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Consumer Resource Center

Money Smart for Young Adults

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The Money Smart for Young Adults (MSYA) instructor-led curriculum provides participants with practical knowledge, skills-building opportunities, and resources they can use to manage their finances with confidence. Instructors can use it to deliver unbiased, relevant, and accurate financial education whether they are new or experienced trainers.

This newly released version of MSYA include these updates:

  • Target age range for this version is now 16-24 year olds (changed from ages 12-20 year olds)
  • Uses Consumer Financial Protection Bureau (CFPB) curriculum review tool to update the content (consumerfinance.gov)
  • New pre- and post-knowledge assessments
  • New look and feel of the curricula and format
  • Includes more interactive exercises

The MSYA curriculum consists of 12 modules that cover basic financial topics. Each module guides instructors on what to say and do. The materials are available for immediate download below, and Money Smart – Teach – For Young Adults (catalog.fdic.gov).

If you are still using the prior version of Money Smart for Young Adults and need assistance, please contact us at communityaffairs@fdic.gov.

What's inside Money Smart for Young Adults?

You will find that Money Smart for Young Adults has:

  • Information that’s updated, relevant, and informed by research. For example, the curriculum features information and scenarios relevant to young adults.
  • Segments that offer you options to make training relevant. The curriculum is divided into 12 modules, each on an important financial topic, that are subdivided into sections. Instructors can present the modules in any order or combination depending upon an audience’s interests and knowledge.
  • An emphasis on real-life skills and choices. Money Smart for Young Adults provides participants with practical knowledge and resources they can use to manage their finances.
  • Realistic scenarios. Short scenarios featuring consumers in a variety of financial situations provide opportunities to practice using financial knowledge and skills with confidence.
  • An expanded array of practical tools and resources. “Try It” activities give participants opportunities to practice what they learned in a variety of contexts. “Apply It” activities help participants apply what they have learned to their own lives, either during or after the training.
  • Key takeaways. A key takeaway sums up the most important message from each section.
  • A structure that makes it easy to select relevant materials. The curriculum has 12 modules, each on an important financial topic. The modules are subdivided into sections. Instructors can present the modules, and sections within modules, in any order or combination depending upon an audience’s interests and knowledge. The Guide to Presenting Money Smart for Young Adults includes roadmaps to help select relevant topics.

Tools to help you plan your training

Money Smart Young Adults Cover Page

Start by reviewing the Guide to Presenting Money Smart for Young Adults (catalog.fdic.gov). It includes practical tips for planning, marketing, and delivering training. It also includes information to make training accessible and welcoming for everyone, including people with disabilities.

Each of the 12 Money Smart for Young Adults modules includes:

  • Instructor Guides that include what you need to prepare and deliver Money Smart training, including easy to follow cues, script, and interactive exercises.
  • PowerPoint Slides that can help you present training content in an engaging manner.
  • Participant Guides with tools and information that participants can use during your training and afterwards.

The curriculum also includes an Instructor Supplement: Real-Life Money Situations for Young Adults (catalog.fdic.gov), which provides five scenarios featuring young adults thinking about financial decisions.

 

The 12 Money Smart for Young Adults Training Modules

The files are listed below and are available in the FDIC Catalog (catalog.fdic.gov).

Click arrows next to headers to sort in Ascending or Descending order.

Download Data

ModuleEstimated TimeFocusDocs/ Videos
Module 1: Bank On It4 hoursHow your needs determine which financial products, services, and providers you selectModule 1: Instructor Guide
Module 1: Participant Guide
Module 1: PowerPoint Slides
 
Module 2: Setting Goals and Making Financial Decisions2 hoursDefining and setting financial goalsModule 2: Instructor Guide
Module 2: Participant Guide
Module 2: PowerPoint Slides
 
Module 3: Making the Most of Your Income2 hoursTypes of income, different ways to receive income, how to read a pay statement, and how to track incomeModule 3: Instructor Guide
Module 3: Participant Guide
Module 3: PowerPoint Slides
 
Module 4: Your Spending and Saving Plan1 hourHow to create a spending and saving plan, and ways to increase income and decrease expensesModule 4: Instructor Guide
Module 4: Participant Guide
Module 4: PowerPoint Slides
 
Module 5: Saving for Your Goals and Your Future2 hours 30 minutesWhat it means to save, reasons saving money is important, and ways to find money to saveModule 5: Instructor Guide
Module 5: Participant Guide
Module 5: PowerPoint Slides
 
Module 6: Building Your Credit History3 hours 30 minutesCredit reports and how they can affect many areas of your lifeModule 6: Instructor Guide
Module 6: Participant Guide
Module 6: PowerPoint Slides
 
Module 7: Borrowing Basics1 hour 30 minutesDifferent types of loans and the costs of borrowingModule 7: Instructor Guide
Module 7: Participant Guide
Module 7: PowerPoint Slides
 
Module 8: Charge It Right2 hoursHow credit cards work and important credit card termsModule 8: Instructor Guide
Module 8: Participant Guide
Module 8: PowerPoint Slides
 
Module 9: Protecting Your Money and Your Identity2 hoursHow to identify risks to your assets and ways you can reduce those risksModule 9: Instructor Guide
Module 9: Participant Guide
Module 9: PowerPoint Slides
 
Module 10: Buying a Car1 hour 30 minutesOne-time and ongoing costs of car ownership and how to compare options when buying a carModule 10: Instructor Guide
Module 10: Participant Guide
Module 10: PowerPoint Slides
 
Module 11: Paying for Education and Training2 hoursBenefits and costs of post-high school education and training and different types of education and trainingModule 11: Instructor Guide
Module 11: Participant Guide
Module 11: PowerPoint Slides
 
Module 12: Living on Your Own2 hoursHow to figure out what you need and want in a place to live and options for housingModule 12: Instructor Guide
Module 12: Participant Guide
Module 12: PowerPoint Slides
 

The Federal Deposit Insurance Corporation is prohibited from endorsing any specific organizations. Money Smart users must ensure that their publicity, advertisements, and public statements do not use the FDIC name or logo to imply that FDIC endorses their organization or its products or services.


 

Additional Links

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Money Smart Alliance

Learn, collaborate and grow with FDIC’s recognized organizations that use Money Smart. 

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Money Smart News

FDIC’s newsletter featuring tips, updates and success stories for financial educators.

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Money Smart News for Kids

Follow Isabella and Noah as they learn about basic banking terms and financial concepts.

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Teacher Online Resource Center

Here you will find tools to help you teach financial education including lesson plans, videos, and other resources.

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Train-the-Trainer Program

Provides guidance with videos, workshops, and webinars.

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Training & Events

Announcements of upcoming Money Smart events for Train-the-Trainer and Small Business events.

Last Updated: December 29, 2022