Details below are grouped by concurrent session focus and listed alphabetically.
Click on the session name to see the description.
Please review the full agenda for times and locations.
General
Beyond the Basics: Using Behavioral Finance to Transform Financial Literacy for Lasting Change
Traditional financial literacy programs often teach the mechanics of personal finance without addressing the underlying behavioral patterns that drive financial decision-making. This session goes beyond basic financial education by incorporating behavioral finance principles that focus on how people think, why they make certain financial decisions, and how educators can use these insights to promote real, positive change. By engaging directly with cognitive biases like loss aversion, mental accounting, and present bias, financial educators can foster a deeper connection to financial concepts and create a more impactful, results-driven learning experience.
Designed for a diverse audience, this session combines discussion, live experiments, and interactive exercises that illuminate how behavioral finance can transform financial literacy into an actionable, behavior-focused experience. Participants will leave equipped with adaptable techniques they can incorporate into any existing financial literacy program to inspire more mindful, sustainable financial behavior. Join Joel, Monday at 10:30am
Elevating Standards: Exploring the Need for a Financial Education Designation to Protect Consumers
This session explores the potential benefits of establishing a formal financial education designation in Canada. Drawing on insights from stakeholder and consumer surveys, as well as an analysis of existing financial education providers and certification programs, the presentation will discuss how standardized training can enhance consumer protection and elevate the quality of financial education nationwide. Join Stacy & Mack, Tuesday at 10:30am
Empower & Educate: Community Financial Partnerships
In today’s evolving financial landscape, the strength of a community lies in its ability to collaborate and share resources. This session will explore the critical role that local organizations, businesses, and educational institutions play in delivering impactful financial education. This session will highlight successful strategies for leveraging diverse community partnerships to create accessible, relevant, and effective financial education programs. Join us to learn how to forge strong partnerships including nonprofits, schools, local businesses, and government agencies, to collectively empower individuals and families. Through real-life examples and actionable insights, attendees will leave with a deeper understanding of how to harness local networks and resources to build financial literacy, strengthen economic resilience, and create lasting community wealth. Join Brittany, Monday at 2:15pm
Empowering Financial Futures: Practical Tools for Underserved Communities
Discover how to break the cycle of generational poverty and build lasting wealth through innovative financial literacy strategies. This session explores practical tools and approaches to help underserved communities create generational social and financial wealth. Learn actionable steps for budgeting, saving, investing, and avoiding predatory lending practices while fostering impactful relationships with financial institutions. Empower families to shift their mindset, embrace sustainable wealth creation, and contribute to stronger communities. This interactive workshop will provide educators and professionals with a holistic roadmap for financial stability tailored to diverse cultural needs. Join Eric, Tuesday at 2:15pm
Financial Cybersecurity
This talk introduces ACFE attendees to common methods for how and why cybercriminal target individuals. It follows with high value cybersecurity skills we can use to make us a harder target without needing to become a security expert. At the end of the talk, attendees will better recognize how basic cybersecurity hygiene can reduce the odds of a successful attack on their finances, and lower the impact when it happens. Topics include descriptions and examples of past crimes that could impact anyone, along with techniques to increase the security both inside your sphere of influence (e.g., your home) and outside (e.g., your bank). Join Phil, Wednesday at 9:15am
How Reality TV and Technology Can Improve Financial Health
