You can put a price tag on the value of a personal finance education: $100,000 (2024)

You can put a price tag on the value of a personal finance education: $100,000 (1)

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Teaching the next gen financial literacy

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Taking a financial education class in high school does pay off.

In fact, there is a lifetime benefit of roughly $100,000 per student from completing a one-semester course in personal finance, according to a recent report by consulting firm Tyton Partners and Next Gen Personal Finance, a nonprofitfocused on providing financial education to middle and high school students.

Much of that financial value comes from learning how to avoid high-interest credit card debt and leveraging better credit scores to secure preferential borrowing rates for key expenses, such as insurance, auto loans and home mortgages, according to Tim Ranzetta, co-founder and CEO of Next Gen.

But then there is the ripple effect, he added.

"Students bring these lessons home," Ranzetta said. "When you take that $100,000 in savings and multiply it across families and communities, it's an incredible economic engine."

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"I get to show students the value of having a savings and checking account and then they are able to share that with their parents," said Kerri Herrild, who has been teaching personal finance at De Pere High School in Wisconsin for 18 years, referring to what's known as the "trickle up effect."

"Getting this basic knowledge — that's powerful," she said.

You can put a price tag on the value of a personal finance education: $100,000 (2)

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Making the grade in financial literacy: More states require students to take personal finance course

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Meanwhile, the trend toward in-school personal finance classes is gaining steam.

As of 2024, half of all states already require or are in the process of requiring high school students to take a personal finance course before graduating, according to the latest data fromNext Gen.

In addition, there are another 35 personal finance educationbills pending in 15 states, according to Next Gen'sbill tracker.

'The research is overwhelming'

Many studies show there is a strong connection between financial literacy and financial well-being.

"The research is overwhelming," Ranzetta said.

Students who are required to take personal finance courses starting from a young age aremore likely to tap lower-cost loans and grants when it comes to paying for collegeand less likely to rely on private loans or high-interest credit cards, according to a study by Christiana Stoddard and Carly Urban for the National Endowment for Financial Education.

Students are also even more likely to enroll in college when they areaware of thefinancial resources available to help them pay for it.

"Our results show that high school financial education graduation requirements can significantly impact key student financial behaviors," the authors said in the report.

Further, students with a financial literacy course under their belt havebetter average credit scores and lower debt delinquency ratesas young adults, according to data from the Financial Industry Regulatory Authority's Investor Education Foundation, which seeks to promote financial education.

In addition, a report by theBrookings Institutionfound that teenage financial literacy is positively correlated with asset accumulation andnet worthby age 25.

I tell them this is going to be the most important class they are going to take in their life.

Christopher Jackson

personal finance teacher at DaVinci Communications School

"I start off my class by telling them that my No. 1 goal is to affect their children's children," said Christopher Jackson, who teaches personal finance to 12th graders at DaVinci Communications High School in Southern California.

"I tell them this is going to be the most important class they are going to take in their life," Jackson added.

As part of Jackson's course, students open Roth individual retirement accounts with an initial grant of $100, which many then maintain on their own.

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Among adults, those with greater financial literacy find it easier to make ends meet in a typical month, are more likely to make loan payments in full and on time and less likely to be constrained by debt or be considered financially fragile.

They are also more likely to save and plan for retirement, according to data from theTIAA Institute-GFLEC Personal Finance Indexbased on research over several years.

"The need is real, the effect is real, and it motivates me as a teacher," Jackson said.

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You can put a price tag on the value of a personal finance education: $100,000 (2024)

FAQs

What is the value of financial education? ›

Financially literate people are generally less vulnerable to financial fraud. A strong foundation of financial literacy can help support various life goals, such as saving for education or retirement, using debt responsibly, and running a business.

Do 90% of millionaires make over $100000 a year True False? ›

Ninety-three percent of millionaires said they got their wealth because they worked hard, not because they had big salaries. Only 31% averaged $100,000 a year over the course of their career, and one-third never made six figures in any single working year of their career.

What is the value of personal finance? ›

Personal finance is essential for meeting your short-term and long-term financial goals. With household debt rising, inflation impacting household budgets, and the ebb and flow in global financial markets, managing personal finances is more important than ever.

