Millions of young Americans enter adulthood without basic money management skills, creating long-term economic vulnerability. In underserved and military communities, the absence of early financial education reinforces cycles of generational debt and limits wealth accumulation. Traditional school curricula rarely cover practical topics like credit, investing, insurance, and real estate, leaving youth unprepared to navigate real-world financial systems.
The Global Children Financial Literacy Foundation (GCFLF) tackles this systemic challenge by providing accessible, practical financial education to children and young adults. Founded by Navy veterans and financial educators, the nonprofit transforms young learners into confident money managers and first-time shareholders through engaging literature and community programs. In this executive Q&A, Prince Dykes, Co-Founder of GCFLF, discusses the inspiration behind the foundation, the role of early investment education, and how practical tools can build lasting generational wealth.
Q: As a Navy veteran and financial thought leader, what personal experiences inspired you to co-found GCFLF and focus specifically on youth financial education?
Prince Dykes: Honestly, it started with my own son, Wesley. I got my MBA in 2012, and while I was serving, I realized how much of what I was learning about money, investing, dividends, building wealth, nobody ever taught me as a kid. I had to learn it late. And when I looked around, I saw that so many families, especially military families and families in underserved communities, were in the same boat. I didn't want that for my son, and I didn't want it for other people's kids either. So I started writing it down for him first, and it turned into something bigger than just our family.
Q: Your children's book series, Wesley Learns, introduces complex topics like investing, credit, and insurance in a relatable way. How do you simplify sophisticated financial concepts for young readers?
Prince Dykes: I always start off with what I think is important, what's the takeaway, what do I actually want kids and readers to walk away understanding. A lot of that comes from my own life experiences. Once I have that foundation, I build a real storyline around it, usually teaching my son Wesley directly, so it feels like a conversation, not a lecture.
Now, some people have told me certain words are too complex for a children's book, things like "deductibles." But here's how I see it: regardless of what profession a child chooses in life, they're going to have to deal with all of this eventually. Insurance, credit, investing, it's not optional in adulthood. So why not start them early? I'd rather a kid hear the word "deductible" at six and grow up with it than hit thirty and be learning it for the first time with real money on the line.
Q: Underserved and military families often face unique economic hurdles. How does GCFLF tailor its outreach and curriculum to support these specific communities effectively?
Prince Dykes: For me, it was never enough to just talk about financial literacy, I wanted to make it tangible. When you go into underserved communities, people aren't thinking about the stock market. They're thinking about rent, about getting through the day to day. They haven't even gotten to the concept of saving yet, let alone investing. So when I'm talking to these families, I recognize I'm talking to people who are at a completely different part of life, and the approach has to reflect that.
That's why I say, "you too can have a piece of the pie," and the way I make that real is by tying them directly into the economic system of America, whether that's an S&P 500 index fund or something on the Nasdaq. I want people to feel ownership, not just hear a lecture.
Here's the reality: in a lot of these communities, people are paying rent, not building equity. Homeowners are watching their houses appreciate, but renters aren't experiencing any of that growth. Meanwhile the stock market keeps hitting record highs, and if you don't have savings or an investment account, you're not experiencing any of that growth either. So the question I ask is, how do we tie people into the wealth and growth of America? Even something as simple as moving your money into a high yield savings account, now that interest rates are at some of the highest levels we've seen, is a start. It's about giving people an on ramp, wherever they're starting from.
Q: Through community collaborations and book drives, GCFLF has helped young students open bank accounts and become first-time shareholders. Why is hands-on ownership so vital to shifting a child's financial mindset?
Prince Dykes: Reading about a stock is one thing. Owning one is completely different. When a kid actually holds a share, or watches their own account grow, something shifts, it's not abstract anymore, it's theirs. That was the whole point from day one: I wanted kids to have real investment accounts, not just lessons. Ownership builds confidence, and confidence is what breaks the cycle.
Q: Breaking the cycle of generational financial illiteracy requires engaging parents as well as children. How does GCFLF encourage multi-generational learning within the household?
Prince Dykes: A lot of parents never got this education either, so I don't just talk to the kids, the books and materials are built so parents learn right alongside them. When Wesley learns something new, it usually means Mom and Dad are learning it too, maybe for the first time. That's by design. If we only reach the child and not the household, the cycle doesn't really break.
Q: As GCFLF expands its educational initiatives across the country, what is your long-term vision for standardizing financial literacy in youth education?
Prince Dykes: I've been doing this grassroots since 2013, one book, one YouTube video, one city at a time, long before financial literacy for kids became a national conversation. My vision is for this to be as standard as reading or math in schools, not an extra. I want every city to have its own version of what we started in Waynesboro and now have in Denver, an actual proclamation, actual commitment, not just a conversation. I've put in the work for over a decade, and I'm not stopping until this is built into the system for good.
Equipping young people with financial knowledge early in life establishes a foundation for long-term economic stability and community resilience. By demystifying credit, investing, and asset ownership, youth can transition from passive consumers into informed economic participants capable of building lasting wealth.
Sustainable economic change begins when practical financial education reaches every classroom and home. Through accessible literature, community partnerships, and hands-on investment experiences, the Global Children Financial Literacy Foundation is preparing future generations to lead with financial integrity and confidence.
To learn more visit https://www.gcflf.org/