At time when over 60% of households say they live paycheck to paycheck, when over 40 million people are considered “financially unhealthy,” and trust in institutions is at an all-time low, it’s time to reconsider traditional approaches to financial education. Attendees will discover how the award-winning Opportunity Knocks reality show (on PBS and streaming) paired with free interactive online tools create accessible, culturally relevant plans for those struggling with their financial health. This session will explore the Opportunity Initiative’s unique approach to fostering financial wellness grounded in behavioral science. See how authentic storytelling combined with accessible technology can improve financial literacy and drive positive financial behaviors and outcomes. Engaging viewers with relatable stories and offering actionable guidance through technology allows us to connect with a broad audience that traditional financial outreach often overlook, building trust and empowering economic mobility. Join Michael, Tuesday at 3:30pm
Rebranding Financial Literacy: A Forward Future
In this session we will explore how to redefine financial education to make it more accessible, engaging, and relevant for diverse audiences in today’s dynamic financial landscape. By modernizing the message, integrating innovative tools, and addressing the unique needs of underserved communities, this session aims to empower individuals with practical financial knowledge and motivate behavioral change. Join Caroline, Tuesday at 9:15am
The Quest to Make Personal Finance a High School Requirement in New York State
For attendees interested in how elected officials and advocates work together to change policy, this session is a “How- To” on how efforts are presented and what outcomes follow. Since 2019, the Office of the New York State Comptroller has advocated for a required personal finance class to graduate high school. This position was brought before the state Department of Education. While initial DOE support was strong, recent recommendations call for personal finance to be taught within another subject area, or as a stand-alone class, but does not require a separate course. This session will examine the advocacy history, the current DOE plan, and ongoing efforts to ensure personal finance is taught effectively with trained teachers. Join Maria, Monday at 3:30pm
Social Streams to Retirement Dreams: Unique Financial Education Considerations for Each Generation
Gen Alpha, Millennials, Baby Boomers, and everyone in between all want financial education, but the information they want, and the delivery model that works best for them are not all the same. This engaging session will explore the unique needs, influencing milestones, hallmark characteristics, and best strategies to reach each generation so your financial education program can be a popular, relevant resource for all ages. Join Emily, Monday at 9:15am
Transforming Financial Literacy into Interactive eLearning
Join us for an exciting, interactive session where we’ll take you on a journey to create impactful eLearning programs in financial literacy! We’ll kick things off with a fun icebreaker demonstrating how enjoyable financial education can be when transformed into an engaging eLearning experience. We’ll delve into the key concepts of a Learning Management System (LMS) and share how we successfully implemented one for the Credit Counselling Society. Our discussion will cover the essential steps we took, including project management strategies, vendor evaluation, and the change management process to ensure a smooth transition. We’ll also share our experiences with critical phases such as testing, soft rollout, and the official launch. Finally, we’ll outline our vision for the future of eLearning, drawing on insights for sustainability, client testimonials, and strategies for meeting diverse learner needs—ensuring our content resonates with everyone, from ESL learners to those seeking flexible pacing. Don’t miss this opportunity to learn how financial literacy can be transformed into an engaging and accessible experience in the digital world! Join Manraj & Catherine, Wednesday at 10:30am
What You Need to Know about the Trillion-Dollar Debt
The record high US $1 trillion credit card debt is a result of several factors: an increasing number of credit card accounts, inflation, increased interest rates, and credit card account management. While most factors are out of the control of consumers, credit card account management is not. Cardholders have the responsibility to know what’s involved in using this unsecured loan. Informational content presented will address how credit cards work and how to avoid costly pitfalls of mismanagement. This session will explore the history, purpose, and function of credit cards. Join Jeannette, Monday at 1:00pm
Your Money, Your Brain, and Strategic Money Decisions
