I recently was asked to speak a Sandys Rotary weekly meeting. I thank them for the opportunity to share my commitment to increasing financial literacy through the sharing of financial information.This is a committed group of concerned Bermuda residents who are well aware that in order to be financially successful, one must understand the economic environment we live in.Last week, we discussed how we as individuals learn, or do not learn, how to handle money sensibly. This week, we provide comments and feedback that have been made to me over and over by readers of this column. I've also included some composite situations, illustrating where lack of understanding can impact a family. These comments are in no way reflective of individuals' intelligence; Almost everyone that I have ever met wanted to understand more about their personal financial situation.These comments signify that there is still a large financial knowledge gap. It also tells me that as financial product providers or representatives, we need to a better job of helping our clients. Please see my personal disclosure at end of article.1. I like that mutual fund, it is getting a guaranteed eight percent.2. I've had my money in the Australian fixed deposit. Great interest rate, but why is the amount less than I deposited?3. I have tried and tried to figure my pension choices out, but I just don't get it - so I just picked one. What difference does it make they all just seem to lose money?4. Why do I have so few choices of pension retirement products? I do not understand the fees that are charged because they are not listed very clearly.5. They signed a Mortgage with a parent as a guarantor, and have come back to see my co-worker - “we don't have any idea what we just signed, we're terrified”.6. Comment made to both me and my co-worker, “I have been very successful investing in local shares, you just want me to get rid of them so you can make a commission”.7. “I need help with my financial problems. Don't try to sell me some hot stock or mutual fund - that is what happened at the last investing firm I went to.”8. He sat there, defiant and at high health risk job. “I refuse to buy any life insurance, I don't believe in it!” The wife is disabled, and cannot work. They also have a large mortgage.9. I don't know who I'm working with, My representative seems to change every week. He/she doesn't seem to know much about investments, and they sure don't know much about me.10. I can't take my job anymore, I'm quitting - they have to give me health insurance until I find another job. Up until recently, I was still hearing this comment.11. I put all my cash in one of those preferred shares, just a great dividend and I get my money back in two years.12. Quite a few complaints / remarks about the spread the local banks are getting in interest earnings. The spread is the difference between deposits rates and mortgage interest rate. People have become more savvy in the area.13. My parents had no wills. Everything ended up in court, twice, divided up - no money, no family homestead.14. Seniors are still telling me that they are under tremendous pressure to convey, sell their home, or use the equity in the house to take out another mortgage - for children to do things, like buying cars, or putting the cash into high return capital market investments.15. Recently, International taxation issues are cropping up on a regular basis. There are Multinationals with US assets and estates, dual citizens with the United States, US citizens and green card holders who are not aware of US Internal Revenue Service reporting and filing requirements. They are completely overwhelmed with trying to understand how their US and foreign connections are impacting their personal financial situations.Each of these comments and situations above describe problems, frustrations and anxiety of individuals coping with managing their personal finances. It may be indicative of the uncertain times, or uncertain markets, although many of these remarks have been made again and again regardless of the state of the investment market at the time. These comments and situations make it clear that we all need to do a better job at providing independent current financial information that the local investor can use, specific to our local environment.Please do not think that these comments and feedback are exaggerations. They are not. The frustration, disappointment, anxiety, and sometimes, anger is real. Nor, is this and I emphasize again, a solicitation for services or a reflection on any financial institution or financial representative.So there is a real need and interest in getting objective financial information. What can we do about this? I welcome any reader comments.Down the road. What do I see happening in our financial investment markets and economy down the road? I get asked this a lot and I wish that I had a crystal ball. But, the answer is the same as the second question - what should I invest in now?The answer is - it depends. What you should (or should not) invest in now - depends - upon an assessment of your entire financial profile. It is almost impossible to make a financial decision in isolation, that is without considering all of the financial factors impacting your life.Part 4 - at year end. A Wish List for Change, and Increased focus on the financial issues you can control.The author does not sell, receive commissions, or referral fees, from any financial product or investment providers. The author cannot recommend any specific financial products or provider individualised personal financial advice through this column. The information provided is for general educational and financial purposes in order to allow readers to make informed decisions regarding their personal finances.Martha Harris Myron is JP, CPA, TEP, and an international Certified Financial Planner™ practitioner specialising in tax, estate, and strategic retirement services for Bermuda residents with cross-border and multi-national connections, dual citizens of the US and Bermuda, and US citizens living abroad.She is the American Citizens Abroad Country Contact for Bermuda www.aca.org and a Masters in Law candidate in International Tax and Finance. For more information, contact martha.myron@gmail.com or 296-3528 Patterson Partners Ltd.