///OUR PHILOSOPHY ON COMMUNITIES/// 

Individualism is a fine idea. It provides incentive, promotes leadership, and encourages development—but not on its own. We are social animals who cannot function effectively without a social system that is larger than ourselves. This is what is meant by “community”—the social glue that binds us together for the greater good….

 

 

Community means caring about our work, our colleagues, and our place in the world, geographic and otherwise, and in turn being inspired by this caring.

///WHAT GOOD IS AN ORGANIZATION, WHICH BUILDS STUDENT LEADERS, BUT CANNOT IMPACT COMMUNITIES/// 

Talk is cheap! We at Altus Education don’t just create student leaders, we walk our own talk by creating and empowering communities.

Thus the saying.. “Hands that Help, are Holier than the Lips that Pray”

///HOW DO WE CREATE AND EMPOWER COMMUNITIES?/// 

We look at the World differently! We ask the question – “What is the BIGGEST need in the world today to create an IMPACT”? The answer surprisingly is “FINANCIAL WELLNESS”.  Financial Wellness is not about creating wealthy people, but about creating healthy communities that are self aware, have great financial habits, financially secure and know the best they can do with whatever money they have.

Finance is like Oxygen. No one gets up in the morning and says…they love life because of the oxygen in the air! Finance is exactly just that in our lives. Money won’t buy happiness, but not knowing how to manage money is equally the biggest mistake. This is what the world needs, because few do it. Yet, there is no place that teaches it, specifically for the middle class.

No doubt, the “middle class” in America and worldwide are being pushed towards poverty and yet the rich are getting richer. The COVID19 situation was the perfect storm that showed how vulnerable the middle class is.

///OUR TEACHING STYLE IS “GAMIFICATION & SIMULATION” (AND IT IS EXCITING)/// 

We use the power of  “experiential learning” a radical concept used in Business Schools and for Executive Leadership. It means experiencing and reflecting from a situation that is near to reality it can get. This method is called “SIMULATION”.

///SIMULATION/// 

Here is how it works. We bring a certain community together ( and we do it on Zoom/WebConference ) and we get you to “Role Play” a certain situation. 

EXAMPLE :

Let us say you are a Baby Boomer in your 60’s. Now, we simulate a situation for you, your family, your assets, your total money/investments and your assets. What cam go wrong? What could you have done better? What can you do now? This concept of “Gamification” helps people experience challenges and thus help them take action.

ANOTHER EXAMPLE:

You are immigrants from the continent of Africa. You perhaps have a car, have a family, children, a job and in your 40’s. We simulate your life through a situation as if you are in your 70’s. Let us say now you have a house, your children have gone through college and have moved on and you have your retirement in front of you. What should you do now ( in your 40’s ) so you could live like a king in your 70’s?

///GAMIFICATION AND SIMULATION FOR HIGH SCHOOL STUDENTS///

You are just about to graduate from Engineering Under Grad School. You look up your Student Debt portfolio and realize that you have $150,000 debt. You want to eliminate the debt in the next 6 years? You also have a scholarship from school and an internship that you are going through at a company.

HOW can you pay off your student debt…fast?

WHAT are the situations you need to be aware of so that you minimize your student debt?

WHAT ACTION should you take so you can pay it off in half the time?

WHAT would happen if you DIDN’T?

///GAMIFICATION AND SIMULATION FOR THOSE IN THEIR FIRST JOB, JUST OUT OF SCHOOL///

Congrats! You landed your dream job. You are getting your pay check. Yipee!

WHAT would you do with the money? 

HOW would you invest your money?

WHAT kind of Goals should you set? What are they?

WHAT happens if you DON”T save, invest, protect and build a foundation?

WHAT changes should you take NOW, so you could gain later? What conventional investments can you do, and what kind of Un-conventional investments should you do?

///GAMIFICATION AND SIMULATION FOR THOSE ABOUT TO START A FAMILY///

And… She said YES!

You are about to start a family. How exciting!

