Last month, we highlighted a report from TIAA Institute that showed financial literacy among Americans had fallen to its lowest level on record, and that roughly 25% of adults now fall into the very low financial literacy category.

But there is hope.

A recent survey offers a more encouraging perspective: the next generation is eager to learn. According to Intuit’s latest Financial Education survey, 85% of U.S. high school students want personal finance taught in school, and among students who already receive financial education, an overwhelming 95% say it’s helpful. That level of demand suggests financial literacy isn’t a topic young people are avoiding — it’s one they’re actively seeking.

Can you blame them? High school students are growing up in a time of soaring vehicle and housing prices, persistent inflation, and growing uncertainty about their future due to AI. It’s no surprise they’re eager to learn the fundamentals now rather than figure it out later, especially as affordability has remained Americans’ No. 1 financial concern for five straight years.

The survey also highlights where the biggest knowledge gaps exist. More than half of students say they don’t understand basic investing concepts like stocks and bonds. Nearly half aren’t familiar with retirement accounts such as 401(k)s, while many also struggle with taxes. Yet when asked what they most want to learn, the answers were remarkably practical: how to build wealth, save money, and avoid debt.

Perhaps one of the more surprising findings is where students are not getting their information. While social media often dominates conversations about financial education, only 19% of high school students say they use it as a primary source for personal finance. Instead, 81% still turn to their parents or guardians. That reinforces an important reality: financial habits often begin long before someone becomes a client.

For advisors, the takeaway goes beyond encouraging financial education; it may be a reminder to engage the next generation earlier. If today’s high school students are entering adulthood with significant gaps in investing, retirement, and taxes, many future clients will likely carry those same knowledge gaps with them.

Rather than assuming younger family members understand the basics, advisors can include them in family planning conversations and help prepare them for the financial decisions they’ll eventually face. In many cases, transferring financial knowledge may be just as important as transferring wealth.

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