Personal Finance Education
"Buying a home, saving for retirement or for children's education, or even effectively managing the family budget now requires more financial sophistication than ever before. Financially literate consumers make the financial marketplace work better, and they are better-informed citizens as well."
—Ben S. Bernanke, Chairman, Federal Reserve System
- Building Wealth
- Building Wealth in the Classroom
- Payment Calculators
Building
Wealth
A Beginner's Guide to Securing Your
Financial Future
Building Wealth is a personal finance education resource that can be used individually or in the classroom to help young people develop a plan for building personal wealth. It presents an overview of personal wealth-building strategies that includes setting financial goals, budgeting, saving and investing, managing debt, and understanding credit reports and credit scores.
Building Wealth Guide
- View print version
- Order a classroom set
- Play Interactive version
- Download to PC (52MB)
- Download to Mac (72MB)
- Order CD (for PC and Mac)
Building Wealth in the Classroom
These lesson plans are designed to facilitate the use of Building Wealth in high school classes. The lessons use a variety of instructional techniques and include student activities, handouts and presentation visuals.
The Texas Legislature mandated the teaching of personal finance education in the economics high school classroom. The Texas State Board of Education approved Building Wealth as one of the resources that meets this mandate.
- Building Wealth in the Classroom: Introduction and Lesson Descriptions
- Lesson 1: Budget to Save: What Does It Mean to Be Wealthy?
- Lesson 2: Budget to Save: Developing a Budget
- Lesson 3: Save and Invest: The Power of Interest
- Lesson 4: Save and Invest: Put It in the Bank
- Lesson 5: Save and Invest: Stocks—Owning Part of a Company
- Lesson 6: Save and Invest: Bonds—Lending Your Money
- Lesson 7: New Entrepreneur lesson coming soon
- Lesson 8: Save and Invest: The Rise and Fall of Risk and Return
- Lesson 9: Take Control of Debt: Use Credit Wisely
- Lesson 10: Take Control of Debt: Do Your (Credit) Homework
- Lesson 11: Take Control of Debt: Are You Credit Worthy? Check Your Credit Report
- Lesson 12: Take Control of Debt: Not All Loans Are the Same
- Lesson 13: Take Control of Debt: Become a Savvy Borrower
- Assessment
Smart Board Lessons
- 1. Budget to Save: The Balance Sheet
Procedure | SMART Board lesson - 2. Budget to Save: Developing a Budget
Procedure | SMART Board lesson - 3. Save and Invest: Put It in the Bank
Procedure | SMART Board lesson - 4. Save and Invest: Owning versus Renting
Procedure | SMART Board lesson - 5. Save and Invest: Stocks—Owning Part of a Company
Procedure | SMART Board lesson - 6. Save and Invest: Bonds—Lending Your Money
Procedure | SMART Board lesson - 7. Save and Invest: Diversification
Procedure | SMART Board lesson | Mututal Fund Fact Sheet - 8. Save and Invest: Investing for a Lifetime
Procedure | SMART Board lesson | Mututal Fund Fact Sheet - 9. Save and Invest: Risk and Return
Procedure | SMART Board lesson - 10. Control Debt: Use Credit Wisely
Procedure | SMART Board lesson
Payment Calculators
Use these calculators to estimate finance charges and payment schedules for various types of credit.
Disclaimer: These calculators are intended solely for general information and educational purposes. You should not take any action on the basis of the information provided through these calculators. The results of using these calculators may not be applicable or accurate with regard to your individual circumstances.
Reprint Information
Building Wealth may be reprinted in whole or in part for training purposes, provided it includes credit to the publication and the Federal Reserve Bank of Dallas.