While the stock market tends to dominate news cycles surrounding any current large-scale event, too many average Americans are uneducated when it comes to investing. When many people see reports of record market highs and losses, massive government bailouts, and changing legislation regarding interest rates and taxes, they do not have the educational background or investing experience to translate these headlines into meaningful analyses and applications for their daily lives. Investing education is critical for all Americans, particularly in times of economic turmoil. Consider these benefits of investing education before diving into financial commitments.

The thought of financing college for your child can be overwhelming. The cost for a state university is prohibitive for the average family. Private universities' annual costs can rival your salary. Most families with young children probably haven't even begun to consider these costs -- they are too busy putting food on the table and paying for their home. But the early years are a great time to begin planning for future educational expenses.

By LIMRA and LOMA