John Dawson - Northwestern Mutual

John Dawson - Northwestern Mutual As a Financial Advisor, I steward my clients on their journey to becoming their best selves!

06/08/2026

A headline on Yahoo Finance caught my attention:

"Americans' financial literacy sags to a new low."

A few excerpts from the article that were particularly alarming:
• U.S. adults correctly answered only 47% of questions on spending, borrowing, investing, and retirement—the lowest score in the 10-year history of the study.
• The percentage of Americans with very low financial literacy has increased from 20% to 25% since 2017.

Think about that for a moment.

Many people spend more time researching their next vacation, vehicle purchase, or streaming subscription than they do learning the financial principles that will determine their family's future.

What's even more concerning is that most of this education is not being taught in our schools. If parents aren't learning it themselves—and intentionally teaching it to their children—there's a good chance the next generation will repeat the same mistakes.

Financial illiteracy isn't just a personal problem. It's a societal problem. It affects debt levels, retirement readiness, stress, marriages, opportunities, and generational wealth. Our relationship with money impacts our quality of life and relationships with others.

The good news? This is a solvable problem.
Education changes outcomes. Conversations change outcomes. Intentional planning changes outcomes.

My team and I are passionate about helping families improve their financial knowledge, make better decisions, and raise financially capable children.

If you'd like resources, guidance, or simply want to start a conversation about improving your family's financial future, send me a message.

As a society, we must do better—and it starts with each of us.

We had a great spring break… but it’s taken a couple weeks to fully process part of it.On our way to Orlando, our car wi...
04/23/2026

We had a great spring break… but it’s taken a couple weeks to fully process part of it.

On our way to Orlando, our car window was smashed and we were burglarized. What followed was a mix of inconvenience, frustration but also a little bit of perspective.

If I’m being honest, I didn’t handle it well at first. We were exhausted from a very long drive, emotions were high, and my temper showed it. I didn’t lead my family the way I should have in that moment.

Then came a humbling turn.

My 13-year-old daughter gently (and without judgment) spoke up and said I wasn’t handling things in a Christ-like way. She suggested we pause and pray.

That one hit me.

In that moment, the child led the parent. And while it stung, it was also a powerful reminder: the seeds we plant matter. Sometimes they show up right when we need them most.

I don’t know why that situation happened, but I do know this…among the things taken were sermon notes and a book by Pastor Joby Martin.

Maybe, just maybe, those words will land where they’re needed too.

Sometimes the lesson isn’t in what was taken but in what was revealed.

Tax day just passed… so here’s a thought worth holding onto.Not all income is treated the same. And…how you earn matters...
04/17/2026

Tax day just passed… so here’s a thought worth holding onto.

Not all income is treated the same. And…how you earn matters more than most people realize.

Over the past few years, starting a small horse boarding business has stretched us in a lot of ways. It hasn’t been perfect, but it’s opened our eyes. Ownership changes how you think about money, expenses, and long-term decisions and yes, even taxes.

The big takeaway?
The system (tax code) tends to reward builders, owners, and investors.

That doesn’t mean everyone needs to quit their job tomorrow. But it does mean it’s worth asking: Is there something I could start, build, or invest in over time?

Not just for income but for flexibility, growth, and future opportunity.

For us, it’s been more than a side business—it’s been a life lesson for our children we’re glad we didn’t miss.

Gretchen planted these tulip bulbs last fall and now we get to enjoy them.Tulips have always meant something special to ...
04/15/2026

Gretchen planted these tulip bulbs last fall and now we get to enjoy them.

Tulips have always meant something special to us. I still remember planting bulbs together the day I proposed… and we even gave tulip bulbs as wedding favors to our guests.

There’s something powerful about planting. Maybe that’s why farmers tend to carry so much wisdom.

Not once this winter did we dig up those bulbs to check on them. We planted… and we waited.

The same is true in so many parts of life; parenting, investing, exercise, faith. The work we do today often grows quietly beneath the surface long before we ever see the results.

“Who plants a seed beneath the sod
And waits to see believes in God.”

Keep planting. Keep trusting. Keep showing up.

Delayed gratification is one of the greatest indicators of future success.

Have a great week, friends.

Financial stewardship is both a practical and spiritual responsibility. God has entrusted each of us with time, talents,...
04/02/2026

Financial stewardship is both a practical and spiritual responsibility.

God has entrusted each of us with time, talents, and resources for His purposes. He invites us to use them in ways that honor Him, bless others, and shape future generations. When we prepare our own financial house, model faithfulness, talk openly about money, teach our children essential skills, and plan wisely for the future, we participate in a generational calling. Faithfulness today can bear fruit for decades to come.

Although imperfect, our family has regular “money moments” where I ask the kids to describe financial concepts in their own words. I may ask them to explain the difference between an asset and a liability and to give an example of each. We also discuss the cost of purchases. Financially, and otherwise, we want our children know they can have or accomplish anything they want, but not everything they want. Life is a game of trade-offs and every decision has an accompanying opportunity cost. When we do choose not to buy something, my wife and I avoid telling them that we cannot afford it. Instead, we focus on why we do not need it and how the sacrifice will create opportunities later.

When our minds are right and we are aligned with God’s will, I believe there is no shortage of money in the world. That does not mean we should expect or pursue everything we want.

To help children grasp the language of money, it is helpful to introduce them to fundamental financial terms. Just as a ...
03/30/2026

To help children grasp the language of money, it is helpful to introduce them to fundamental financial terms. Just as a football player must learn the positions and rules before playing effectively, children need to understand the building blocks of personal finance. Below is a list of key terms and simple explanations that parents can use as teaching points. These definitions are not exhaustive but provide a foundation for deeper financial understanding:

· Asset: Anything of value that an individual, business, or organization owns and can use to generate income or economic benefit. Assets can be physical or non-physical. An example would be rental properties which can generate income and appreciate.
· Liability: Anything an individual, business, or organization owes to another. It represents a financial obligation or debt that must be repaid. Examples include a home mortgage or car loans.
· Compound interest: Growth credited on both the original amount of money and the interest already added. A positive example is a retirement or investment account; a negative example is credit card interest.
· Simple interest: Growth credited only to the original or remaining amount of money. A savings bond grows under simple interest, and mortgage interest is calculated this way.
· Credit cards: A payment card issued by a financial organization that allows users to borrow money for purchases. It must be repaid within a certain time or interest is charged.
· Inflation: The general increase in the price of goods and services, causing purchasing power to decline. As prices rise, each dollar buys less.
· Equity: Ownership value—the value of an asset after subtracting what is owed. For example, a $500,000 home with a $400,000 mortgage has $100,000 in equity.
· Stocks: Buying stock represents ownership in a company. As an owner, you can benefit if the company grows and may receive dividends.
· Bond: Purchasing a bond means lending money to a company, government, or organization, which agrees to repay it with interest.
· Budget: A plan for how an individual, family, or business will earn, spend, and save money over time.
· Emergency fund: Money set aside to cover unexpected expenses or financial emergencies—a “rainy day” fund.

Introducing these terms early and reinforcing them through conversation, examples, and practical activities can help children feel confident in financial decisions. Understanding the basics gives them a foundation for more complex concepts as they grow, much like learning to walk before you run.

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