NGPF Podcast

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.

Higher education researcher and founder of Tuition Fit and Pathways, Mark Salisbury, explains how college pricing actually works behind the scenes. He debunks four common myths: that all colleges are too expensive, that in-state public universities are always the cheapest option, that net price figures are entirely accurate, and that financial aid is a limited resource.

He outlines how colleges set sticker prices as messaging tools, use "financial aid optimization" (algorithmic discounting designed to extract the maximum each family will pay), and engage in what he calls surveillance pricing by monitoring demonstrated interest and FAFSA data.

To conclude, he offers practical advice: focus on post-graduation outcomes rather than prestige, establish a price range early, use net price calculators and tools like Tuition Fit, and remember that people succeed at every price point.

In this episode of the NGPF podcast, investment expert Patrick Geddes pulls back the curtain on the investment industry, breaking down the difference between asset managers and wealth managers and explaining how each gets paid. Geddes walks listeners through the most important questions to ask a financial advisor, including how to identify hidden fees, understand fiduciary standards, and evaluate professional designations like CFP and CFA. He makes a compelling case for low-cost index fund investing, explaining how even a fee under 1% can cost an investor hundreds of thousands of dollars over time due to the power of compounding. The episode closes with an honest framework for deciding whether to hire an advisor or go the do-it-yourself route, empowering listeners to think of themselves first as consumers — not just investors.

In this episode of the NGPF podcast, investment professional Patrick Geddes walks listeners through the fundamentals of turning financial goals into actionable plans, covering topics like retirement planning, asset allocation, and how time horizons should shape investment decisions. He explains practical tools like the 4% withdrawal rule, walks through a concrete example of calculating how much a retiree will need in their portfolio, and discusses the pros and cons of target date funds. Patrick makes a strong case for low-cost, cap-weighted index funds over active management, arguing that the evidence in favor of indexing is overwhelming, and covers how to think about stock and bond selection across both taxable and tax-advantaged accounts. He also tackles the often-overlooked complexity of viewing your total portfolio across all accounts simultaneously, including a case study where listeners calculate a sample investor's true asset allocation. The episode wraps up with practical guidance on rebalancing, how often to check your accounts, and the importance of accounting for taxes when evaluating the real value of different account types.

In this episode of the NGPF podcast, investment expert Patrick Geddes breaks down two of the most fundamental concepts in personal finance, asset classes and asset allocation, in a way that's clear, engaging, and immediately usable in the classroom. Patrick argues that asset allocation is the single most important decision any investor makes, and walks listeners through the trade-offs between safer assets like cash and bonds and riskier ones like stocks and real estate, using relatable analogies that your students will actually remember. He dives deep into the tension between market risk and inflation risk, showing decades of real return data that make a compelling case for why long-term investors should embrace — not fear the stock market. The episode also tackles the active versus passive investing debate head-on, presenting overwhelming evidence that index funds outperform actively managed funds over time, and explaining the psychological biases that lead so many investors to make costly mistakes anyway. Whether you're introducing students to investing for the first time or helping them think more critically about financial decision-making, this episode gives you the data, the language, and the real-world examples to bring these concepts to life.

Investment expert Patrick Geddes cuts through the intimidation and jargon of investing to reveal what truly matters, and what you can safely ignore. Patrick makes the case that good habits, not brilliance, are the real secret to building wealth, using compelling stories like Grace Groner, who turned $180 into $7.2 million simply by buying and holding. He covers why starting early, staying invested through market downturns, and keeping fees low are far more powerful than trying to pick winning stocks or time the market. Patrick also challenges common myths, like the idea that good investing must be complicated, and he explains why boring index funds beat the vast majority of actively managed funds over the long run. Whether you're a seasoned investor or just getting started, this session offers a refreshingly honest, research-backed perspective that'll leave you feeling less intimidated about long-term investing!