This lack of financial literacy forces America's youth to learn about money only by trial and error. Unfortunately, this strategy often results in a lifetime of financial problems.

Educators and school administrators can make a difference by having effective financial literacy training in their curriculum. Parents must also realize that their teenager would greatly benefit from financial education delivered by an expert third-party. The bottom line: students need to learn more about money as they prepare for life on their own.

Effective financial education for students, teenagers and young adults

The basics of personal finance -- budgeting, saving and controlled spending -- are often taken for granted. Young people need to learn about these everyday activities related to money. Here are some key points that high school students absolutely must know:

     • How to create a budget

     • How to balance a checkbook

     • How start an emergency savings fund, and why it's needed

     • Responsible use of credit cards

     • How credit scores work and how to have good credit

     • Using debt the right way from a young age

     • Avoiding identity theft

     • The importance of investing in employer retirement plans when you start working

     • Insurance and tax basics

     • The psychology of money and how others affect you

With years of experience helping people of all ages learn about money, we have content specially-designed for teenagers and young adults. This content is now available to parents, educators and school administrators through fun, easy-to-use online programs.

Online College Course. This online college course lets high school students get a jump on college while they learn what they need to know about money. Learn more

Certification Program. We offer a certification program that gives high school students the opportunity to start their adult lives on solid financial ground. Learn more

If you're interested, but still need more supporting information, we encourage you to read our Why Financial Education? section. You'll learn about the critical need for financial education among America's youth, the problems most young people encounter, and why the appropriate place to deliver this training is during the education process.