Finance
Financial literacy classes growing in high schools, with middle school the next target
Personal finance classes have become a requirement for high school graduation in dozens of states in the past few years, sparking hope for activists that financial literacy is finally receiving the support it deserves.
A tracker from Next Gen Personal Finance shows that in 2020, only eight states had a stand-alone personal finance course available for all high schoolers. This year, 25 states will offer a financial literacy class in K-12. Eight of those states have fully implemented the class, while 17 are still in progress.
“All of a sudden, it does seem like states are sitting up and taking notice, and it’s really just happened in the past couple of years,” said Jessica Pelletier, executive director of FitMoney.
Experts say these classes are about more than writing checks and, despite COVID-19 giving a boost to the cause, that they will continue to grow for high schoolers — and potentially middle school.
Pelletier speculated the pandemic produced some urgency for educators and parents on financial literacy as the economy plummeted and households struggled with finances.
“I think those two things combined really made parents and educators together become a very cohesive voice for financial literacy, and so legislators are taking notice [of] what they’re hearing from their constituents, that this is what they want,” she said.
Lindsay Torrico, executive director of the American Bankers Association (ABA) Foundation, said they have doubled the number of individuals they have reached through financial education resources and programs since 2019.
“Last year, we launched a new effort in a new commitment to engage more banks in financial education. We have a new commitment for banks to sign on to with a goal to reach 5 million people with financial education in the next three years,” Torrico said. “And the response has been overwhelmingly positive. In that effort, we have about 816 banks that have signed on in about a year, and collectively we’re reaching 1.23 million people through financial education services and resources.”
Financial literacy has been steadily growing in schools in the past two decades, according to Laura Levine, president and CEO of Jump$tart Coalition for Personal Financial Literacy, with the topic naturally getting a boost during periods of economic instability, such as during the 2008 recession and the 2020 pandemic.
She said the coalition has had a “National Standards for Personal Finance Education” guide since 1999. The most recent version hits on six topics: earning income, spending, saving, investing, managing credit and managing risk.
In school financial literacy lessons, Levine said, “We’re seeing if you look at the standard, it covers investing, insurance, savings, spending, budgeting, you know, it’s kind of a full spectrum.”
This includes K-12 schools in states with or without a requirement for finance education classes, with much of the movement coming from a voluntary interest in the topic.
While legislative efforts are welcomed, many schools are beginning to recognize that relying on financial education at home is not feasible for many students who need it.
“Some kids don’t have families, you know, foster kids […] or maybe your family is less advantaged and your parents don’t know that much about the financial system,” Levine said.
Not only are the financial education courses becoming more comprehensive, but activists are also aiming for them to start earlier.
The ABA Foundation has a program that directly targets kindergarten through eighth grade, where bankers go into elementary classrooms with PowerPoint presentations and lessons.
“This program is actively being used by close to 1,000 banks at this time, where different unique banks are using our materials to access kids those ages and try to push forward financial literacy, despite the fact that many states still do not have legislation supporting financial literacy in it. So the communities have taken it upon themselves to really step up and help out as much as they can with having bankers go into these classrooms and get these kids on the path to financial understanding,” said Kelsey Havemann, senior manager of the ABA Foundation’s youth financial education program.
The push for more financial literacy largely revolves around convincing adults to bring in the material, as experts say children are eager to dive in.
“This is one of the only classes I’ve really heard of that almost every single student wants to take. You know the old adage, ‘When am I ever going to need this?’ … Every student recognizes very quickly, when they’re learning about budgets and credit scores and insurance, they all say, ‘Oh, OK, I get it. I absolutely will need all of this information when I am an adult,’” Pelletier said. “And so, it’s a very easy sell, so to speak, when you’re talking to students.”
Copyright 2024 Nexstar Media Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.
Harley-Davidson’s new CEO wants to transform how people think about the iconic motorcycle brand, so the company is trying something different.
This week, Harley announced a new strategy that focuses on lower-priced bikes, rather than relying on older, more affluent customers to buy its higher-margin touring models.
“Back to the Bricks builds on our core strengths and competitive advantages, harnessing the passion of our riders to deliver profitable growth for the Company and both our dealers and shareholders,” Harley CEO Artie Starrs said this week. “As we drive towards this new phase of growth, we remain committed to the craftsmanship and dedication that define our brand.”
Entry-level Harley-Davidsons cost about $13,000, while the higher-end Adventure Touring models average about $23,250, and the Premium Range &CVO models cost about $38,500, according to Reuters.
Harley’s new strategy targets a core profit of over $350 million from its motorcycle business by 2027 and over $150 million in cost reductions.
