What is a bond? What is the difference between a fixed rate mortgage and a variable rate mortgage? And why is it important to know? Guide to Finance answers these and many other questions. It is not just a financial dictionary, but a complete tool that explores the world of finance, savings, pensions and investments. Made by Ref Searches, a consultancy and economic analysis company chaired by Angelo Baglioni, with the collaboration of Allianz Bank Financial Advisors, the guide is edited by Baglioni himself together with Fedele De Novellis and Luca Paolazzi, who coordinate the contributions of a team of experts. The project is conceived and published by FIRST online, daily digital platform for economic and financial information.
Designed for a broad audience, including savers, investors, financial advisors, students and journalists, the Guide aims to offer clear and accessible tools to understand the markets financial and face its challenges. The topics covered include the stock market, bonds, investment funds, ETFs, pension funds, cryptocurrencies, and many other aspects of finance, explained in simple but technically accurate language.
The guide was presented officially a Rome, in the prestigious headquarters of the Company Dante Alighieri, in an event that saw the participation of prominent figures such as Marcello Messers, Chairman of Allianz Bank, Daniela Marconi of the Bank of Italy, and Claudia secret, founder of the Global Thinking Foundation. The roundtable was moderated by Luke Paolazzi, co-editor of the guide and senior advisor of REF. RICERCHE. Ernesto To hear, president of FIRSTonline, underlined, introducing the works, the crucial role of the Guide in promoting financial education as a pillar for an aware citizenship, underlining how this also represents a duty of every citizen, to actively participate in the collective well-being and growth of the country.
Financial Education: Why Do We Need It?
During the presentation, Angel Baglioni explained that thefinancial education and today indispensable to manage savings consciously and to be informed citizens capable of understanding the economic debates that affect society. Daniela Marconi he then highlighted how the delay Italy is penalised above all in this field young e women. Unlike other countries, in fact, many Italians do not participate in financial markets, a lack that translates into greater economic vulnerability.
Claudia secret drew attention to the gender inequalities, remembering that only 40% of Italian women have investments in their own name and that 31% are not financially independent. Financial education, in this sense, becomes a means to promote economic independence and to prevent forms of economic violence, guaranteeing protection also to the weakest social categories.
A further danger is represented by the so-called “fluffguru“, self-styled financial experts who promise easy, risk-free earnings through social media, but who often act without any qualifications. Financial education is the most effective response to counter these phenomena, protecting savers from the risks associated with misinformation.
The intervention of is also very interesting Soda of Allianz Bank Financial Advisors who explained how the role of financial advisors is changing, which no longer consists in selling a product but in advising clients on how to plan and diversify their investments.
Financial Education: A Right and a Duty for Collective Well-being
Financial education is therefore a right, which must protect the most vulnerable categories and, as he underlined Marcello Messers, duty for all of us as European citizens. At this moment in history, Europe is disadvantaged compared to other world powers in terms of technology and innovation, and this leads to low productivity. However, Europe has significant financial capital, which, if used strategically, can become the key to ensuring prosperity and growth.
In this context, financial education plays a crucial role, helping us understand how to best manage and enhance available resources, to build sustainable wealth and a more solid future. Messori highlighted how a solid financial literacy not only promotes economic development, but also contributes to reducing social inequalities, offering everyone the opportunity to actively participate in the economic system.
Today more than ever, it is essential that each individual acquires financial awareness, to become the protagonist of their own future and, at the same time, contribute to collective progress.
Financial education in Italy: signs of progress
In recent years, the topic has gained increasing attention from Italian institutions. In 2017, the Committee for the planning and coordination of financial education activities was established, while last March financial education became an integral part of civic education in schools. Bankitalia plays a central role in this area, with its free portal “L'economia per tutti”, which offers financial education teaching tools, and with training projects for teachers and students throughout Italy, starting from primary school.
The Finance Guide: Where to Find It
The 24 chapters of the “Guide to Finance” are available on FIRSTonline homepage, translated into 16 different languages. In November the Guide was collected in a Free eBook, downloadable for free from the main online platforms, and in a paper edition that can be purchased on Amazon via the Print on Demand service.