Join us for a conversation with Christopher "Kit" Kauffman, NGPF Board Member and Adviser. He is a former attorney with a unique professional journey from corporate law to financial education advocacy. He will share insights on what motivates his passion for working with the NGPF Team on Mission2030 and why this is one of the top issues of concern to him in retirement. You'll gain perspective on how real-world financial experiences, whether in major court cases or everyday classrooms, can inspire students to think critically about saving, investing, and financial decision-making. Kit also offers advice for teachers seeking to connect personal finance to students' interests and real-world stories.

As Vice President of Education at the Tax Foundation, Zoe Callaway oversees TaxEDU, a tax literacy initiative born from a striking discovery: over half of Americans lack basic tax literacy, regardless of age, income, or education level. Even college graduates struggle to identify where the government raises most of its revenue. The consequences are real—people avoid earning more money because they misunderstand how tax brackets work, believing a raise will somehow leave them with less. In this session, Zoe will share what students most misunderstand about taxes, why the Tax Foundation launched its education program, and how teachers can help students grasp concepts that shape everything from their first paycheck to career decisions. Perfect for teachers looking for practical approaches to demystifying a system students will navigate their entire lives.

As Vice President of Education at the Tax Foundation, Zoe Callaway oversees TaxEDU, a tax literacy initiative born from a striking discovery: over half of Americans lack basic tax literacy, regardless of age, income, or education level. Even college graduates struggle to identify where the government raises most of its revenue. The consequences are real—people avoid earning more money because they misunderstand how tax brackets work, believing a raise will somehow leave them with less. In this session, Zoe will share what students most misunderstand about taxes, why the Tax Foundation launched its education program, and how teachers can help students grasp concepts that shape everything from their first paycheck to career decisions. Perfect for teachers looking for practical approaches to demystifying a system students will navigate their entire lives.

Ever wonder why some kids reach adulthood terrified of money while others handle it with confidence? In this episode, Yanely sits down with Steven Day, former high school teacher and author of Teach a Kid to Save: A Fun, Hands-On Approach to Building Smart Money Habits, to unpack how a simple "mini economy" at home or in the classroom can build lasting financial habits. Steven grew up inside one of these systems, since his dad literally wrote the book on it, and now runs one with his own four kids, complete with a seven-year-old who drives a hard bargain over the morning coffee. Along the way, he explains why a classroom economy should be a teaching tool rather than a behavior-control system, how cash-strapped teachers can run one for almost nothing, and why selling "privilege coupons" often beats stocking a store with more stuff. He also makes the case for starting early, tying money lessons to kids' real values and goals, and giving students the rare chance to experience money as producers and investors instead of just consumers. Packed with practical tips, free printable resources, and a few laugh-out-loud parenting moments, this conversation is a must-listen for any teacher or parent who wants to raise money-smart kids. Tune in and rethink what financial education can look like from the ground up.

Ever wonder why some kids reach adulthood terrified of money while others handle it with confidence? In this episode, Yanely sits down with Steven Day, former high school teacher and author of Teach a Kid to Save: A Fun, Hands-On Approach to Building Smart Money Habits, to unpack how a simple "mini economy" at home or in the classroom can build lasting financial habits. Steven grew up inside one of these systems, since his dad literally wrote the book on it, and now runs one with his own four kids, complete with a seven-year-old who drives a hard bargain over the morning coffee. Along the way, he explains why a classroom economy should be a teaching tool rather than a behavior-control system, how cash-strapped teachers can run one for almost nothing, and why selling "privilege coupons" often beats stocking a store with more stuff. He also makes the case for starting early, tying money lessons to kids' real values and goals, and giving students the rare chance to experience money as producers and investors instead of just consumers. Packed with practical tips, free printable resources, and a few laugh-out-loud parenting moments, this conversation is a must-listen for any teacher or parent who wants to raise money-smart kids. Tune in and rethink what financial education can look like from the ground up.

