April is Financial Literacy Month and at its core, financial literacy isn’t just about numbers. It’s about building a strong foundation — one that creates clarity, confidence, and long-term opportunity.
My parents were successful business owners and achieved sending my sister and me to college, building their assets and now, living a comfortable retirement. Growing up, my parents taught me about basic concepts of saving and not overspending more than I made. While this was a good starting point, we did not learn about investing, opportunity cost and deeper financial planning strategies that would have been valuable to have as a young adult.
Working with clients in their financial journey has shown time and time again why financial education and planning is essential to learn early on in our lives. That’s why it’s been part of our mission to integrate education into our approach to help clients feel more confident in their money decisions.
Why Financial Literacy Matters, Especially for the Next Generation
Financial education gives young people the tools to build independence and confidence with money.
It helps them:
- Understand how debt works and avoid cycles that are hard to break
- Build healthy money habits early on
- Learn how investing works and how wealth is created over time
- See how money can be used not just for personal success, but for impact in their communities
Schools didn’t teach us how to be an adult when we graduated. For many women of color who are first generation wealth builders, it’s often the case that we didn’t learn about or talk about money at home either. This is not to say that it’s the fault of our parents; many of them were also in the same cycle of not having financial education themselves to pass down to us.
We learned through experience, trial and error, and sometimes costly mistakes, which is why what’s happening now matters so much.
A Step Forward Here in California
California is moving forward with a financial literacy requirement for high school students, beginning with the graduating class of 2030–2031.
This is a meaningful shift.
It creates access to financial knowledge earlier in life, especially for young women and students from diverse communities who have historically been left out of these conversations.
When we give students the language and tools to understand money, we’re not just teaching them how to budget or save.
We’re helping them build confidence.
We’re helping them make informed decisions.
We’re helping them step into financial autonomy earlier.
It’s a movement that has ripple effects for generations.
If you want to learn more about what’s being implemented, you can explore resources through the California Department of Education here: Personal Finance - Curriculum Frameworks & Instructional Materials (CA Dept of Education).
The Missing Piece: How We Think About Money
Financial literacy isn’t just about what we know.
It’s about how we think and feel about money.
This is where behavioral finance comes in.
Many of our financial habits are shaped long before we fully understand money:
- “Money is hard to keep.”
- “I’m not good with money.”
- “I’ll figure it out later.”
These beliefs quietly drive decisions.
Part of building a strong foundation, both for ourselves and for our children, is learning how to reframe the conversation.
Instead of:
- “I can’t afford that” → “How can I plan for that?”
- “Money is stressful” → “Money is a tool I can learn to manage.”
- “I’m behind” → “I’m building from where I am.”
These shifts in the way we talk about money alone creates more ownership, confidence, and intentional decision-making over time.
What Parents Can Do at Home (Simple, Practical Ways to Start)
Financial literacy doesn’t have to be complicated or formal to be effective. Some of the most impactful lessons happen through everyday moments.
Here are a few simple ways to start:
- Create “Money Buckets”
Help kids visually understand how money is used by dividing it into categories:
- Spend
- Save
- Give
- Invest
This builds early awareness around balance and intention—not just spending everything at once.
- Set Small, Tangible Goals
If your child wants something — a toy, a game, an experience — help them set a savings goal.
Track progress together. Celebrate when they reach it.
This teaches patience, planning, and the connection between effort and reward.
- Have Weekly “Money Dates”
Keep it simple. 10–15 minutes once a week.
Talk about:
- What they earned or received
- What they spent
- What they’re working toward
It normalizes conversations about money and removes the sense of secrecy or stress around it.
- Let Them Practice Decision-Making
Give them small amounts of money and allow them to make choices — even imperfect ones.
Learning through experience builds confidence faster than just being told what to do.
- Model Healthy Money Habits
Children are always watching.
Let them see you:
- Budgeting
- Making intentional spending decisions
- Talking about financial goals
- Giving back to others
What you model will often shape more than what you say.
Why This Matters for All of Us
Our money experiences shape how we think, feel, and act when it comes to our finances.
This kind of education is the starting point for shifting those experiences so the next generation can build wealth with more clarity, intention, and confidence than many of us had access to.
While I wish this had been part of our education growing up, I see this as a powerful step in the right direction.
Because when we build financially confident individuals, we’re not just changing personal outcomes — we’re strengthening families, communities, and future generations.
Final Thought
Financial literacy is not just a skill.
It’s a foundation for choice, opportunity, and long-term impact.
Whether you’re just starting your journey or refining what you’ve already built, it’s never too late to strengthen that foundation.
As always, you don’t have to do it alone. We’re here to support you every step of the way.