To kick off the new strategy, Harley is introducing Sprint, a new entry-level model powered by a smaller 440cc engine, later in the year.
What is Harley-Davidson’s “Back to the Bricks” strategy?
Harley’s new strategy relies on more than just pushing buyers toward cheaper vehicles to increase volume. The 123-year-old company has a set of five pillars on which it is building its future.
Harley-Davidson “Back to the Bricks” 5-point plan
-
Deep appreciation of Harley-Davidson’s competitive advantages and legacy: The Company’s iconic brand, diversified and powerful revenue channels, and best-in-class dealer network provide a powerful foundation for growth.
-
Renewed commitment to exclusive dealer network to drive enterprise profitability: Harley-Davidson’s dealers are a competitive advantage. The Company is planning actions to enable dealers to double profitability in 2026 and then double it again by 2029.
-
Immediate actions to recapture share in areas where Harley-Davidson has right to win: Harley-Davidson has strong legacy equity in existing markets including new motorcycles, used motorcycles, Parts & Accessories, and Apparel & Licensing. The Company’s new strategy is focused on positioning the Company to regain share and drive meaningful volume growth in categories where it benefits from credibility, scale, and deep rider connection.
-
Strong financial position with a path to stronger free cash flow and EBITDA margin: Cost and restructuring actions already underway support a path to stronger free cash flow and EBITDA margin over time.
-
Bolstered management team with balance of fresh perspectives and institutional knowledge: Harley-Davidson has made a number of leadership appointments that support the Company as it leverages its innate strengths.
Written by Jitendra Parashar at The Motley Fool Canada
Dividend investing can be one of the simplest ways to build long-term wealth while creating a steady stream of passive income. But in my opinion, a good dividend stock is about much more than just a high yield. Beyond dividend yield, investors should also look for companies with durable businesses, reliable cash flows, and a history of rewarding shareholders consistently over time.
That’s exactly why many investors turn to financial stocks. Banks and asset managers often generate recurring earnings through lending, investing, and wealth management activities, allowing them to support stable dividend payments even during uncertain market conditions.
Two Canadian financial stocks that stand out right now are AGF Management (TSX:AGF.B) and Toronto-Dominion Bank (TSX:TD). Both companies offer attractive dividends backed by solid financial performance and long-term growth strategies. In this article, I’ll explain why these two financial stocks could be worth considering for income-focused investors right now.
AGF Management stock continues to reward shareholders
AGF Management is a Toronto-based asset manager with businesses across investments, private markets, and wealth management. Through these divisions, the company offers equity, fixed income, alternative, and multi-asset investment strategies to retail, institutional, and private wealth clients.
Following a 59% rally over the last 12 months, AGF stock currently trades at $16.67 per share with a market cap of roughly $1.1 billion. At current levels, the stock offers a quarterly dividend yield of 3.3%.
One reason behind AGF’s strong recent performance is its increasingly diversified business model. The company has expanded its investment capabilities and broadened its geographic reach, helping it perform well across varying market environments.
In the first quarter of its fiscal 2026 (ended in February), AGF posted free cash flow of $36 million, up 14% year over year (YoY), driven mainly by higher management, advisory, and administration fees. These fees climbed to $92.5 million as demand for the company’s investment offerings strengthened.
AGF has also been focusing on expanding its alternative investment business and introducing new investment products. With strong cash generation and growing demand for alternative investments, AGF Management looks well-positioned to continue rewarding investors over the long term.
TD Bank stock remains a dependable dividend giant
Toronto-Dominion Bank, or TD Bank, is one of North America’s largest banks, serving millions of customers through its Canadian banking, U.S. retail banking, wealth management and insurance, and wholesale banking operations.
-
Utah2 minutes agoDiscover the deliciousness of New York-style pizza at Fini Pizza in Utah City
-
Vermont8 minutes agoVermont teen dies in crash with tree
-
Virginia14 minutes agoPHOTOS: Virginia Beach Police investigate firearm-related incident at Carriage House Apartments
-
Washington20 minutes ago18-year-old dies after shooting in Tenleytown
-
Wisconsin26 minutes agoWisconsin multi-county police chase, 2 people from Illinois arrested
-
West Virginia32 minutes agowvnews.com | WVNews | Trusted West Virginia News, Sports & Local Coverage
-
Wyoming38 minutes ago(LETTERS) Sun Bucks and Wyoming GOP endorsement
-
Crypto44 minutes agoLagarde Blocks Euro Stablecoin Push, Calls $300B Market a Stability Risk for ECB Policy