Programs

The Education Gap

Our public education system throughout the majority of the U.S. provides no equitable opportunities for students to gain personal finance knowledge and/or skills. We teach everything from health and physical education to language arts and math, but we leave our students to fend for themselves when it comes to everything from filing taxes and managing a budget responsibly to understanding debt and affording post-secondary education.

"Only about 1 in 20 students from low-income backgrounds (outside of the five states with mandated personal finance education standards) attend high schools with a personal finance requirement."
- Next Gen Personal Finance

"There is a sizeable difference in financial literacy between those with $50,000 or more in household income compared with those whose household income is less than $50,000."
- The Global Financial Literacy Excellence Center

The Real Cost: Stress, Health, and Relationships

The consequences of financial illiteracy extend far beyond bank accounts:

"Stress about money and finances appears to have a significant impact on many Americans' lives. Some are putting their health-care needs on hold because of financial concerns. Nearly 1 in 5 Americans say that they have either considered skipping (9 percent) or skipped (12 percent) going to a doctor when they needed health care because of financial concerns. Stress about money also affects relationships: Almost a third of adults with partners (31 percent) report that money is a major source of conflict in their relationships... Also troubling are the disparities in stress exposure: women, parents, younger people and those living in lower-income households all report higher levels of stress than others."
- American Psychological Association

The result: young people from underserved communities graduate high school without the financial knowledge or tools needed to build wealth—perpetuating cycles of economic insecurity, health problems, and relationship strain for generations.

The Finance Lab addresses this crisis at its root: by teaching young people to manage money before financial stress takes hold.

The Finance Lab is built on three pillars:

1. Access: Real Money, Real Opportunity

Most students from low-income backgrounds never open an investment account—not because they don't want to, but because they don't have the initial capital or knowledge to start.

We remove that barrier. Students receive a $1,000 scholarship and are required to invest at least 10% in a real brokerage account. For many of our students, this is the first time they've ever had money to invest. That experience opens doors—not just financially, but psychologically. It shifts their identity from "someone who can't afford to invest" to "someone who is included in the financial system and already building wealth."

Starting early matters. We're not just funding college; we're funding financial futures.

2. Experience: Learning By Doing

In a field as complex as personal finance, students must have the opportunity to learn by doing.

In The Finance Lab, students don't just read about investing—they do it. They:

• Open real brokerage accounts

• Research and select index funds

• Experience market volatility firsthand

• Make mistakes in a supportive environment

• Adjust their strategies based on real results

Our curriculum is built on consistent reflection, goal-setting, and financial analysis. Students learn to articulate their risk tolerance, defend their asset allocation, and understand the trade-offs they're making.

3. Community: Mentorship and Accountability

Learning to invest isn't just about technical knowledge—it's about confidence, decision-making, and accountability.

Our students receive:

• Personalized mentorship from the program director throughout their senior year and first two years of college

• Peer support as they work through the program alongside other students

• Public accountability when they present their investment strategies to an authentic audience of family, teachers, and community members

The panel presentation is a defining moment. Standing in front of an audience and defending your financial decisions builds confidence that extends far beyond money management.

The Timeline

SENIOR YEAR - SPRING SEMESTER (Application Period)

• Applications open in January

• Submit application and complete interview

• Acceptance notifications and awards occur at previous cohort’s panel event in May.

SUMMER AFTER GRADUATION

• Watch introductory modules on goal-setting and risk tolerance

• Prepare to start the program in the fall

FIRST YEAR OF COLLEGE - FALL SEMESTER

Month 1: Foundation & Account Opening (September)

• Attend virtual kickoff meeting

• Receive first $250 scholarship increment

• Complete modules on setting financial goals and understanding risk tolerance

• Open brokerage account (we recommend Charles Schwab)

• Make initial $50 deposit to qualify for Schwab's $50 matching bonus

• Milestone: Submit proof of account opening

Month 2: First Investment (October)

• Receive second $250 increment

• Complete "Index Funds 101" module

• Fund account with scholarship money

• Make your first investment

• Milestone: Submit portfolio screenshot + brief explanation of your choices

Months 3-4: Portfolio Building (November-December)

• Complete modules on automatic transfers and automatic investing

• Set up recurring contributions from checking to investment account

• Configure automatic purchases of your chosen index fund

• Learn to read and interpret portfolio performance

FIRST YEAR OF COLLEGE - SPRING SEMESTER

Month 5: Presentation Preparation (January-February)

• Receive third $250 increment

• Complete "Preparing Your Presentation" module

• Draft your presentation covering goals, risk tolerance, and asset allocation

• Milestone: Submit draft presentation for feedback

Month 6: Refinement (March-April)

• Revise presentation based on feedback

• Practice with peers and mentors via video calls

• Finalize investment strategy and talking points

Month 7: Panel Presentation (May)

• Return to Roseville for in-person panel presentation on your former high school campus

• Individual Presentation (5-7 minutes):

  • Present your financial goals (short-term and long-term)

  • Explain your risk tolerance and how you assessed it

  • Defend your asset allocation with supporting rationale

  • Share what you've learned and what challenged you

• Moderated Panel Discussion (20-30 minutes):

  • Join other fellows and financial professionals on stage

  • Answer questions from panelists and audience

  • Discuss different investment approaches and strategies

• Receive fourth and final $250 increment

• Milestone: Program completion!

SECOND YEAR OF COLLEGE

• Continued mentorship and quarterly check-ins via video calls

• Learn to adjust your strategy as goals and circumstances evolve

• Optional advanced topics (Roth IRAs, tax strategies, rebalancing)

To apply for The Finance Lab, you must:

✓ Be a current high school senior (12th grade) in the spring semester
✓ Attend school in the Roseville, CA area
✓ Come from an underserved or low-income household (qualify for free/reduced lunch)
✓ Be committed to completing all program requirements
✓ Be planning to attend college in Fall 2026 (or applicable year)
✓ Have access to a bank account (or be willing to open one)
✓ Have a Social Security number or Individual Taxpayer Identification Number (ITIN)

If you're under 18: You'll need a parent or guardian to co-sign when opening your investment account (this is a brokerage requirement, not ours).

Applications for the 2026 graduating class open January 2026.

The application includes:

• Basic information (name, school, grade, contact info, college plans)

• Short-answer questions about your financial goals and why you want to participate

• Teacher or counselor recommendation

Timeline:

• Applications open: January

• Applications close: March

• Interviews: March-April

• Acceptance notifications: April

• Award ceremony: May

• Program kickoff: September

• Panel presentation: May (end of first year of college)

When do I apply?
Applications open in January of your senior year of high school (spring semester). The program begins when you start college in the fall.

Do I need to know what college I'm attending to apply?
No, but you should be planning to attend college somewhere in fall 2026 (or the applicable year). You can update us on your college plans after you're accepted to the program.

What if my college is far from Roseville?
No problem! The entire program is virtual except for the final panel presentation in May, when you'll return to Roseville to present at your former high school. We'll work with you if travel is a barrier.

Can I participate if I'm undocumented or have an ITIN instead of an SSN?
Yes! Most brokerages, including Charles Schwab, allow you to open accounts with an ITIN. You'll need valid identification and proof of U.S. address. Contact us if you have questions about your specific situation—we want to make sure all eligible students can participate.