We appreciate your interest in learning how to teach financial literacy and helping people across the country pickup important money management skills that can help them avoid the stress that comes with financial uncertainty. 

Read the article below - ‘How to Effectively Teach Financial Literacy’, and learn more about our certification programs designed for those who are passionate about sharing personal finance lessons and promoting financial literacy.

The NFEC offers three programs that train individuals and organizations on how to teach personal finance and one for those that want to promote financial literacy: 

Included below is information on how you can teach financial literacy effectively. Feel free to contact us if we can be of service, and we commend you on your efforts to share this information with your students, family and community.

The majority of people understand that teach financial literacy to our youth is of the utmost importance.   In surveys conducted by the National Financial Educators Council, the majority of adults responded with the statement - ‘I wish I was taught about money when I was younger’. At this moment, we have the opportunity to ensure that today’s youth receive the training that most of us desired.

Basic ‘money skills’ are something that will benefit future generations every single day of their life. Teaching financial literacy can have a lasting impact on the lives of those you reach and will help graduates have a head start on their independence.  

Those of you that desire to teach financial literacy, you will find it rewarding and you are providing a great service to the community.  Just saving someone from a few late payments, getting them in the habit of saving their money or keeping them out of debt will have long term positive benefits.   The recent media headlines are all featuring financial mistakes that are causing large amounts of suffering, stress and long-term negative consequences.  By you providing financial education training to our youth, you are helping them avoid that situation.

This article will provide tips on how to teach financial literacy.  It will cover how to deliver those practical money lessons most effectively so you have the biggest impact possible.   The good news is that this generation wants to learn about money; thereby making it easier to teach the subject.  What’s more, the subject of money is something that students know they need to know.  Studies show that students wish school was more practical, and they recognize the importance when you’re teaching money lessons.

Focus on family, lifestyle and goals - As we tour the country, we get a good feel for what today’s teens and young adults are motivated by.  At the top of the list is helping their family so leverage this in your instruction.  When teaching financial literacy, there are emotional trigger points that educators can leverage to ensure the students pay attention and retain what they have learned.  Family, friends and working for the greater good are all topics we can use in class.

Lifestyle and personal goals also help us as educators to teach financial literacy effectively.  Find out how they want to live and help them create a financial plan, so they can live their desired life.  Once students relate the subject of money to doing what they love you have an audience that is engaged and wanting to learn more.  

Unique and New - Teach financial literacy in a way that differentiates the coursework from the other thousands of classes that they have sat through.   Most schools do not have enough time to teach outside the core curriculum, so financial education is often squeezed into a few hour windows (if at all).   Because of the limited amount of time we have to teach the subject of money it is important you leverage each second.  Teaching financial literacy in unique and fun way will help you maximize the time and the results. 

Interactive and Engaging - Choose coursework and lesson plans that offer active learning.  Activities, games and interaction are a must when teaching financial literacy.  Fortunately with the subject of money, this type teaching style makes it easy and fun for the teacher and students. 

Field trips and guest speakers can also increase the interaction with students.   Take the students to a local credit union and teach financial literacy lessons like: account structure, savings, checking, account management, how banks operate, how to qualify for a loan, payback terms on car loans, investments and many other lessons.  Banks and credit unions are typically happy to accommodate students and share their insight. 

Real - Forget the instructors guide and share with the students what you wish you knew.  If you are brave enough, share some mistakes and challenges you made along the way.  Practical money lessons can be instilled more effectively when the students understand your reasons you feel this subject is important. 

When students sense some vulnerability it may work in your favor if they are well behaved and you have a good relationship with them.  If they aren’t well behaved and it’s a battle every day, sharing personal stories about your finances could swing the pendulum to the positive or negative.  So use your best judgment and remember if they just pick up a few financial lessons that could be a great start.

Why - Fortunately there is a strong ‘why’ when it comes to financial literacy.  It’s hard to explain to a student when they may need to memorize the stages of cell reproduction when that student wants to be a policeman, lawyer or a business owner.  But, with the subject of money, there is a strong reason why everyone needs to know about this topic.  

Give this a try:  At the start of your next class, ask them why they need to know about money.  The overwhelming number of students will have a strong reason that are rooted in their past experience and stretch to include their future dreams.  Then try that with other subjects and note the difference in the answers. 

Events – Teaching financial literacy can be made into campus wide events that get the students talking and the buzz around school building.  These events can range from guest speakers to full production shows. 

Financial education events can also act as a fundraiser – so no budget excuses for not teaching this subject.  Find a few key sponsors and you can have a quality program that earns your school money.   Banks, insurance companies and other organizations like to connect with high school students, especially financially educated soon to be graduates.  Chose your sponsors carefully and ensure they have quality products with excellent pricing.  Banks and credit unions should offer no fee checking and savings.  Insurance companies should be reputable and have good rates.  And the other sponsors should all be positive in nature and want to contribute to the development of the students.

Keep your eye on the prize – Remember the goal of teaching financial literacy is not for a grade, it’s for their life.  Students that pick up the lessons you share will have an advantage as they enter into the next phase of their life.  Most college graduates now move back home with their parents and miss out on the independence life away from the safety of your parents offers. 

Teaching financial literacy is so important to your student’s future.  Encourage your school, the student’s parents and the students themselves to start to pick up and share every day money lessons.