As the government debates the future of social security, employers eliminate pension plans and health benefits, and credit history increasingly becomes a hiring factor, it is critical for young people to take charge of their financial future at a very early age, cautions Patrick Lyons, author of Map Your Financial Future: Starting on the Right Path in Your Teens and Twenties (ISBN 978-1-4116-8677-9).

"With traditional safety nets diminishing, financial security in America will be limited to those who started on the right path early,” says Lyons, portfolio manager at NCM Capital Management Group, Inc in North Carolina. "The ones who start early and manage well will cruise through life and retire comfortably while others struggle along. Map Your Financial Future gives youth a strong foundation that will help make their ride through life a smooth one,” he adds.

The book provides a roadmap for young people to understand personal finance in three easy to read sections. Part one covers budgeting and money saving tips; part two explores how to understand credit so it doesn't become a road block; and part three discusses ways that you can increase your earnings and build your nest egg for retirement. Each chapter also offers a "Just for Teens” section.

Yearly, educational institutions graduate thousands of students armed with degrees ranging from law to physics, however, countless professionals are not equipped with a basic understanding of how to manage their personal finances. According to Nellie Mae, 92 % of college sophomores ha

ve at least one credit card, many have four or more, and the average combined credit card and student loan debt among graduating seniors is $20,900. According to a recent NACE salary survey, the average starting salary for college graduates in the 10 most popular majors is just under $36,000 per year.

"Clearly this is an equation for disaster at the beginning of your journey to financial freedom,” says Lyons, who earned a B.S. in Mathematics from Florida A&M University and an M.S. in Management from North Carolina State University. "Many people, young and old, view credit as an extension of their income which starts a downward spiral not easy to recover from.”

Map Your Financial Future is an invaluable resource for parents, teachers, or anyone wishing to improve their financial outlook. "Whether you are just learning about money or interested in credit and investments, this book shows you how to achieve your monetary goals,” says Maceo K. Sloan, Chairman, CEO and CIO, NCM Capital Management Group.

Pre-release copies of Map Your Financial Future are available at http://www.PatrickALyons.com and other online retailers. For phone orders call toll-free, 888-261-1850.

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