Have you ever spent money when you were stressed out? Made a purchase because a friend did? Gone to the store when you were hungry and bought a cart-full of junk food? Wondered where that last $20 went? Assumed debt that wasn’t necessary? Wished you could control your spending? Made an impulse purchase you later regretted? The money decisions we make are informed by many inputs, including our background, experiences, and environment. This interactive session will unpack these inputs along with the basics of brain development and some psychological biases that impact nearly every money decision we make. All of us can make more strategic money decisions. Join this session to learn how! Join Theresa, Tuesday at 1:00pm
K-12
Empowering the Next Generation: Teaching Financial Literacy in K-12 Classrooms
In this session, Miria Gray, Community Education Officer at Chelsea Groton Bank, will explore the importance of integrating financial literacy into K-12 classrooms and provide practical strategies for educators to equip students with essential money management skills. Financial literacy is crucial in preparing students for adulthood, this session will offer actionable steps and resources to empower educators in creating engaging, age-appropriate financial education content. Join Miria, Monday at 10:30am
Empowering Youth Through Financial Literacy
At this event I will present how the Youth Economics Initiative, the largest student run financial literacy nonprofit with over 4500+ students, is incorporating knowledge into youth education using practical. This includes student led and novel teaching approaches, empowering students to make wise financial choices and establish a solid groundwork for long term financial security. Participants will learn about resources and methods that appeal to people today and promote active participation and comprehension of financial literacy from a young age. Join Jeffrey, Monday at 1:00pm
Financial Field Trips: How to Teach Financial Literacy through Exploration
Financial Field Trips bridges the gap between theoretical knowledge and practical application, making financial concepts relevant for students through field trips to car dealerships and investment properties to simulate the car and home-buying process. Attendees can look forward to learning engaging strategies for teaching financial literacy, turning boring math topics into real-world problem-solving exercise, exploring cross-content integration of CCSS and Financial Literacy Standards, and gaining expert insight and best practices for successfully integrating financial field trips into the curriculum. Join Whitney, Tuesday at 3:30pm
Focus on the FUN in Financial Fundamentals
Find the fun in financial fundamentals by exploring relevant data and examples from leisure, entertainment, and tourism. Like many others, these industries work to attract our discretionary dollars. Let’s consider how planning to include “fun money” in your budget and understanding your behaviors and decisions related to entertainment spending can help you (and your students) stay on track to meet financial goals. This hands-on session will share free resources and delve into data using student-relevant strategies that you can take back to the classroom. Leave this session with the tools needed to help your students be financially responsible while integrating fun into the fundamentals. Join Claire, Tuesday at 10:30am
Join 100K+ Teachers who use NGPF Personal Finance Curriculum in their Grade 6-12 Classrooms!!
Are you looking for timely, interactive, meaningful, FUN and FREE Personal Finance curriculum that your students will remember long after they leave your middle or high school classroom? Look no further!!! NGPF & NV Dept. of Education will share the Top 3 Classroom Resources Teachers use every day, IN EVERY STATE to engage their students with impactful, relevant, fully customizable lessons. “Question of the Day” bell ringers, “Fin Cap Friday” and Interactive Arcade Games will be shared. Short videos, EdPuzzle quizzes and creative content will also be highlighted. Don’t miss this session opportunity to experience NGPF and to explore culturally relevant, highly diverse, interactive lessons with student activities. NGPF curriculum and professional learning for teachers is and always has been, FREE. Classroom materials available in English and Spanish. Join Sheila & Amanda, Monday at 2:15pm
Storyboards and Resources from the Personal Economic Model
The Personal Economic Model is a visual representation of personal finance decisions. It’s purpose is to illustrate the importance of balancing current lifestyle expenses with future lifestyle desires. The model can be used to convey concepts in presentations while the resources/calculators provide the details. They can also be used for homework assignments or exercises. Participants will be given an overview of the model, how to use it, and be provided assignments. Join Joeseph, Tuesday at 1:00pm
Teachers Need Curriculum, Not Content!
