Sure, you may be done with school, but learning is a lifelong pursuit, especially when it comes to your finances. Understanding all your options and learning more about how money really works will unlock the seeds for growth. The key is to find ways of learning that feel fun, so you’ll keep going.
1. Read books about money
If you’re a bookworm, this one is a no-brainer. Even if you haven’t picked up a book in a while, you might consider it. Most titles are available in multiple formats, from traditional print to digital and audiobooks. Many people who may not want to sit still with a hardback become huge fans of listening to audiobooks during a commute, while doing chores around the house, walking or working out.
To up the chances you score a great read, our expert Dr. Gilbert Rogers, Financial Education and Wellness Manager, suggests asking for recommendations from like-minded friends, family members and co-workers. In fact, his current top three book recos are all word-of-mouth suggestions. “Ask Questions, Save Money, Make More by Matt Schultz was a book I wouldn’t have normally looked at, but someone gave it to me,” says Dr. Rogers. It’s a hands-on money manual that empowers you to ask 45 fiscal questions across categories including credit and debt, healthcare, housing, shopping, travel, work and relationships.
Here are three titles Dr. Rogers recommends:
Ask Questions, Save Money, Make More: How to Take Control of Your Financial Life, by Matt Schulz, Countryman Press, 2024
The premise here is to advocate for yourself and negotiate for better rates, lower prices, rightfully deserved refunds and even a fair split when you’re out to dinner with a group. Because sometimes all you have to do is ask to keep more money in your pocket.
Your Money or Your Life: 9 Steps to Transforming Your Relationship with Money and Achieving Financial Independence, by Vicki Robin and Joe Dominguez, Penguin Books, 2008
This book is recommended by Dr. Rogers… and Oprah. She says: “This is a wonderful book. It can really change your life.” Indeed, hundreds of thousands of people have followed the 9-step program to learn to live more deliberately and meaningfully by building a more positive relationship with money.
Black Financial Culture: Building Wealth from the Inside Out, by Dr. Michael G. Thomas Jr., Modom Solutions, LLC, 2023
“Dr. Thomas is a University of Georgia professor who now leads the financial planning department,” says Dr. Rogers. “His approach to this book is, ‘I wouldn’t write a book unless my mom would read it.’ His mom wasn’t big on reading. So when I read it, I was just laughing to myself and thinking back to my situation.” The book digs into issues like trauma recovery, financial empathy and compassion, money management and mindset, therapy and the power of forgiveness.
2. Follow well-known experts on social channels
You likely have your favorite social media platform, whether it’s YouTube, Instagram, TikTok or Facebook. And there’s no harm in starting there. “In terms of getting general information and sparking interest in finance, it can be good,” says Dr. Rogers. “But remember that most social media influencers are more entertaining than anything else.” Social content is especially helpful for gaining exposure to new topics or vocabulary that you can investigate further. “Sometimes I hear about topics on social that I’m like, I don’t understand this. But that leads me to say, ‘Okay well I need to learn more.’ So then I go and I do some reading,” explains Dr. Rogers.
Social media creators are seeking a broad audience, so what they post about may not apply to you. “Every individual’s situation is different,” cautions Dr. Rogers. “Social media isn’t bad, it’s just you also should have someone like a financial advisor, someone you can talk to who truly understands your unique situation.”
3. Talk to a financial planner
Consider this: You go to your job five days a week, eight hours each day, building specific experience in your niche field. Financial advisors spend that same amount of time thinking, learning about and analyzing all things money. When you meet with a financial advisor, you’re tapping into that deep knowledge. “Financial advisors can help relieve the stress of trying to figure out things on your own,” says Dr. Rogers. “If you’re worried about things like not maximizing your financial situation, I think they can help eliminate that. You don’t have to be the expert.”
Financial advisors are also experts at scenario planning. “There’s a saying in finance that your plan A never goes exactly as you want it to. Having those if-then scenarios outlined means that if things don’t go the way I want, I’ve got something else in play,” explains Dr. Rogers. Additionally, they have expertise in many different areas beyond investing. “You may be great at investing, but how is this impacting your tax situation? Or wealth transfer?” Financial advisors can broaden your perspective to see your total financial picture across intersecting dimensions.
4. Subscribe to newsletters that align with your financial goals and overall vibe
With Substack rising in popularity, newsletters are having a moment. But they certainly aren’t new. Back in the early 1600s, they used to be handwritten and mailed to subscribers. The appeal of the modern-day digital version on Substack is similar: readers hear directly from a single writer, with no algorithm mediating the experience. You can find newsletters on every subject under the sun, including a plethora of takes on personal finance. The key is to seek writers you like and trust, then subscribe.
“I think newsletters are great,” says Dr. Rogers. “They’re weekly, monthly, bi-weekly touchpoints that can kind of keep you on a path.” Of course, you’re likely reading this article because you clicked on a link in the Prosper Newsletter. Which means you already know the value of this medium (and also, you clearly have great taste).
5. Go down the sub-reddit rabbit hole (with a grain of salt)
Reddit can be a fascinating stop on your hunt for information, validation and honest perspectives on pretty much any topic, including personal finance. But you have to be careful. “I mean, Reddit will give you some gems,” reflects Dr. Rogers. “It’s like, ‘Wow, I didn’t think about that.’ And I think that’s the beauty of it, but also where things can get ugly,” he continues. That’s why he suggests putting anything you read on Reddit through a “friendly filter.” “Find some sort of filter for information you find on Reddit,” he cautions. “Have someone you can say, ‘Hey, I learned this on Reddit, what do you think about it?’ A financial advisor would be great for this.”
You might also have a small group of trusted friends in a similar life stage as you that can function as a type of sounding board. “Those folks will keep you honest,” says Dr. Rogers.
6. Use AI as a thought partner (but understand its limits and risks)
Artificial intelligence is practically unavoidable these days, especially as AI-generated summaries auto-populate in most search engines, including Gemini within Google. Most people do use AI to help with personal finances, to varying degrees. Dr. Rogers recommends thinking of AI as an educational tool rather than as an advisor.
Here’s an example: Say you’ve been listening to a podcast and the host talked about derivatives on a recent episode. “Well, how exactly do derivatives work? That’s a great question for AI. That’s how it can help you, with definitions and explanations, and take you to sources. You can ask AI ‘Give me a peer-reviewed source that discusses the benefits of derivatives,’ for example. That way you’re not solely relying on what’s been fed into the beast through the monster of AI,” explains Dr. Rogers.
Conclusion: Learning about money can help you advance your knowledge and grow your money
Continuing your financial education is more about adopting a mindset of lifelong learning than sticking to any set curriculum. When you truly understand how money works and uncover the right moves for you to make, you can unlock new avenues for growth that will help you achieve your unique financial goals.