Is a personal finance class worth it? ›

Students who are required to take personal finance courses starting from a young age are more likely to tap lower-cost loans and grants when it comes to paying for college and less likely to rely on private loans or high-interest credit cards, according to a study by Christiana Stoddard and Carly Urban for the National ...

What is the true value of education? ›

That we remember, as Einstein said, that the true value of education “is not the learning of many facts but the training of the mind to think.” So what if your kid has a fancy piece of paper on their wall or a great GPA? If they can't think, what's the point? If they have smarts but lack wisdom…

What is the value importance of education? ›

It helps people become better citizens, get a better-paid job, shows the difference between good and bad. Education shows us the importance of hard work and, at the same time, helps us grow and develop. Thus, we are able to shape a better society to live in by knowing and respecting rights, laws, and regulations.

Is $1000000 considered wealthy? ›

Additionally, statistics show that the top 2% of the United States population has a net worth of about $2.4 million. On the other hand, the top 5% wealthiest Americans have a net worth of just over $1 million. Therefore, about 2% of the population possesses enough wealth to meet the current definition of being rich.

Is $100000 considered rich? ›

The median salary for Americans is around $70,000 a year, according to the most recent census data from 2021. A salary of $100,000 a year, with the assumption that you are an individual without dependents, would classify an individual as upper-class — but many of these people don't feel rich.

Do most millionaires go broke? ›

Rich people often find themselves poor after making bad financial decisions. According to a blog by renowned penny stock investor Timothy Sykes, the average millionaire goes bankrupt at least 3.5 times. The reasons rich people go broke are not all that different than the reasons anyone goes broke.

What is the #1 rule of personal finance? ›

#1 Don't Spend More Than You Make

When your bank balance is looking healthy after payday, it's easy to overspend and not be as careful. However, there are several issues at play that result in people relying on borrowing money, racking up debt and living way beyond their means.

What are the 5 basics of personal finance? ›

There's plenty to learn about personal financial topics, but breaking them down can help simplify things. To start expanding your financial literacy, consider these five areas: budgeting, building and improving credit, saving, borrowing and repaying debt, and investing.

How to maximize personal finance? ›

39 Ways to Improve Your Personal Finances
  1. Get your overspending under control. ...
  2. Create a new budget. ...
  3. Find a budgeting app you like. ...
  4. Make a will. ...
  5. Protect your savings from inflation. ...
  6. Prepare for rising interest rates. ...
  7. Prepare now for your next major life event. ...
  8. Boost your retirement savings.

Can you teach yourself finance? ›

Finance can be easy to learn if you are willing to seek out informative content from books, podcasts, videos, blogs, and even professionals and then invest some time soaking up knowledge.

Are finance classes hard? ›

One thing that's for sure is the high amount of math you will need to study. Finance is a mathematical discipline, so if you aren't as comfortable with math as with other ways of thinking, you may find it more challenging. Additionally, finance also makes use of a vast, highly specific vocabulary.

Are personal financial advisors worth it? ›

A financial advisor is worth paying for if they provide help you need, whether because you don't have the time or financial acumen or you simply don't want to deal with your finances. An advisor may be especially valuable if you have complicated finances that would benefit from professional help.

How does finance education help? ›

Financial literacy is universally essential for all students, regardless of their background or future career path. It equips them with the knowledge and skills necessary to navigate the complexities of personal finance, make informed decisions, and achieve financial security.

What is the value of financial advice study? ›

Research has shown that investors with a financial advisor accumulate more savings over the long haul1 and that they realize higher returns.

What is value in financial literacy? ›

Value is the monetary, material, or assessed worth of an asset, good, or service. "Value" is attached to a myriad of concepts including shareholder value, the value of a firm, fair value, and market value. The process of calculating and assigning a value to a company or an asset is called valuation.

Why is education important for money? ›

The Economic Benefits Of Education

Higher education can lead to better job opportunities and higher income. On average, a person with a bachelor's degree will make $765,000 more in their lifetime than someone with no degree.

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