"I was excited to come to each class! It was really helpful and I learned a lot of things that will help me when I'm on my own."
Parker Webster
Recent College Grad
"This class was pretty great! I learned more than I thought I would, really useful and relevant things. ... Life is coming, and now I feel like it will be alright."
Sam Hull
Recent College Grad
Looking for a fun, interactive financial education class for your teen or young adult – or for yourself?
If only they taught this in high school or college – but sadly, they don’t!
Gain must-have information and learn steps to take NOW to set yourself up for a financially saavy future.
Boring? No way!!!
Have fun while you learn skills that will put you ahead for life!
If the class you want is full, send an email to debra@moneysmartforlife.com. State the name of the class you want to take and you’ll receive notification when the next round of that class opens up.
The Basics
Five hours, live online
We’ll do something most financial educators don’t do: look closely at values and align them with your financial life.
In this class, you’ll also:
Learn the three basic money principles that will enable you to achieve your goals
Understand the “why” of budgeting and the four basic elements of any effective budget
Learn the basics of how banks work and the different kinds of accounts they offer, and match your goals with each type of account
Gain a framework for determining when, if ever, it’s a good idea to go into debt
Understand the pro’s and con’s of credit cards
Know what “good credit” means, why it’s important, and how to achieve and maintain a good score
Develop skills for talking with a partner about money, determining your money boundaries, and recognizing financial red flags
Learn what you need to know on your first “real” job, including the why’s and how’s of salary negotiation, how to compare job offers, developing a strategy for career progression, and the specifics of W-4’s, W-2’s, and pay stubs
Understand taxes! We will demystify the different kinds of taxes, how tax rates and brackets works, and what it means to “do your taxes.” You’ll know what taxes come out of your paycheck and ways to reduce your tax burden (and save for retirement at the same time).
Gain practices for reducing the likelihood that you’ll be the victim of fraud. You’ll understand the different fraud protections available for credit cards and debit cards; know how to recognize and prevent identity theft, and learn what to do in case it does happen. You’ll also recognize common methods scammers use and know how to avoid them.
Learn about the awesome power of compounding returns and the benefits of long-term investing
Know the pro’s and con’s of different kinds of investments, including index funds, managed mutual funds, and individual stock-picking; know what stocks and bonds are and how they work
Understand the benefits of diversification; know what asset allocation is and why/when it’s important
Become familiar with the impact of fees on investments
Understand risk and begin to think about your level of risk tolerance
Know what to ask of a potential financial advisor
Understand the relationship between giving and happiness
Explore the problems you want to help solve and the causes you want to support
Know how to research charities to see if they are legitimate, effective, and use donations wisely
Create a “Giving Blueprint” to inform your giving choices going forward
Let’s talk about the specific needs of your group and how a custom class, in person or online, can meet those needs.
All classes taught by Debra Jacobs, financial coach and educator with an Ed.M. from the Harvard Graduate School of Education and decades of experience teaching, coaching, and working with learners of all ages.