This episode features special guest Mellody Hobson, co-CEO and president of Ariel Investments and New York Times bestselling author of Priceless facts about money discusses financial literacy, education and the underestimated potential of young people.
Hobson explains that although her book is written for children, adults make up a large part of the audience. “I use children to reach adults… I call it the adult gateway book,” she says.
Inspired by the pandemic and the ongoing gap in American financial literacy, Hobson wanted to create a resource that makes money concepts fun, accessible, and rooted in real facts.
“Children can learn anything if you don’t underestimate them,” she says.
That belief is reflected in the Ariel Community Academy model, where students begin learning about saving and investing in first grade using real dollars.
When asked what concept she would like every high school teacher to emphasize, Hobson doesn’t hesitate: “Compound interest. If I could only teach one thing, that would be it.”
She describes it as a force that can build wealth or create long-term debt, depending on whether students understand it early enough.
To hear the full discussion with NGPF’s Yanely Espinal, including Hobson’s personal story and practical teaching insights, listen to the full episode on Apple Podcasts or Spotify.
Links and transcript available here.
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