Letter from Vince Shorb – Educator Advocate

Teachers are the single most important influence on student success. The qualifications of financial educators have direct impact both on short-term student outcomes and on their long-term financial well-being.

Distinguished financial education instructors are not merely dispensers of knowledge; they are learning facilitators who can mold and modify participants’ behavior to guide them toward financial wellness. They understand that the subject of personal finance is unique in that it elicits emotional reactions from participants. These instructors have come to realize that a “one-size-fits-all” pedagogy does not work for delivering high-quality financial education.

The Framework for Teaching Personal Finance was developed to establish key benchmarks to help financial literacy educators become more effective, set clear performance measures, and provide guidance for professional development. We hope this Framework will help educators increase their instructional impact as they move participants toward financial wellness.

Over the past several years the NFEC conducted surveys, research, and think tanks and formed collaborative relationships to develop this Framework. Because we value your thoughts, we also employ a crowdsourcing model where interested people can submit ideas for consideration in future iterations of the Framework.

I would like to personally thank everyone who contributed to the Framework and commend all those who have become involved in the financial education movement. Together we can educate the world’s citizens to make qualified financial decisions that improve their lives, the lives of their loved ones, and the lives of people they impact around the globe.

Vince Shorb, CEO
National Financial Educators Council