It's About Time: Personal Finance in Schools

This past March, 2022, Florida became the latest (and largest) state in the United States to begin mandating personal finance education for high school students. And I echo the sentiments of the many who rejoice and say, “It’s about time!”

Consider the number of times we have asked the question, “Why didn’t they teach us this in school?” From the everyday practical things to the complex mind-bending things, school has, as a whole, left us wholly unprepared for the world of adulthood. And the topic most undeveloped (up to this point) has been financial literacy.

Imagine the changed lives and livelihoods had schools simply taught students the power of compound interest. Imagine the shaped futures had schools educated students on the benefits of a Roth IRA and saving for retirement. Think of the positive change had classrooms given students the tools they needed to understand the stock market and investing.

Now is the time to lead this charge. Now is the time to demand a personal finance class in your local school. Now is the time to encourage your young adult to read a book on the topic of finance. The earlier they start, the more powerful the wealth building potential. After all, time is the greatest factor when it comes to the world of finance.

This past October marked the passage of Ohio’s bill to mandate personal finance education and the timing seemed serendipitously connected to the publication of my book (The Seed Tree: Money Management and Wealth Building Lessons for Teens) whose sole purpose is to educate young adults in financial literacy and goal setting. If you have yet to read it, I encourage you to pick up a copy (paperback, e-book, audiobook)—it’s a quick read but packed with vital information to get students on the right track toward their financial future.

In the meantime, check out these other great reads on the subject by visiting our recommendations.

Thanks for reading and make it an awesome day,

Stephen