The money skills school skips, taught by students who actually get it.
The Financial Freedom Initiative is a student-led nonprofit initiative running free workshops at libraries, schools, and youth programs across Long Island. No jargon, no lectures, just the money basics young people can use the same week.
Founded and led by Jacob Fine, a high school junior on Long Island.
Who has backed this work.
Students hear straight from the people who spend their careers on economics and economic education, and from the professionals who joined our conference.
Dr. Anand R. Marri
Headlined an FFI workshop, speaking directly to our students about why economic education matters.
Teen finance conference, Long Island
150+ teens, 8 professionals from the Federal Reserve, BlackRock, Moody's, Barclays, Merrill Lynch and Houlihan Lokey.
Local press has started telling the story.
Two Long Island outlets recently covered FFI's workshops and the student team behind them.
17-year-old Jacob Fine brings free financial literacy lessons to Nassau County libraries
"That’s the best version of pay it forward you could possibly have. When a teen wants to do something like that, not only are they passionate about the subject they’re looking to teach, they’re also passionate about helping others."
Student becomes the master: 17-year-old teaches personal finance to peers
"Having a workshop that is taught by teens, while the attendees were mostly tweens, they’re their peers and equals, and it makes it a lot less daunting when you have someone on your level that you can ask questions to, and approach."
Financial literacy gaps are not local.
In April 2026, FFI founder Jacob Fine was invited to guest lecture for a personal finance program for professionals ages 30 to 40 run by Mathura Kannan, an accountant and author of the Gen Z finance book "Money Matter$," based in Malaysia.
The audience was different, but the problem was the same one we see on Long Island: capable, smart adults who were never taught the basics. The session covered the same Big Three framework our teen workshops use, because the gap does not care how old you are or where you live.
It is the same reason FFI is building chapters and partner hubs internationally. Mathura is a co-founder of that effort, and sessions like this one are what it looks like in practice.
How this grew.
From one student running one library workshop to a multi-chapter international network of student educators.
Financial illiteracy is a quiet, expensive problem in America.
The subject shows up in almost every adult decision and almost none of the curriculum. Young people are usually handed the rules of money after the first mistake, not before. Here is what that gap actually looks like.
S&P Global FinLit Survey. The US ranks 14th globally, behind most of Western Europe.
Only 26 states guarantee a standalone personal finance class before graduation.
Self-reported by US adults who track it. Multiply by a lifetime.
Financial habits set in a person's teens shape whether they escape that cycle later.
Where FFI fits.
We reach students in the window that matters most. Middle school through high school, in the libraries, clubs, and classrooms they already trust, with a curriculum built and delivered by peers. Free and in person.
How the curriculum was built.
Our curriculum was developed with input from people who do this professionally: Dr. Anand R. Marri, former Vice President of the Federal Reserve Bank of New York and Professor of Economic Education at Teachers College, Columbia University, and faculty at the University of Minnesota and the Wharton School. Every session is built around the Lusardi and Mitchell "Big Three": compound interest, inflation, and risk diversification.
Real workshops, real students.
Eight moments from recent sessions across libraries, schools, camps, and community centers.
Wide roomA full classroom of students at the start of an intro to finance workshop.
Small groupA small group working through a savings goal around one table.
Speaker and slideBreaking down how advertising is designed to make you spend.
Hands upA student raises a hand during the credit score segment in the library.
AuditoriumPresenting the compound interest curve on a full auditorium screen.
Hands onStudents playing the budgeting board game around an interactive table.
Mid sessionJacob walking a class through paying yourself first, line by line.
Small sessionA lounge-style session on investing basics with a smaller group of teens.
Four partner workshops on the calendar.
Sessions we are running together with partner organizations. Free, as always.
A holistic introduction to financial literacy
A big-picture session covering the full map of personal finance, run together with NEL Financial Literacy.
Budgeting, plus free tools that make it click
For students in the US. We break down how budgeting actually works and walk through free tools that help you see where your money goes.
Budgeting, plus free tools that make it click
For students internationally. The same budgeting session, run with Tayu Personal Finance at a time that works across time zones.
Partner workshop with Intellectual Gain
A joint session with Intellectual Gain. Topic and time coming soon.
Practical money basics, one hour at a time.
A quick look at four of the seven topics we cover. The full curriculum, framework, and format live on the programs page.
Saving and budgeting
First paycheck, tracking, and rules that work at 12 or 22.
Compound interest
Why time is the loudest voice in the room.
Credit and credit scores
How credit actually works, and the habits that build it.
Taxes, explained
W-2s, brackets, and paystub math without the jargon.
The single most powerful idea we teach: time does the heavy lifting.
Slide the numbers and watch what happens. The point is not the exact figure. It is how much of the result comes from starting early rather than saving more.
A simplified example for learning, not financial advice. Real returns vary and are never guaranteed. We teach how compounding works, not which investments to pick.
Letters from the librarians who host us.
After every workshop series we ask our partners for honest feedback. These are two of the letters they sent back, unedited.
"Jacob's information was factual, well-researched, stylishly formatted, and most importantly, relevant to his peers."Rachel SferlazzaHead Librarian, Youth & Parent Services, The Merrick LibraryJuly 27, 2026
"The teens were engaged the whole time because the sessions were interactive and fun. Many said the program helped them feel more confident about handling money."Shanna KonowitzYoung Adult Librarian, East Meadow Public LibrarySummer 2026
Small habits, multiplied across a community.
Quick money breakdowns, workshop recaps, and behind the scenes from the team.
Bring a free workshop to your group.
Libraries, schools, community centers, and youth programs across Long Island: we come to you. A 10 to 15 minute call is enough to find a fit and lock a date.