Putting lessons into practice: Money Coach alumni share the impact
March 4, 2026
At a recent Your Two Cents event at Northwestern Mutual, five Money Coach alumni gathered for an intimate panel conversation to reflect on where they started and how financial education through the Money Coach program changed their trajectory.
Yasmeen, Daniel, Hamarei, Brandon, and Kat represent different graduating classes, different schools, and different seasons of life. One is a senior preparing for college. One is building a business while raising four children. One is guiding young adults through housing decisions. One is pursuing a future in broadcasting while already investing for retirement. And one is teaching financial lessons to the next generation. But as they shared their stories, a clear through line emerged: learning how to manage money early didn’t just change their bank accounts, it changed their mindset.
Spending smarter, dreaming bigger
Brandon, who participated in Money Coach in 2024, remembers what those first paychecks felt like. “I was like, oh, I’m making all this money, so I was just spend, spend, spend,” he shared. “But then my Money Coach taught me that putting my money away will eventually put me in a better situation in the future.”
Today, Brandon is not only tracking his spending, but he’s opened a Roth IRA and is watching compound interest at work (even if it’s tempting to check it a little too often).
“Money Coach gave me the confidence to take that step and be able to say I can save my money now and spend later. It’s hard not to keep checking how it’s doing, though,” he laughed.
Brandon is no longer thinking about the next purchase. He’s thinking about the kind of father he wants to be someday, one who’s able to provide without stress and able to say yes without sacrificing his own stability. “I want to be able to be there for my future kids.”
Tracking today, winning tomorrow
For Daniel, a current high school senior preparing for college, the transformation was just as powerful.
“What I learned at Money Coach was tracking how I spend my money,” he said. “Before I started the program, I was definitely not doing any of that.”
Using a spreadsheet to log income and expenses gave him clarity he’d never had before. And unlike many lessons that fade after the class is over, this one stuck.
“The program is over, but I still use the spreadsheet today.”
For a teenager juggling school and club soccer, building the habit of tracking money now means entering adulthood with confidence instead of confusion.
Budgeting like a boss
Hamarei participated in Money Coach back in 2014. At the time, she was a high school student working at Burger King and spending freely with friends.
“I was literally going around spending money just carelessly,” she admitted.
A simple suggestion from her mentor changed everything: start by saving $20 from each paycheck.
“That helped me so much in paying my bills. I’m able to just budget, and I’m super grateful for Money Coach for teaching me how to.”
Today, she’s a mother of four and the owner of a small business approaching its two-year anniversary. The budgeting skills she built as a teenager now guide decisions about inventory, expenses, and long-term planning. As the oldest of seven siblings and the daughter of immigrants, she understands firsthand how access matters.
“Not everyone is fortunate enough to receive this kind of education,” she said. “I feel like this should be a class everyone takes before they graduate.”
Paying it forward
Yasmeen, who completed Money Coach in Spring 2024, is already creating a ripple effect.
After learning about credit and its long-term impact, she made a decision that surprised even herself.
“Money Coach taught me that I would not be able to get far in life if I didn’t have some kind of good credit,” Yasmeen said. “So I decided to start paying my own bills and building my credit.”
Now a junior educator at Teens Grow Greens and a college student, Yasmeen is preparing to teach financial lessons to younger students, from needs versus wants to building credit, to financing a car.
“It makes me feel good that I’m able to teach kids around my age about this kind of thing,” she said. “I love it.”
Lasting lessons
Kat, a 2018 alum and recent MBA graduate, now works as a youth system navigator supporting young adults ages 18 to 25, many navigating housing independence for the first time.
The lessons she learned as a teen in the Money Coach program now inform the guidance she offers young adults making some of their first major financial decisions, from budgeting to housing.
Recently, she had the opportunity to lead a session for a group of first-time renters, walking them through what it really means to manage bills, utilities, and independence.
“That was really a good full-circle moment for me,” she shared.
For Kat, the impact of Money Coach didn’t end when the program did. She also spoke about the value of staying connected through the alumni network, from workshops to scholarship opportunities, and how that continued support reinforces that she’s still part of something bigger.
“It just adds to that long-term aspect of the program. I’m still a part of this because I was a part of it in high school.”
Mentorship in action
Throughout the evening, business leaders in attendance participated in flash mentoring, answering student questions and reinforcing what was clear from the panel itself: when teens are given the tools, guidance, and belief that they can take control of their financial futures, they rise to meet the moment.
From spreadsheets to Roth IRAs. From $20 savings goals to business ownership. From learning about credit to teaching it.
The Your Two Cents event wasn’t just a conversation about money. It was a reminder that investing in teens today creates adults who are prepared, purposeful, and ready to pay it forward. Learn more about how you can get involved in empowering teens with financial capability!