Most teens treat credit as a "someday" problem, something for their "old" future selves. A bankruptcy attorney and a credit-scoring expert see exactly where that thinking leads. In this NGPF podcast episode Yanely has a conversation with CARE Chicago volunteers Gene Volchek and Jeff Schwartz, who share what thousands of classroom visits have taught them. From the misconceptions that trip students up most, and the analogies that finally make credit click (your adult report card, the three C's, the $1,000 laptop that costs $2,700), to how to teach this before the first card, not after the first mistake. If you teach personal finance, you'll leave with stories and strategies you can use in classroom right away!

In this NGPF Speaker Series episode, former FDIC Chair Sheila Bair joins Tim Ranzetta to celebrate the launch of her new book for teens, How Not to Lose a Million Dollars. Bair explains why she wrote the book, aiming to give young people practical, plain-language guidance on navigating the financial system, and shares her own story of racking up thousands in credit card interest as a young lawyer. The conversation covers the power of compound interest and opportunity cost, why broad-based index funds are the best starting point for new investors, and the growing threats of "finfluencers", gambling apps, and prediction markets. Bair and Ranzetta also dig into bigger-picture policy issues like housing affordability, non-bank financial risks, and the need for trusted, vetted financial education resources in schools. Teachers will especially appreciate the discussion of how to make these topics land with students, along with Bair's offer of free book donations to Title I schools and virtual classroom visits.

In this episode, Yanely Espinal sits down with veteran Bay Area economics teacher Judy Smith to explore how she integrates a mini-unit on economic inequality and solutions in personal finance within her economics course. Judy explains how, after 20 years of teaching, she shifted her focus from the "why" behind economic inequality to the "how" and the hope that empowers students to research and advocate for policy solutions like affordable housing, raising the minimum wage, and expanding child tax credits. This conversation covers the practical flow of her course, where seniors first complete a Civic Action Project in Government course and then a personal finance portfolio in Economics before diving into the inequality unit that wraps up the course. Judy shares how student choice and civic engagement drive deeper buy-in from students. Yanely and Judy also tackle tough questions about balancing personal responsibility with systemic awareness, navigating uncomfortable classroom conversations, and preparing for California's new standalone personal finance graduation requirement. You'll come away with actionable strategies, curated resources, and renewed motivation to bring conversations about economic equity into your own classroom.

In this episode, Mark Salisbury tackles one of the most misunderstood concepts in post-secondary planning: return on investment. He makes the case that ROI genuinely matters, then exposes the shaky data behind popular ROI rankings, using the University of Michigan's College Scorecard numbers to show how figures like "average annual cost" and "median earnings" are drawn from a small, unrepresentative slice of students. Mark pushes back on higher-ed marketing claims that tie ROI to brand-name alumni networks, and challenges the notion that a liberal arts education's payoff magically emerges decades later. Instead, he reframes ROI through a "play to keep playing" lens borrowed from Simon Sinek, arguing that the real return is whether an educational investment expands or constrains a student's future options. He closes with an invitation to use his grant-funded Pathways Planning and Insights program, a free resource designed to help parents navigate the financial side of post-secondary planning alongside their students.

Higher ed finance expert, Mark Salisbury, pulls back the curtain on how the financial aid system really works and why it looks nothing like what most families expect. From the FAFSA to the CSS Profile, he explains how colleges use the data families voluntarily provide not to help them afford school, but to calculate the minimum discount needed to get them to enroll. He breaks down how institutional aid is front-loaded to attract freshmen while costs quietly balloon in later years, how the private scholarship industry profits off parental anxiety, and how misleading award letters use "magic math" and jargon to obscure the true price of attendance. Using real examples from schools like Howard University, DePaul, and Loyola Chicago, he shows exactly how these tactics play out in practice. The conversation also covers practical strategies families can use to fight back, including the importance of early planning, understanding who should and shouldn't rush to file the FAFSA, and why appealing your financial aid offer is one of the most powerful and underused tools available to consumers. Whether you're a parent, student, or school counselor, this episode is an essential primer on navigating one of the most lopsided marketplaces in America.