Never Too Early
Financial literacy is something we’ll all need to know one day, but according to Next Gen Personal Finance’s 2025 State of Financial Education Report, only 26.3% of U.S. public high school students are guaranteed to take a personal finance course. Some states are fighting to beat the odds and increase access to the subject. In December 2023, Wisconsin Governor Tony Evers signed Act 60 into law, which will require students to take a half-credit course in financial literacy to graduate, beginning with the class of 2028.
But you don’t have to be a Governor to help make a difference, and Brendan Carlson is proving that true. For over a year, Carlson has been holding investment clubs and personal finance classes around Milwaukee for elementary and middle schoolers called Investment Scholars. Investment Scholars has taught students as young as second grade.
“[Kids], they’re just ready to learn. It wasn’t a heavy lift for the kids to understand,” said Carlson.
Financial literacy isn’t always the easiest conversation to have, especially with a kid, which is why Carlson finds ways to make it digestible for the kids. He does things like comparing stocks to chips and teaching kids that with the help of their parents, they can buy stock through their Cash App card.
Carlson’s nine-year-old son has stock in Apple.
“You can walk around school saying I own Apple. You just need $10,” he said.
Investment Scholars was started because Carlson saw a lack of “money classes,” so he wanted to do his part. He said that learning about money is maybe one of the most important things in life. He added that he doesn’t understand why schools aren’t teaching the subject.
“Our kids…their potential is super high,” said Carlson.
An Interest for Cash
Carlson is a full-time social worker who has always had an urge to teach about money. As a kid, he and his sister sold lemonade and bracelets.
“Really, from a kid, I was interested in cash transactions,” said Carlson.
The goal of teaching his classes is to prevent others from making the same mistakes that he has. Carlson and his wife were the first ones in their circle to purchase a home, and they were also the first to lose their home.
“The future is bright. The future is now. It’s never too early to start financial literacy and to start companies,” said Carlson.