We want you to imagine 10 years from now. You have a home, two children, two cars, a great loving family, great vacations. Not to dampen your spirits, but it all comes with a price tag. 

YOU have 10 YEARS in hand. How do you PLAN?

IMAGINE the situation 10 years from now. WHAT should you have done better? What was the “Cause” and “Effect” of your actions?

Can you build a FOUNDATION now?

///GAMIFICATION AND SIMULATION FOR FAMILIES ( EARLY 30-EARLY 40 )///

And… She said YES!

You are about to start a family. How exciting!

We want you to imagine 10 years from now. You have a home, two children, two cars, a great loving family, great vacations. Not to dampen your spirits, but it all comes with a price tag. 

YOU have 10 YEARS in hand. How do you PLAN?

IMAGINE the situation 10 years from now. WHAT should you have done better? What was the “Cause” and “Effect” of your actions?

Can you build a FOUNDATION now?

///GAMIFICATION AND SIMULATION FOR FAMILIES ( MID 30-MID 40 )///

A Happy Family! The smiles, the adventures, the memories of the new borns, the first hug, the furst walk, the growing up, the smiles, the toddler years, the relief the kids are out of diapers and …a family movie! Heaven.

We want you to imagine your were in your 55 years of age. What do you see around you? What are your kids doing? What does life look like? Whats happiness? 

Now lets put our “Practical” hats on and imagine what you need to do now? How much money should one have? How much should you save? How can you protect the family? What about your childrens Education? What about your Retirement? What about your loans, credit cards, your debt? 

Now, lets back track and see what changes one needs to do now? What if you don’t?

///GAMIFICATION AND SIMULATION FOR THOSE IN THEIR MID 50’S )///

In your mid 50’s now. Empty nesters! Your kids are working, your house is paid off, the car needs a refresh, you are at the pinnacle of your career, your energy levels are up, you are planning you vacations and buying a home by the lake for your kids and later when you become grand-parents! You are thinking of retiring. What is in your Estate? How can you keep a legacy for and through your children?

Or perhaps you are struggling. Your bank balance doesn’t look appealing. You have not been employed for some time and do not know what to do to pay off your mortgage. Your health is not so good, your mind not so active, you stoop and walk and stare at the big bungalows and the cars… you tried, but luck was never on your side.

You are not alone. 60% to 70% of people in their mid 50’s suddenly realize they have nothing substantial. Stock and Market Swings, Credit Card debt, Mortgage, taxes, joblessness…will be quite common in the future, specifically with the middle class if they don’t take action now.

How can you make money? How can you save and invest? How can you plan your taxes? How can you plan for retirement with what you got? Our Simulation takes you through situations that help you learn about solutions ahead.

///GAMIFICATION AND SIMULATION FOR THOSE IN THEIR MID 60’S )///

You have come a long way. You are young in heart, still adventurous yet cautious, and you think this retirement is going to be great! You have a good amount of money, you have worked hard, your debt free… you have had an exciting life. It’s time to look for a different adventure.

We take you through a simulation of what to expect when you retire i.e. the money streams, the tax deducations, the social security taxes, marginal income, ordinary income, annuities, medicare etc.

Now you face the biggest dilemma – how long will your money last? The simulation takes you through some of the interesting examples of what to do and if then else! It will take you through the problems of Estates, Legacy problems and Insurance problems.

/// PARTNERSHIPS & ALLIANCES ///

We partner with others who specifically offer solutions with Taxes and Estate/Law. The reason being Financial Wellness needs a proper awareness of Taxes and Estate/Laws. That way we can offer a continuum of knowledge to the communities. Digital solutions are everywhere, but that usually doesn’t help most people. Estates/Law and Tax are key professions that one needs to know from specialists. One needs to know when to take the risk and when not to. But knowing about some of the Laws, Estates and Tax rules early simply helps everyone. Most people and communities are just not aware! Thats where we make an impact that helps the individual, the family, their legacy and the community.