Most free personal finance programs don’t simply teach people about money—they have an underlying agenda. Many of these programs are produced by credit card companies and banks that want to sell you on their company. College graduates across the country now face an average credit card debt exceeding $20,000. Why should we expose our youth to self-serving credit card company messaging?

The National Financial Educators Council takes a different approach. The NFEC is an independent, social enterprise organization focused primarily on educating our youth — not selling those products and services they don’t need. The NFEC has a vested interest in improving participants’ financial capability, to help them achieve a state of financial wellness and ensure that they avoid financial problems.

Whether you’re an adult, teen, or child, the NEFC’s Financial EduNation campaign offers free personal finance education to help you improve your personal financial capability and/or the financial capability of the people you serve. These financial literacy programs teach several pieces of information critical to building a solid financial foundation. Several choices of complimentary material are available depending on the information you seek; the specific program will vary for each individual.

For kids, parents should choose the engaging, fun children’s activities which have been designed to be age-appropriate. The less a child knows about personal finance, the easier the lessons should be to make learning a positive experience. Older children, especially teens who are preparing to move out in the next few years, need to receive a professional youth financial literacy program to protect them with the knowledge they need to be successful living on their own.

For adults, choosing the information you require involves first reflecting on your financial issues, uncertainties, or plans for the future. Personal financial planning is critical for adults. Whether your main interest is debt reduction, retirement planning, credit building, investing, or how to build for the future, there are many financial literacy program options to consider. Reviewing each program and what it offers toward your goals will help you determine which components to choose.

Using a combination of programs delivered via a variety of teaching methods also helps improve program retention rates. No matter what level of education you have, everyone needs extra help to further develop money management skills. Finding the right help will give you a head start.

Choosing the best-known, most informational options will help anyone, no matter his or her age. Considering all the available options is the only way to find the ones that work best for you. Reviewing the various options we offer will help you choose the ones most beneficial to your individual needs.

There are many free personal finance programs available to which one might turn. Whether you are 10 or 50 years old, it is never too early or late to start planning and learning. Take the time to find the options that will work best for you. That way you’ll be sure to understand the information and enjoy its presentation.