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Sammy Save! by John Burns Vistas,
Loyola Marymount University Alumni Magazine,
Winter 2002
You
run into a lot of exclamation points when you chat with Sam Renick
(BusAdm ’80). Not only does the name of his company, It’s
a Habit! have one, so does the name of the first book it published
(It’s a Habit, Sammy Rabbit!), and so does just about every
statement he makes about his current passion, teaching kids to save
their money.
“When I was running my successful financial planning business,
I kept hearing my clients say the same three things:
“I wish I started saving when I was younger!”
“I wish someone had talked to me about saving when I was younger!”
“I’m glad I started saving when I was younger!”
“Most people, sadly, spend more than they bring in,” he
says.
“It’s a shame, really. We’re the wealthiest nation,
but we’re one of the worst countries when it comes to saving.
Our generation may become the greatest mismanagers of wealth and prosperity
in history!”
Renick, who doesn’t have children, wants to start the habit
of saving money early in people’s lives. His first book, published
in October, is aimed at second graders.
“Time magazine had a cover story last year. It asked: ‘Do
kids have to much power?’ It reported that children from three
to 18 years old spent $300 billion in 2000. Who’s giving them
that much money? It’s crazy.”
He feels he’s on a mission. “This has become a spiritual
journey for me,” he says. “How can I give back? How can
I help? I don’t have to have kids to want to help them.”
He’s selling his books online, and he’s finding corporate
sponsors to pay for the books he gives away at his classroom visits.
With the financial assistance of Southern California Community Ventures,
a socially conscious venture capital funding source, he has been looking
for retail partners and developing more books. Twenty more are in
development; the next in the series to be released later this year
are Will Sammy Ride the World’s First Space Coaster?, Sammy
and the Skateboarding Dragon, Sammy the Save Vs. the Savage Spender
for the Neighborhood Wrestling Championship, Sammy and the Greedy
Ghost, and Sammy’s Search for the Golden Cave.
“The first one wasn’t that adventurous,” he says
of the colorful titles. “The next ones will be!”
The books are aimed at the wee crowd, but he has also developed live
presentations for students of different ages as well as adults. More
information on them is available at his Website: www.itsahabit.com.
In producing his books, he’s also been trying to build upon
LMU connections. Renick works with Alonso Silva Jr. (BusAdm ’82)
in both his financial planning business and It’s a Habit! Renick
also lists 22 LMU alums or staffers who have advised and otherwise
helped him in the development of It’s a Habit!
“Building the LMU network is important,” he says. “We
can be as strong as any other school!”
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