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Moneywise America Video

 


See Yanely's inspiring journey

Why every teen needs financial literacy.

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transcript

- I have eight brothers and sisters. My name is Yanely Espinal. I'm number six in line. I knew that we struggled financially but, in college it was different. Everybody around me was not like me anymore. Everybody around me had money. I didn't want anybody to find out that I wasn't at least middle-class. To play that part, I had to come up with the money somehow. I was using credit cards to do anything and everything. After college, I ended up with $20,000 of credit card debt. I realized if I didn't do something about this, I will continue to perpetuate the generational cycle of poverty in my family. But I didn't know anybody who could talk to me about it. So, I found this book called, "Women and Money". I'm getting this book. 401k, my Roth IRA, my HSA, my brokerage account, inflation and expense ratios. This is basic information. It's just crazy that I went through kindergarten, through the 12th grade, an Ivy league school, master's degree, became a teacher, and never learned any of the things in this book. You know, if I'm the quote unquote lucky one, I'm the one that got the college scholarship. If I'm struggling like this, what the heck is going on with all my friends who didn't make it? This is about how my finances got wrecked and how I fixed it. And if I could do that as a regular degular girl from Brooklyn, you can do it too. Everybody feels like it's their story. Everybody feels like, "Oh, I'm going through this." "I'm struggling through that." It's not I'm, it's we. By doing something, by becoming an advocate, we can open up that gateway to financial education. There are these negative cycles in our society. So we have to change that. The root of this conversation is money. Basic plain and simple, we're talkin' about money.

Welcome to Moneywise America™, financial literacy and money management for teens.

When it comes to learning vital money skills, the earlier, the better. But far too many young people reach adulthood without the financial literacy needed to succeed. We're here to help change that.

In communities from coast to coast, Schwab employees are inspiring and teaching teens to be moneywise. We're seeing firsthand how a lesson in budgeting, or saving for college, can propel students on to achieve their dreams.

Welcome to Moneywise America™

Graduation cap icon

"Less than 10% of students in low-income schools have guaranteed access to financial education."

-- Next Gen Personal Finance

Financial success training for the next generation

When students learn personal finance in high school, they're typically able to quickly use this new knowledge in the real world.* And for a teen on the verge of independence, that can mean getting on the path to financial security.  

Since 2003, Charles Schwab Foundation has helped over two million young people become moneywise. And now, Schwab employees are joining forces with nonprofits and schools to try to reach millions more—many in under-resourced communities with little access to financial education.

Teen thinking about goals and money

Led by trained Schwab employee volunteers.

Our employee volunteer corps is made up of skilled Schwab employees who are trained to connect with teens. Learning money lessons in context of the real world gives students clear and simple ways to save, budget, use credit wisely, and build a brighter future for themselves and their families.

Schwab volunteer teaching teens

 

 

Moneywise America

  • Explain

    Find out how financial literacy can help you create lifelong financial security.

  • Engage

    Get inspired and discover tangible ways to take action and take control.

  • Encourage

    Learn from experience and gain vital money skills to achieve your best life.

Customizable, standards-based curriculum.

Created in partnership with NexGen News expert educators, the Moneywise America curriculum meets core educational standards and is:

  • Modular—20+ engaging lessons that cover a wide range of key financial concepts to suit most any student's needs.
  • Flexible—Can be used to supplement existing financial literacy materials or fill in the gaps for organizations without their own curriculum.
  • Fun and engaging—Because engaged students are more likely to grasp and remember vital financial concepts. 

 

Moneywise America

Here are just a few of the many sessions available to teens:

  • Set Money Goals

    All about budgeting, saving and spending.

  • Build Credit & Debt

    How to build good habits and avoid pitfalls.

  • Plan for the future

    Intro to college, continuing education and career.

It's amazing what teens can do when someone has their back.

Everyone deserves a fair shot at financial freedom and security. More than managing money, it's about creating equal opportunity—giving every teen a chance at their best life, whether that's having a great career, building wealth for a secure future, or giving back to our communities.

Together, we can help teens achieve their hopes and dreams and level the economic playing field for generations to come.

Moneywise America logo

Moneywise America

Our flagship financial literacy program for teens. Created in partnership with expert educators. Led by trained Schwab employees. Dedicated to young people everywhere in need of quality financial education.

*Source: Financial Educators Council.

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