All My Money: A financial series offered for youth

    Because many youth have not received any formal or informal training on financial management, they are facing higher levels of debt. Without this training, youth are unprepared to make sound choices with money as they prepare for life on their own.
    According to youth.gov, the average debt of students when they graduated from college rose from $18,550 in 2004 to $28,950 in 2014. That is a 56 percent increase. In addition, from 2004 to 2009, the median credit card debt among college students increased 74 percent. The National Endowment for Financial Education reports from the Program for International Student Assessment PISA in 2012 that 1 in 5 teens (22 percent) lack basic financial literacy skills. Years later, these numbers have likely increased.
    Justin Clevenger, a loan officer from First Pioneer National Bank, and Tracy Trumper, an extension agent with CSU Extension, are partnering to help students make informed decisions with their money through an All My Money financial management class for youth.

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