Currently, everyone is brandishing financial literacy education as the answer to the global personal financial crisis. However, there are a few advocates against financial literacy education. There is contention whether financial literacy education actually leads to effective financial behaviours. The purpose of this theoretical article is to state the various arguments for and against financial literacy education and suggest possible guidelines for interventions by governments and institutions in an effort to increase financial well-being. There are no easy answers to this complex problem and financial illiteracy should not be presented as the sole culprit. Basic financial literacy education is needed to manage day-to-day finances; however, specialist areas such as investments and retirement planning should be left to professionals. It is suggested that financial literacy education should focus not only on cognitive factors but also on non-cognitive and affective factors that might override rational decision making.

Arguments about money represent one of the most common reasons for divorce. South African and several Western cultures consider communication about money as uncivil and taboo -even more so than sex and death. The aim of this investigation is to determine newly married couples' views of gender roles in marriage with regard to financial management. Various factors can lead to personal financial problems and marital problems, namely financial illiteracy, financial phobia, low income, an excessive standard of living, compulsive buying and indebtedness. In general, men are more confident with regard to financial management, a phenomenon that is also confirmed by the results of this study. This was a quantitative study and questionnaires were distributed amongst couples that have been married for less than 10 years. Both spouses had to complete a questionnaire, and in order to ensure frankness they were requested not to share their answers with each other. The results show that both genders consider men to be superior concerning financial behaviour. The women indicated that they are not as self-confident with regard to their own ability and knowledge of financial management, despite major advances in the empowerment of women and the fact that many women are breadwinners in their homes. The indication by men that they have little faith in their wives' abilities to discern between luxuries and essentials was statistically significant. The sensitivity of the topic was once again emphasised by, in particular, the strong reaction from men about the completion of the questionnaires. Future research in this domain is essential, but it is recommended that anonymity be regarded as a critical point in gaining a larger response rate.

Communication about money is a social, cultural and psychological taboo and yet it is essential in the financial planning industry, as a financial planner cannot be effective if all information is not disclosed. This article examines how financial planning students perceive communication about money, their willingness to talk about it and their biases with regard to money communication. The quantitative study obtained relevant data from financial planning students in South Africa. There is a need to oppose this taboo and create a new custom of money communication in order to enhance financial health.

Money is seen as such of a taboo subject that even parents are uncomfortable talking to their children about it. Society regard money as both profane and sacred, while social and cultural meanings and associations are attached to money. Also, money presents psychological factors such as feelings of power, shame and guilt. All of these reasons cause individuals to regard money as a taboo subject and avoid communication about it, even in the family context. If parents do not talk to children about money, then children could inherit their parent's perceived attitudes, behaviours and actions with regard to money (good and bad). The contribution of this article is that it discusses money as a taboo subject, but also brings it into the realm of the family in an effort to indicate the importance of financial communication as it affects financial attitudes and behaviours later in life. Responsible communication about money is suggested, whereby the children are not necessarily burdened with sensitive financial information, but rather openness and honesty about money, so that mistakes, negative emotions and anxieties about personal finances are not conferred upon the children from the parents.

The juxtaposition clergy are placed in; in relation to their calling and the lack of emphasis that is placed on finances and consequently financial management, requires consideration. The objective of this article is to examine the relationship between job satisfaction, financial stress and adequate retirement savings of near-retirement pastors in Southern Africa. The method of data collection (quantitative) was executed by distributing structured questionnaires among South African Dutch Reformed pastors who are retiring within the next 5 years. The respondents indicated high levels of job satisfaction and low levels of stress, even though high percentages indicated that they are either uncertain or did not save enough money for retirement. It was found that there is a relationship between job satisfaction, financial stress and adequate retirement savings and that if clergy have adequate retirement savings, this will have a positive relationship with job satisfaction and financial stress. Clergy find themselves in a unique position towards their calling and their finances and therefore need a more structured approach to their personal financial management. Because their relationship with God and money is so distinctive, so should be the guidance they receive with regards to it.