Financial Education Strategies That Work

Great idea, But… What’s the ROI on this investment? How will this idea help us grow our top line? What’s the margin that we will earn on this service? Raise your hand (virtually) if these questions sound familiar. I can already count 4 distinct instances just this past week where I faced such questions. Now, I will be the first to admit that I have no formal education in Finance and struggled for years early on in my career in making sense of it all. Acronyms such as ROI, ROC, GM, NPV were all foreign to me and I struggled to decipher financial jargon. But here's the good news: Financial literacy, just like any other skill, can be learned and it’s never too late to get started and improve. Regardless of your role, function, or position in an organization, understanding the language of finance is crucial. It deepens your understanding of the business and amplifies your influence - boosting your career growth. To help you accelerate this journey, I reached out to my friend Kurtis Hanni, a fractional CFO and writer of the Frameworks & Finance Newsletter - for some advice. Here are Kurtis's top 3 tips to strengthen financial acumen: 1. Ask questions of financial experts you know. The biggest issue with a lack of financial knowledge is the fear associated with not knowing. ↳I promise you: Accountants don’t understand marketing and sales. When you understand the numbers related to your part of the business, you gain a competitive advantage not only in your department but in the business as a whole. Who do you think a CEO is going to pick for a new initiative? The one who talked about the financial impact of their proposal or the one who didn’t? Ask: What financial metrics are you looking at in my department? What does success look like financially? 2. Read the Annual Report’s of your favorite companies. Boring, I know. But the best way to improve is to get more reps. ↳It’s hard to get enough in the real world, so search “Company Name 10k Report” and get to reading. Read the company background and risks sections, then look at the financials and financial notes. Do this a few times and you’ll start to understand how these businesses think about their money. Start with the businesses you know like Apple, Google, Amazon, and Nike. 3. Consume the basics. If you want to go the extra mile, find experts to learn from. ↳Take a class, subscribe to a newsletter, listen to a podcast, and consume financial news. There are an abundance of resources out there, so find one you enjoy and make it a regular part of your consumption habit. Some good ones are: Morning Brew, Acquired Podcast, and Khan Academy “Accounting and Financial Statements” course. Don’t be intimidated by the numbers, and begin developing your financial acumen today - your future career will be grateful. Do give Kurtis a follow and join over 30K+ professionals who receive his weekly newsletter Frameworks & Finance (link in the comment box).

Understanding Financial Literacy: The Key to Financial Wellness In today’s complex financial landscape, being well-informed is more than just a good idea—it's essential for achieving financial wellness. Last year, I had the pleasure of gifting the insightful book “Get Good with Money” by Tiffany "The Budgetnista" Aliche. This fantastic resource not only lays the foundation for mastering personal finance but also empowers individuals to take control of their financial futures. I am thrilled to share that Tiffany has taken her passion for financial education to the next level with her new PBS show, also titled “Get Good with Money.” This show brings her tried-and-true strategies to a wider audience, making financial literacy accessible and engaging. Inspired by Tiffany’s work and my love for food, I’ve started hosting monthly family meetings that combine delicious meals with discussions about financial wellness. These gatherings have become a platform for sharing knowledge, encouraging open conversations about money, and ensuring that each family member feels empowered to take charge of their financial journey. Here are some tools and habits that you might consider to stay educated about finances: 1. Reading Financial Literature: Books like “Get Good with Money” are invaluable, but there are numerous other titles out there that cater to different aspects of finance—budgeting, investing, saving for retirement, and more. 2. Podcasts and Online Courses: Platforms like Khan Academy, Coursera, and various finance-focused podcasts can provide valuable insights into personal finance topics at your own pace. 3. Regular Financial Check-ins: Much like my family meetings, schedule regular discussions about finances with a trusted friend or family member. Sharing experiences and tips can help keep everyone accountable. 4. Utilizing Budgeting Apps: Tools like Credit Karma (formerly Mint), YNAB (You Need A Budget), and Personal Capital are excellent for tracking spending, budgeting, and managing investments. 5. Following Financial Influencers: Social media is a treasure trove of financial advice. Follow reputable accounts that resonate with your financial goals. 6. Staying Updated on Economic News: Regularly read financial news articles or subscribe to newsletters that provide updates about the economic climate and trends. 7. Workshops and Community Programs: Local communities often host workshops or seminars on financial literacy. These are great avenues for in-person learning and networking. Being informed about finances equips you to make better decisions, prepares you for unexpected challenges, and empowers you to build a secure financial future. What tools or habits are you using to stay educated on finances? I’d love to hear your thoughts and learn from your experiences! Let’s continue this journey toward financial wellness together. 🏦💡💰

Want to truly understand money? Try teaching it. Nobel laureate Daniel Kahneman once called overconfidence “the most significant of the cognitive biases.” Nowhere is that more apparent than in our assumptions about financial literacy—we think we know more than we do. But there’s a simple antidote: teaching. Richard Feynman famously deepened his expertise by explaining tough topics to others. The act of simplifying reveals what you know, and more importantly, what you don’t. The same holds true for money. Next time you're explaining a Roth conversion or a Required Minimum Distribution, pay attention to where you stumble. That friction is feedback. Teaching forces clarity, specificity, and humility—and makes you better in the process. If you want to master a financial concept, don’t just study it. Share it. Say it out loud. Break it down for a friend or a client. You’ll sharpen your thinking, deepen your understanding, and spread financial literacy while you’re at it. What’s a financial concept you didn’t truly understand until you tried to teach it?

No caption can really do this justice, but I’ll try. Two weeks ago, I had the chance to speak to an incredible group at an all-girls performing arts high school, and I’m still thinking about what was unlocked in that room. The day began with a play called 4$ale, written by their drama teacher, which unpacked the quiet ways money defines how we see ourselves and what we expect from life. It was layered, vulnerable, and more honest than most adult conversations I’ve heard on the same topic. After the play, we broke into small group sessions. In mine, we played Financial Feud, where the girls could win real cash by answering questions. The goal was to let them feel what it’s like to make decisions with stakes. To trust their instincts. To get paid to learn. Because that’s what financial literacy really demands now. It’s not just memorizing terms or calculating interest. It’s about recognizing tradeoffs, reading the room, and regulating your nervous system when you're one decision away from regret. It’s a full-body skill set that requires pattern recognition, emotional control, timing, and self-trust. So why do we keep pretending vocabulary is enough? We’d never call a student “reading literate” just because they can sound out a few words. We teach comprehension, context, tone, subtext because it’s not enough to know the words if you miss what they mean. Financial literacy should be held to that same standard and taught with the same depth. When we only teach what money is, we lose the chance to teach what money does and Gen Z deserves to know both. #keynotespeaker #financialliteracy #GenZ #publicspeaking #personalfinance #FinancialLiteracyMonth2025