NGPF Podcast

Join Yanely and she interviews Kenny Johnson, YouTuber, investor, and founder of Kenny Finance. Kenny shares his journey from Detroit to Wall Street and why he's now focused on bringing financial literacy to classrooms across the country. With experience at top private equity firms like Blackstone and KKR, Kenny's mission is to make personal finance approachable, actionable, and relevant for the next generation!

This episode of the NGPF Speaker Series features personal finance educator Paul Merriman in conversation with Tim Ranzetta, delivering insights especially relevant to teachers. Paul shares practical, research-backed advice on helping students and young investors understand investing basics, with a spotlight on target date funds, index fund fees, and the behavioral pitfalls that commonly trip up new investors. Teachers will gain actionable strategies to help their students avoid common mistakes, appreciate the long-term value of low costs, and make investing approachable through concepts like dollar-cost averaging, diversification, and automated investing. The episode equips educators with memorable analogies, evidence-based recommendations, and free resources that can be used directly in the classroom to promote lifelong financial well-being.

This is an inspiring conversation in which Tim interviews Laura Levine, President & CEO of the Jumpstart Coalition. Laura reflects on more than 20 years of leading a national movement for financial literacy and shares how Jumpstart empowers educators, builds powerful state affiliate networks, and creates a community for educators across the country. From the National Educator Conference to Teen Teach-Ins, she highlights programs that bring financial education to life in schools across the country. Laura also shares the heart behind their "For Me, It's Personal" campaign. She says everyone has a money story to share! If you're a teacher who wants to feel connected, supported, and inspired, this is a conversation you won't want to miss.

In this podcast Yanely interviews Mykail James, MBA who is the co-author of Personal Finance for Teens (for Dummies). The conversation centers on empowering teens and young adults with personal finance literacy education, highlighting inclusive education, the evolving landscape of financial decision-making, and the role of technology and community in shaping money habits. Mykail emphasizes that younger generations are delaying traditional milestones like home buying or starting families, and grappling with anxiety about "what's next" after completing school.

Charles "Charley" D. Ellis is an American investment consultant. In 1972, Ellis founded Greenwich Associates, an international strategy consulting firm focused on financial institutions. Ellis is known for his philosophy of passive investing through index funds, as detailed in his book Winning the Loser's Game, one of 22 books he authored. This podcast features Charley in conversation with NGPF's co-founder, Tim Ranzetta. Charley shares decades of wisdom on personal finance, investing, and the evolution of financial markets. He candidly discusses how active investing has transformed into a highly professional and competitive field, the rise and benefits of indexing, and why low-cost index funds make investing simpler and more successful for most people. He also reflects on the legendary influence of leaders like Jack Bogle and Warren Buffett, revealing personal stories and lessons from their careers. Tune in for a rich blend of storytelling, expert guidance, and actionable takeaways that make investing approachable!

This episode features Saskatchewan teachers Cindy Lowe and Jill Labas, who share how they successfully advocated to make financial literacy a graduation requirement. It's Canada's first province to do so! From late‑night petitions and rallying community stakeholders to building province‑wide teacher training, their story shows how persistence, passion, and student voices can drive systemic change. You'll hear firsthand how they transformed classrooms into hubs of excitement, where students say it's the one class they know will matter every day of their lives. You'll also learn about the differences and overlaps between U.S. and Canadian personal finance education, as well as practical tips for making lessons engaging and relevant.

Discover how Gifted Savings is transforming the future of financial education for high school seniors by gifting them real investment portfolios and teaching essential money skills. Hear Josh Landay, Executive Director of Gifted Savings, share inspiring stories from students, explain how this innovative program builds confidence and financial empowerment, and explore plans for expansion to schools nationwide. Perfect for teachers who are passionate about giving their students a head start on building wealth and financial savvy!

Want your students to get excited about investing without chasing the riskiest trends? In this episode, NerdWallet's Sam Taube joins NGPF's Tim Ranzetta to share simple strategies for teaching investing with confidence. You'll hear how to use games, simulations, and real-life examples to make index funds and diversification come alive in your classroom. Sam also breaks down how to tackle FOMO, day-trading myths, and the lure of crypto with practical, student-friendly explanations. If you've ever wondered how to make the "boring" path of long-term wealth-building feel exciting, this conversation is a must-listen!

The team behind Arro is reimagining how young adults build credit, offering a modern alternative to traditional credit cards. Learn how their mission aligns with financial education by helping students establish healthy credit habits from the start!

This episode features Jeff Desjardins, founder of Visual Capitalist, which unpacks powerful data storytelling and key mega trends shaping our economy. From the impact of aging societies to the rapid rise of AI, Jeff shares insights that can enhance financial education. Discover practical tips for creating engaging infographics and learn how visualizing personal finance concepts can help students grasp complex topics easily. Educators looking to inspire and inform their classrooms won't want to miss this data-driven conversation!