Many educators haven’t received formal training in teaching financial literacy, leading to challenges in their confidence and effectiveness when presenting this critical subject. With the introduction of new mandates designating financial literacy as a core curriculum requirement, there is an urgent need to transition from fragmented resources to a comprehensive and cohesive curriculum. This presentation will explore strategies to empower educators with the knowledge and tools necessary to deliver impactful financial literacy curriculum, ultimately equipping students for successful financial futures. Join Jedidiah, Tuesday at 2:15pm
The Future of Financial Education
Join this engaging session to uncover the latest research and practical strategies for making financial education impactful for students. Discover how attitudes, motivations, and decision-making behaviors shape financial literacy and why it’s critical to start teaching these skills early. Learn how financial socialization begins at a young age, with children forming core money-related habits and values by age seven based on family dynamics and parental modeling. By involving families in students’ financial education, you can create a powerful “trickle-up” effect that benefits not just students but their parents as well. Join Rebecca, Monday at 3:30pm
College
Challenges To Solutions: Training Your Team for Successful Financial Coaching Experiences
Successful coaching lays the foundation for building trust and empowering students to achieve lasting financial success. In this session, participants will learn how to equip their teams with the knowledge and skills needed to navigate challenging financial coaching situations. Focused on transforming challenges into opportunities, this session offers practical tips for managing tough conversations with the use of real-life student case studies. Join Paul, Monday at 3:30pm
EmpowerED Alliances: Student Mentor Conference for Financial Excellence
Peer mentoring boosts student support, mentor knowledge, and career opportunities. To combat mentor isolation, we created the Student Mentor Alliance Conference (SMAC). This session delves into program inception and strategies for cultivating support networks for peer mentors. Join Gabrielle, Tuesday at 10:30am
Finance in the Foothills: Gen Z Financial Capability at an Appalachian College
What can Appalachian college students do with a little financial knowledge? After a few nudges each semester, these underserved young people demonstrate concrete changes in behavior and capability. Learn about how extracurricular workshops at Berea College have increased students’ ability to do a lot with a little. Join Daniel, Monday at 10:30am
How to Improve Your Tabling Experience
Does your financial education program table on campus? Do students avoid your eye contact as they just grab your free stuff off the table? Come learn how to increase your student follow up and engagement at tabling events as you maximize your time and effort. Join Emily, Tuesday at 1:00pm
Incorporating Sociology into Financial Literacy Education
This session will provide a rationale for using Sociology in Financial Literacy Education that moves beyond the individual to consider issues of inequality, community, and citizenship. This allows for a broader view of financial literacy than traditional conceptions. Join Kevin, Monday at 2:15pm
The Intersectionality of Financial Aid, Literacy, and Wellness
The pursuit of a better life drives us all, from the youngest student to the most seasoned executive. We wake up every Monday morning and strive for progress, for a brighter future. But on this road to prosperity, there’s a crucial intersection that can significantly impact our social mobility. It’s where the path of financial aid meets the crossroads of financial literacy and financial wellness. Imagine this intersection: students, eager to pursue their dreams, arrive at this juncture. Some are equipped with the knowledge and skills to navigate it confidently, understanding the complexities of financial aid, loans, budgeting, and long-term financial planning. Many others, however, may find themselves lost and overwhelmed, lacking the tools and access to sound guidance to make informed decisions. In this session, we’ll examine how we, as facilitators, administrators, and educators, can act as traffic controllers, guiding students to successfully navigate this complex intersection. We’ll explore strategies to empower them with the knowledge and skills needed to make informed financial decisions, understand the true cost of education, and build a foundation for long-term financial well-being. By providing the right support and guidance, we can ensure they secure a healthy “right of way” towards their future. Join Justin, Monday at 1:00pm
Unlocking Futures at Florida’s Most Diverse Public University
Join us for an insightful session on how to build a Financial Wellness Program from the ground up, designed to support underrepresented, low-income, and first-generation students in their journey to success. At Florida Atlantic University, we recognize that financial barriers are one of the biggest challenges to student access, persistence, and graduation. This session will guide you through the process of creating a program that empowers students with essential financial knowledge, from navigating FAFSA and scholarships to mastering budgeting, credit protection, and saving. Learn practical strategies to develop a comprehensive financial literacy initiative that can enhance student retention, persistence, and graduation, while addressing the unique needs of your diverse student population. Join Tamsyn & Alexis, Tuesday at 2:15pm