The Financial Literacy Project
“A truly remarkable and life changing evening.” — Calvin C.
“You’re doing great and important work.” — Jeanne T.
“I truly benefited from the seminar. The range of information and issues covered touched so many. Personally, I gathered tips on everything! Looking forward to your next presentation!” — Sara S.
The Financial Literacy Project promotes prosperity and well being through one-
on-one coaching and events in community bookstores, featuring top experts in
personal financial planning. The Project is a non-profit, volunteer effort designed
to make basic financial and investment information and education available to the
public at large, including under-served consumers, while helping independent
bookstores generate more business and become community centers of learning.
Bookstores are in a period of change, and in a strong position to serve as a valuable
community resource:
• They provide a natural community gathering place where people meet and interact
• They represent the power of learning, exploration and discovery
• Bookstores are evolving “beyond the book” in the digital information age
The original idea came from Pilgrim’s Way, a small, independent bookstore in
Carmel-by-the-Sea, California. Owners Paul Fridlund and Cynthia Fernandes
have long offered the services of consultants to their store visitors. Customers
pay for time with the consultant (usually psychics and personal coaches), and
the bookstore splits the revenue with the consultant. Recently, Paul and Cynthia
decided to branch out and offer a wider array of consultants, including financial
planning.
I was fortunate to be invited to join their roster of in-house experts in my capacity
as a personal financial planner in spring, 2008, and I’ve experienced first-hand how
everyone can win in this sort of arrangement. The bookstore earns extra revenue
through extra foot traffic, fees for consultations and additional books sales, and
the public gains access to high-quality financial expertise and information, while
financial planners get valuable community exposure. The potential exists to expand
the concept to non-author presentation and classes, and even to other areas of
learning that contribute to peoples’ well-being, such as health, relationships and
the environment.
If you have an interest in participating in this project, please contact me at
peter.johnson@pwjohnson.com.