WHY FINANCIAL LITERACY MATTERS
Financial Education Is No Longer Optional
The financial decisions young people make today can impact them for years to come.
Credit. Student loans. Budgeting. Taxes. Insurance. Investing. Homeownership. Entrepreneurship. Retirement.
Understanding these concepts early gives young people the knowledge and confidence to make informed decisions, avoid costly mistakes, build wealth, and create greater opportunities for themselves and their families.
Across the country, states are recognizing that financial literacy must be part of preparing students for adulthood.
THE MOVEMENT IS GROWING
30 STATES
now guarantee high school students access to a standalone personal-finance course.
11 STATES
have fully implemented those statewide requirements, with 19 more in the process of implementation.
39 STATES
require some form of personal-finance coursework for high school graduation—either as a standalone course or integrated into another course.
5 MILLION STUDENTS
are reached each school year by Next Gen Personal Finance alone, demonstrating the growing national investment in financial education.
Sources: Next Gen Personal Finance, 2026 Live U.S. Dashboard; Council for Economic Education, 2026 Survey of the States.
BUT EDUCATION SHOULD GO BEYOND THE CLASSROOM
Knowing that financial literacy matters is only the beginning.
At INAM, we want students to see what financial knowledge looks like in real life.
That is where athletes can make a difference.
ATHLETES HAVE A PLATFORM. INAM HELPS TURN IT INTO PURPOSE.
Young people look up to athletes.
But behind every jersey is a person who has had to learn how to manage money, make career decisions, overcome adversity, build relationships, plan for the future, and prepare for life beyond the game.
INAM connects athletes with young people so those experiences can become lessons.
Through mentorship, workshops, community programs, and real conversations, athletes can help students understand:
Financial Literacy — How to budget, save, invest, understand credit, build wealth, and make informed financial decisions.
Life Skills — How to communicate, lead, make decisions, overcome adversity, and take responsibility for their future.
Career Development — How to identify opportunities, build relationships, develop professionally, and understand that success can take many different forms.
MORE THAN AN ATHLETE
We want young people to see athletes not simply for what they accomplish on the field or court, but for what they can accomplish with their influence off of it.
Athletes can become mentors.
Athletes can become educators.
Athletes can become entrepreneurs and business leaders.
Athletes can open doors for the generation coming behind them.
And sometimes one conversation, one relationship, or one opportunity can completely change the direction of a young person's life.
THAT'S WHAT INAM IS ABOUT.
It's Not About Me.
It's about using your platform, experiences, relationships, and resources to create opportunities for someone else.
Use Your Platform. Share Your Knowledge. Impact the Next Generation.