HS students are learning about money now. Are they being taught the wrong things?

High schools across the country are making a big shift—replacing traditional economics classes with personal finance. On the surface, it sounds like a win. After all, most of us could’ve used a better understanding of credit cards, debt, and how money actually works when we were 18. But is this really progress… or just a tradeoff? In this episode, Pete, Damian, and Kristen break down what’s changing—and what might be getting lost in the process. Is the goal of high school to create informed citizens who understand the economy, or functional adults who can manage their own money? And can we realistically do both? Then the team builds the ultimate personal finance class from scratch. What do teens actually need to know before they leave home? From cash flow and credit to compounding and big life decisions, they cover the essentials—and call out what most adults still get wrong. Finally, they bring it home. Because let’s be honest—most of us didn’t get this class either. So what can parents and families do now to teach these lessons in real life, without turning dinner into a lecture? If you’ve ever thought, “Why didn’t anyone teach me this?”—this episode is for you.

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HS students are learning about money now. Are they being taught the wrong things? is an episode from Million Dollar Plan by IBJ Media.

This episode is 66:07 long.

This episode was published on Mar 20, 2026.

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