Personal finance is quickly becoming a required class in schools across the country—but many teachers feel unprepared to teach it. In this episode of The Teacher Money Show, I sit down with Jake Cousineau, high school educator and author of How to Adult: Personal Finance for the Real World, to talk about what it really takes to teach personal finance effectively to high school students.

Jake shares his journey from making every possible money mistake to launching successful personal finance programs at two different schools. He explains why students today are more interested than ever in money topics, how fear and uncertainty can actually drive engagement, and why traditional approaches like “balancing a checkbook” miss the point entirely.

This conversation dives deep into behavior, mindset, and relatability, showing how personal finance can become one of the most engaging and impactful classes a student ever takes.

In this episode, you’ll learn:

• Why high school students are increasingly interested in personal finance
• How Jake built a personal finance curriculum without a finance background
• The role emotions, fear, and personal stories play in teaching money
• Why most personal finance classes fail—and how to fix them
• How How to Adult: Personal Finance for the Real World was designed specifically for young adults
• Practical advice for teachers suddenly asked to teach personal finance
• How to avoid overwhelming students while still covering what matters most
• Why concepts like interest, investing, and retirement matter more than outdated skills

If you’re a teacher, administrator, or educator preparing to teach personal finance—or someone passionate about financial literacy for the next generation—this episode is a must-listen.

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