Financial decisions are shaping lives earlier, and too many learners are expected to navigate them without the tools, confidence, or real-world practice they need to succeed. According to research, only 20% of young adults receive financial education before age 25 despite this being the exact window when they are choosing credit cards, managing debt, and forming habits that can last decades. Without guidance, many turn to social media and unreliable online sources for advice. That gap represents both a challenge and an opportunity. 

As financial decisions grow more complex and stakes rise earlier in life, learners need education that goes beyond theory and into real-world applications. We’ve built Achieve to meet this moment: a modern, digital financial education platform designed to drive lasting behavior change through relevance, personalization, and scale. 

From Awareness to Action: A New Standard for Financial Education

Traditional financial education often focuses on the basics without giving learners the opportunity to practice real financial decisions. But research consistently shows that active learning, repetition, and real-life relevance are what drive long-term outcomes. Young adults don’t need more information—they need contextual guidance delivered at the exact moments financial decisions are being made. Education that arrives too late, or feels disconnected from real life, fails to change behavior. 

Achieve is built around interactive pathways and digital tools that mirror real financial moments learners face today and will face tomorrow. Instead of asking learners to memorize concepts, Achieve helps them apply those concepts in guided, practical ways, building confidence alongside competence. 

Personalized Pathways That Meet Learners Where They Are

62% of Gen Z report turning to social media “finfluencers” for financial advice. Achieve helps close that trust gap by positioning financial education where learners already are, with personalized pathways that allow learners to engage with financial topics that feel immediately relevant to their lives, goals, and aspirations. Each pathway blends foundational knowledge with hands-on decision-making, helping learners connect education to action. 

Creating My Budget Pathway
Budgeting is one of the earliest and most formative financial skills young adults develop and one of the areas where mistakes can compound quickly without guidance. This pathway moves beyond generic advice by helping learners: 

• Identify income sources and expenses 

• Make trade-offs based on priorities 

• Adjust spending to align with short- and long-term goals 

Reaching My Savings Goal Pathway
Saving can feel abstract, especially for younger learners. This pathway makes it tangible by allowing learners to: 

• Set realistic savings goals 

• Understand timelines and progress 

• Explore how small, consistent actions add up over time 

Starting My Small Business Pathway
Entrepreneurship is an increasingly popular—and relevant—pathway for learners. This experience introduces foundational business and financial concepts, including: 

• Startup costs and budgeting 

• Pricing and revenue considerations 

• Financial risk and planning 

By connecting financial education to entrepreneurship, learners see money management as a tool for opportunity—not just obligation. 

Building Financial Resilience Through Real-World Tools

Financially confident customers are more engaged, more loyal, and less likely to make costly mistakes. Achieve’s interactive financial tools allow learners to practice decision-making in a safe, supportive environment. 

Emergency Fund Tool: Unexpected expenses are one of the leading causes of financial stress. This tool helps learners: 

• Understand why emergency savings matter 

• Calculate realistic emergency fund targets 

• Connect savings habits to long-term stability 

Fraud Prevention Modules: As digital financial activity increases, so does exposure to fraud. Achieve’s fraud prevention modules address today’s realities by teaching learners to: 

• Recognize common scams and red flags 

• Protect personal and financial information 

• Respond effectively if fraud occurs 

Investment Growth Calculator: Investing can feel intimidating without context. This interactive calculator demystifies investing by showing how: 

• Time impacts growth 

• Contributions affect outcomes 

• Compounding works in real life 

Expanding Access Through a Refreshed Spanish Experience

Equitable access is central to our mission. That’s why Achieve now features a fully refreshed Spanish-language platform, designed to deliver the same high-quality, culturally relevant experience to Spanish-speaking learners. This overhaul goes beyond translation. It ensures: 

• Clear, accessible language 

• Consistent user experience across pathways and tools 

• Greater inclusivity for diverse classrooms and communities 

By expanding access, Achieve helps close opportunity gaps and ensures more learners can build essential financial skills. 

Why Digital Innovation Matters

The research is clear: young adults are digital-first and expect their financial education to be embedded into the experiences they already use. Digital platforms allow partners to: 

• Reach learners at scale without adding burden to teachers 

• Deliver consistent, high-quality instruction 

• Support mandated financial education requirements 

• Create measurable, lasting impact 

Achieve’s digital-first design ensures that financial education is not only accessible, but effective, meeting learners in the environments where they already learn and engage.

The Future of Financial Education Is Practical, Personal, and Digital

Over a two-year period, more than 20 million learners engaged with Achieve, with over 80% reporting increased confidence across core financial topics—from budgeting and credit to savings and long-term planning. That confidence is the foundation of smarter decisions and stronger financial futures. Financial education works best when learners can see themselves in the content and immediately apply what they’re learning. With interactive pathways, real-world tools, and inclusive design, Achieve represents a new standard for financial education. It’s not about checking a box or meeting a requirement. It’s about empowering learners with the skills, confidence, and resilience they need to navigate financial decisions for life. 

Learn more about the research behind this approach by reading our White Paper, “The Critical Window: Invest in Young Adult Financial Education to Build Lasting Customer Relationships”.