As National Financial Literacy Awareness Month comes to a close, here’s a look back at SFEPD’s efforts and activities to promote financial literacy.

Celebrating Financial Literacy Month: Wells Fargo Foundation and SFEPD Partner to Empower Students

In recognition of Financial Literacy Month, the Wells Fargo Foundation partnered with the Society for Financial Education and Professional Development (SFEPD) to deliver financial education to high school students at:

• Alexandria City High School (Northern Virginia)
• H.D. Woodson STEM High School (Washington, DC)
• Fairmount Heights High School (Prince George's County)

Wells Fargo volunteers led Hands on Banking sessions, helping students develop skills in budgeting, smart shopping, and making informed financial choices. The program also introduced students to the SFEPD Student Ambassador Programs at Howard University and Morgan State and offered guidance on financial preparation for college.

To cap off the event, the Wells Fargo Foundation donated $50,000 to SFEPD, with $10,000 going to each participating high school to strengthen their financial education efforts. Together, we helped students build stronger financial futures!

Jump$tart Coalition Partners Meeting & Annual Awards Luncheon

SFEPD proudly attended the Jump$tart Coalition Partners Meeting and Annual Awards Luncheon. Jump$tart is a national nonprofit coalition made up of more than 100 organizations from business, finance, academia, education, government, and other sectors, along with a network of 51 state affiliates, all united by a commitment to promoting “financial smarts for students.” We were especially proud to see SFEPD Student Ambassador Nathaniel Hill from Howard University participate in a panel discussion on Combating Misinformation from Social Media “Fin-Fluencers.” Nathaniel is pictured here alongside SFEPD Oversight Professor Alex Pianim and SFEPD staff members.

Student Ambassador Program

Shoutout to our amazing SFEPD Student Ambassadors for making Financial Literacy Week 2025 a huge success!

Your energy, leadership, and commitment to “Building Wealth: Learn. Plan. Prosper.” were on full display all week long. From hosting interactive workshops and game nights to sparking great conversations at campus booths, you helped your peers level up their money management skills and take charge of their financial futures. We’re so proud of everything you accomplished—keep up the phenomenal work!

SFEPD Financial Educators

The SFEPD Financial Educators are continuing to spread our mission to enhance financial and economic literacy and to promote the professional development of individuals and communities through our Mind Over Money Skills presentations at HBCUs. Check out some of the presentations our financial educators have completed this month to see the impact we’re making! Email us today at info@sfepd.org to schedule a presentation on your campus for the Spring semester or even plan ahead for Fall 2025.

Student Loan Debt Surges Among Seniors

According to data from the Department of Education, the number of federal student loan debtors aged 62 and older went from 1.7 million in 2017 to 2.8 million in 2024 — a 65 percent increase. And when you include 60- and 61-year-old student loan debtors, the number jumps to more than 3.6 million, per a Consumer Financial Protection Bureau analysis. Within this demographic, the average loan balances range from $17,857 to $44,834.

Source: Bankrate.com

Coming Soon

Quarterly Talks with Ted: Wealth Inequality

Mark your calendar for our next SFEPD Quarterly Talks with Ted Daniels on Wednesday, June 26 at 11:00 A.M. EST, featuring special guest Dr. Ana Kent, Senior Researcher at the Federal Reserve Bank of St. Louis. This live webinar will explore the persistent and growing issue of wealth inequality in America. Dr. Kent is co-author of the study, "U.S. Wealth Inequality: Widespread Gains, but Gaps Remain," which reveals how wealth disparities continue across racial, generational, and educational lines despite overall financial gains. Click the image below to register.

SFEPD Financial Literacy Camp:

Preparing Future Leaders

SFEPD’s weeklong virtual Financial Literacy Camp teaches high school students essential skills in budgeting, saving, investing, and credit. Students also build leadership and teamwork skills, earn certificates, prizes, and a gift card for their achievements. Click image for more information!

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