Skip to content

Course Description

Course Title: Personal Finance: A practical introduction to all areas of finance for modern life

Audience

This course is intended for young adults (high school or college freshman) and is intended to cover all things financial for modern life along with links to resources for deeper dive as desired.

Course Content

1. Foundational Financial Concepts

  • Money management principles
  • Financial goal setting
  • Economic literacy fundamentals
  • Financial decision-making frameworks
  • Opportunity cost
  • Time value of money

2. Banking & Cash Management

  • Types of financial institutions
  • Checking and savings accounts
  • Online and mobile banking
  • Account fees and features
  • ATM usage and debit cards
  • Balancing accounts
  • Electronic payment systems

3. Budgeting & Financial Planning

  • Creating personal budgets
  • Income tracking
  • Expense categorization
  • Needs vs. wants analysis
  • Emergency funds
  • Saving strategies
  • Financial record keeping

4. Credit & Debt Management

  • Credit scores and reports
  • Building and maintaining good credit
  • Credit cards and responsible usage
  • Types of consumer debt
  • Interest rates and calculations
  • Debt repayment strategies
  • Avoiding predatory lending

5. Saving & Investing

  • Savings account options
  • Investment fundamentals
  • Risk and return concepts
  • Stock market basics
  • Bonds and fixed income
  • Mutual funds and ETFs
  • Compound interest
  • Dollar-cost averaging

6. Income & Taxes

  • Understanding paychecks and withholding
  • Filing tax returns
  • W-4 and W-2 forms
  • Standard deductions vs. itemizing
  • Tax credits vs. deductions
  • State and local taxes
  • Tax planning basics

7. Insurance & Risk Management

  • Insurance principles and terminology
  • Health insurance basics
  • Auto insurance requirements
  • Renter's and homeowner's insurance
  • Policy features (deductibles, premiums, etc.)
  • Filing claims
  • Liability protection

8. Major Purchases & Loans

  • Auto loans and financing
  • Housing costs (renting vs. buying)
  • Mortgage basics
  • Student loan options and repayment
  • Comparison shopping
  • Negotiation skills
  • Understanding contracts

9. Consumer Protection & Financial Security

  • Identity theft prevention
  • Online security practices
  • Common financial scams
  • Consumer rights
  • Dispute resolution
  • Reading financial agreements
  • Privacy protection

10. College & Education Planning

  • College cost estimation
  • Scholarship and grant opportunities
  • FAFSA and financial aid
  • Student loan types
  • College ROI calculations
  • Alternative education pathways
  • Work-study and part-time employment

11. Career Planning & Income

  • Career exploration
  • Income potential research
  • Employee benefits overview
  • Entrepreneurship basics
  • Side hustle opportunities
  • Salary negotiation
  • Resume and interview skills

12. Retirement & Long-term Planning

  • Retirement account types (401(k), IRA)
  • Employer-sponsored plans
  • Social Security basics
  • Power of early investing
  • Long-term investment strategies
  • Estate planning introduction
  • Financial independence concepts

This curriculum covers the essential topics that help prepare high school students for financial independence and responsibility as they transition to adulthood.