Maybe the System is Designed to Keep you Financially Illiterate
We teach kids algebra and Shakespeare, but not how to avoid a lifetime of debt. Why?
It makes no sense.
We teach our kids math, reading, English, and science—which I fully support. These are essential subjects. But there’s one subject that every single child will face every single day for the rest of their lives: money.
Finance.
Not stocks or hedge funds or advanced investment strategy. Just the basics. Budgeting. Interest. Debt. Taxes. Saving. Yet somehow, this subject is nowhere to be found in most K–12 curricula.
I’ve said this for years; probably too many times to count. But maybe it gets brushed aside because of my bias as a Financial Advisor, having worked in the industry for 17+ years. 😉
Still, the point remains: the data doesn’t lie.
A Nation Drowning in Debt
Let’s zoom out. The United States is now more than $37 trillion in debt. Think about that number. Trillion. With a T.
To put that in perspective:
If you spent $1 million every single day since the birth of Jesus Christ, you still wouldn’t have spent $1 trillion.
We’re at thirty-seven of those.
We can blame a lot of factors—entitlement programs, defense spending, low tax revenues, etc. but at the core, it’s a failure to understand and respect the consequences of compounding interest and fiscal restraint.
Maybe if more politicians had been taught the real meaning of debt, amortization, and compound growth, we wouldn’t be in this mess.
It’s Not Just Washington
But let’s not just throw stones at D.C. This problem exists everywhere—on every block, in every household.
Here’s what we’re up against:
Credit card debt in the U.S. just hit a new high of $1.33 trillion as of mid-2025.
Auto loan debt is now over $1.6 trillion, with average monthly payments reaching record levels.
Student loan debt? Still hovering around $1.77 trillion, even after recent forgiveness efforts.
These aren’t just numbers. These are real lives under real financial pressure.
It’s Not About What You Make
Now, I know some will point out that wages haven’t kept pace with inflation. That’s a valid concern, and a conversation worth having.
But I can tell you from nearly two decades in the industry: it’s not just about what you make. It’s about how you manage what you make.
I once sat across the table from a very successful VP. He looked at me and said, “I really wish I would have met you in my 20s. It probably would have saved me a million dollars.”
This isn’t to brag, I did the same thing I do with every client. I start with first principles and help them focus on what matters in a world trying to sell them everything from cryptocurrencies to timeshares to whatever the hot thing is that week.
I’ve also sat across from people pulling in six or seven figures who live paycheck to paycheck. And I’ve seen millionaires built on modest incomes, simply because they understood how to spend less than they earned, avoid debt traps, and invest steadily over time.
It’s not magic. It’s math, and mindset.
Living Within Our Means
There is a common thread running through every layer of this problem, from individual households to Congress.
We don’t know how to live within our means.
Or maybe worse: we don’t want to.
We’ve normalized debt. We’ve glorified consumerism. We’ve tied our identities to what we own rather than what we build.
And yet we wonder why so many young people feel overwhelmed, underprepared, and financially hopeless.
So Why Isn’t This Taught?
If the consequences of poor financial decisions are this obvious, why aren’t we teaching the basics of money management in every high school in America?
That’s the million-dollar question.
You don’t need to teach calculus to teach compounding interest. You don’t need to explain bond spreads to explain budgeting. You just need to care enough to prepare kids for real life.
So why don’t we?
Is it oversight? Incompetence? Or something worse—a system that benefits from financial confusion?
Either way, it’s time to fix it.
Final Thought
Selfishly, I know my son is going to be fine when it comes to financial literacy. But what about everyone else?
I don’t know who you know or what your connections are, but if you believe this matters, please spread the word.
Because when you teach a child how to manage money, you don’t just change their bank account… you change their future.
Written by Luke, from the Middle
Well said, Luke!!!