Connecting Thanks and Giving With Learning

Column distributed by Hearst Connecticut Media Group.

Links to resources referenced:

NEFE: Back-To-School Poll: Financial Education Considered An Essential Subject, Needed For Successful Future
- https://www.nefe.org/news/2025/10/poll-financial-education-considered-an-essential-subject.aspx
  - Related column excerpt:
    - “From my perspective working with families over three decades, I do have my own point of view, which I’m happy to share in a future column after I hear from you. But first, let’s talk about what others are saying -- in this case, a survey of 1,200 U.S. adults released in October by the National Endowment for Financial Education (NEFE), a nonprofit foundation that promotes financial literacy.”
NEFE: Our History
- https://www.nefe.org/about/our-story/our-history.aspx
  - Related column excerpt:
    - “NEFE is an advocate for financial education, stating that its goal is to ‘advance financial well-being.’ NEFE started as part of the College for Financial Planning, then eventually became a separate nonprofit foundation in 1997. NEFE also served as a founding member of the Jump$tart Coalition for Personal Financial Literacy (jumpstart.org). Jump$tart’s mission is to advance financial literacy and financial equality.”
NEFE: Student Advocacy and Thoughtful Leadership Keeps the Momentum Going: A 2025 Legislative Review of K-12 Financial Education Requirements
- https://www.nefe.org/news/2025/08/2025-legislative-review-of-k12-financial-education-requirements.aspx
  - Related column excerpt:
    - “NEFE’s 2025 legislative review of K-12 financial education requirements pointed out that the number of states that have passed financial literacy high school graduation requirement legislation had increased to 29, meaning that ‘73% of high school students in the country will receive a financial literacy education before they graduate.’ As a comparison, NEFE noted that ‘only 9% of high school students received a financial literacy education in 2017.’”
NEFE: Understand the Personal Finance Ecosystem
- https://www.nefe.org/initiatives/ecosystem/default.aspx
  - Related column excerpt:
    - “While education is a key component of NEFE’s Personal Finance Ecosystem framework for financial well-being, another important aspect involves the foundational factors of family and values.”
Jump$tart: Reality Check – Online Tool for Students
- https://www.jumpstart.org/education/reality-check/
  - Related column excerpt:
    - “If your Thanksgiving conversation leads to financial literacy education, consider taking part in some other financial literacy ‘games’ that you can share with younger family members. Jump$tart has a section on its website called Reality Check, which allows students to ‘see the level of income you will need to support the life you imagine.’ The tool asks questions about housing and food, transportation, clothing and other expenses, and then gives feedback on how much you have to make to support your lifestyle. It also offers a list of jobs that would support the lifestyle you chose.”
Investor.gov: Additional Resources
- https://www.investor.gov/additional-resources
  - Related column excerpt:
    - “Investor.gov, a website of the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission, provides a monthly quiz that tests investing and financial knowledge. After you complete the quiz, you will receive explanations related to the answers.”
Junior Achievement USA: JA Money Quiz
- https://jausa.ja.org/programs/supplements/ja-money-quiz
  - Related column excerpt:
    - “Other options include the Junior Achievement Money Quiz, which includes resources at the end of the quiz, and FINRA’s Financial Knowledge Quiz, which offers explanations for the correct answers.”
FINRA: Financial Knowledge Quiz
- https://www.finra.org/financial_knowledge_quiz
  - Related column excerpt:
    - “Other options include the Junior Achievement Money Quiz, which includes resources at the end of the quiz, and FINRA’s Financial Knowledge Quiz, which offers explanations for the correct answers.”