, or asking someone a question on the topic. Do listen to the answers to your questions. Nervous about taking a course because you've been out of school too long or don't know enough? Start with an introductory class. Remember, there is no exam so there's nothing to fail and there are no stupid questions (just those you don't ask and are faced with later). This is adult education so you can take the same course each year as a refresher or find something new.


• Learn by association. More and more professional associations, stock markets and schools host classes on finance that are not selling opportunities. Be wary of the free-seminar shills that are paid to promote products or companies and to get sales leads.

Putting the big picture in focus
The following questions are important to informed decision making. Ignoring these concerns may threaten your rights. Where do you stand on these issues?

Do you know to whom you are talking?
One way or another, everyone you talk to is a salesperson with a personal stake in delivering information in a certain way. Accept this and you have overcome a giant hurdle.

• This means that friendly smile and caring word should be enjoyed but not surrendered to. Across your kitchen table, at the tenth tee or in a posh office, keep your guard up.


• Ask for a written disclosure of commissions, fees and other benefits that advisers and salespeople will receive through their work with you.

What have they got to lose?
The advice business is big business. Fee-for-service is becoming more common, but what happens if you receive poor or inappropriate advice?

• Does the advisor keep the fee or commission if you lose your shirt? How are company standards maintained and cross-checked? How is your account protected from fraud? What safeguards ensure client privacy and confidentiality? What can you do if you have a complaint against your advisor or the company itself?


• Enforcement lags well behind creation of industry standards in the financial sector. Know your rights before you spend your money.

Who has their nose in your business?
Companies are increasingly aggressive in cross-selling their products and services. That means if you buy an RRSP from a bank, you will get sales pitches from all the departments, or that organizations business partners, that feel they have products to fit your finances and personal information.

• How do you feel about salespeople knowing the details of your business and your life so they can earn their living? What safeguards will there be to keep these thousands of employees from blabbing your private information around town? Will you know who gets a look at your money picture?

Alone Together
"Never doubt that a small group of thoughtful committed people can change the world: indeed it's the only thing that ever has!" anthropologist Margaret Mead once said. History has proven her right so many times that this line has a comforting, familiar ring.

• If you want choice and change in any aspect of your life, it is time to speak up and speak out. Together we can become the squeaky wheel that gets the grease. If we want choice and improvement in financial services (including real estate and car sales), we must speak with a united, clear consumer voice. A voice that is raised loudly and as often as possible.


• Alone, you can improve your life. Raise your voice with other consumers and you can improve your community and your country.