September 2026
NEW YORK, September 2026 — The Academy of Finance® recently hosted an intimate breakfast roundtable at its Midtown Manhattan location to examine the current state of financial and investment literacy and explore new approaches to financial education.
Under the theme “It Starts With Your Children: Solving the Financial & Investment Literacy Dilemma,” the conversation brought together educators, finance professionals, journalists, parents, students and leaders in financial education around one table.
The objective was deliberately simple: understand where financial literacy stands today and discuss how we can do better.
Financial Literacy Is Becoming an Educational Priority
Financial literacy is increasingly becoming part of the national and local education conversation.
Yet expanding access to financial education raises another important question: How should we teach it?
The roundtable explored not only what young people should know about money, investing and financial markets, but also when financial education should begin, who should teach it, and which educational methods are most effective.
Participants discussed the role of schools, families and financial professionals, as well as the growing influence of social media and digital platforms on how younger generations discover and understand investing.
A central theme emerged throughout the discussion: teaching financial concepts is only part of the challenge. Making those concepts relevant, engaging and applicable to real life is equally important.
At The Academy of Finance®, we believe students learn by doing.
Experiential financial education can move beyond the traditional textbook through investment simulations, portfolio decision-making, market scenarios, behavioral finance, discussion and direct interaction with professionals working in financial markets.
The roundtable examined how these immersive approaches can complement traditional financial education and encourage students to become active participants in the learning process.
The discussion intentionally brought together people who approach financial education from different perspectives.
Participants included Heather May Eckert, Oyin Adedoyin, Akshie Shah, Aarav Singh, Magnus Levi, Eileen Marks DiFabio, Mario DiFiore, PhD, James E. Demmert, Wiktoria Baran and Pauline C. Argenson.
Having students at the table was particularly important. Conversations about the future of education should include the people experiencing that education themselves.
The exchange brought forward questions surrounding financial literacy, investment education, experiential learning, access, behavioral finance and the responsibility shared by families, schools and the financial industry.
The roundtable is part of the broader Research & Innovation work of The Academy of Finance®.
Led by Mario DiFiore, PhD, Senior Assistant Dean at Fordham University’s Gabelli School of Business and Advisory Board Member of the New York Financial Educators Council, The Academy conducts research to better understand financial and investment literacy, investor behavior, and how the next generation learns about financial markets.
Through research, studies, surveys and conversations such as this roundtable, The Academy seeks to identify emerging trends, understand gaps in financial knowledge, and explore more effective approaches to financial education.
Our purpose is not only to understand the numbers. It is to help improve them.
Financial literacy cannot be addressed by one institution, one curriculum or one conversation.
It requires collaboration among educators, families, financial professionals, researchers, policymakers and, importantly, students themselves.
The Academy of Finance® will continue bringing these perspectives together while researching and developing new approaches to financial and investment education.
Because preparing the next generation to make informed financial decisions does not begin when they enter Wall Street.
It starts with education.
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