Foundations in Financial Independence & Decision-Making

Build Your
Financial Future.

A peer-led nonprofit empowering high school students—especially those in under-resourced communities—with practical financial and entrepreneurial skills through real-world workshops.

Explore Our Tools Partner With FInD
80+
Students Reached
85%
Completion Rate
4–5
Workshops / Year
$0
Cost to Schools
Who We Are

A student-run movement for financial equity.

FInD — Foundations in Financial Independence & Decision-Making — is a peer-led nonprofit that brings essential money skills to students who need them most. We believe financial literacy is a right, not a privilege.

🎯
Our Mission
Empower high school students—especially those in under-resourced and special-needs programs—through peer-led workshops and real-world projects.
🌍
Our Vision
A community where every student has the knowledge and confidence to manage money wisely, explore entrepreneurship, and participate fully in the economy.
The Program

Three core sessions. One transformative experience.

Each cohort runs 3–4 sessions of 60 minutes, capped at 20 students. Every participant earns a Certificate of Completion.

01Session 1
Money Mindset & Earning
Understand where money comes from and develop the right mindset for financial success.
IncomeNeeds vs. WantsGoal-Setting
02Session 2
Budgeting & Smart Spending
Build real budgets, manage expenses, and understand tradeoffs in everyday decisions.
BudgetingExpensesTradeoffs
03Session 3
Saving, Banking & Credit
Explore bank accounts, emergency funds, and credit basics to make your money work harder.
BankingEmergency FundCredit
+Optional Session 4
Entrepreneurship Lab
Students design and price real products, calculate costs and profits, and pitch to customers.
Product DesignPricingPitch
Learn

Financial literacy essentials for young adults.

From your first paycheck to your first investment — the core concepts every student should know.

💰
Budgeting Basics
A budget is simply a plan for your money. The 50/30/20 rule is a great starting point: 50% needs, 30% wants, 20% savings and debt repayment.
Track every dollar you spend for one week.
Use free apps like Mint or a spreadsheet to get started.
Build your budget around income, not lifestyle.
🏦
Banking & Accounts
A checking account is for daily spending; a savings account earns interest. Opening both at a credit union is free and takes 15 minutes.
Look for accounts with no monthly fees or minimums.
Set up automatic transfers to savings each payday.
Goal: save 3–6 months of basic expenses.
📈
Saving & Investing
Compound interest is your greatest financial superpower. Money invested at 17 is worth dramatically more than money invested at 30.
Open a Roth IRA as soon as you have earned income.
Index funds outperform most professionals over time.
Time in the market beats timing the market.
💳
Credit & Debt
Your credit score (300–850) affects your ability to rent, buy a car, and get certain jobs. Good credit is built by paying on time.
Check your free report at annualcreditreport.com.
Never carry a credit card balance — rates are often 20–29%.
Borrow student loans only for what you truly need.
🧾
Taxes 101
Understanding your W-2, how to file, and what deductions you qualify for saves you real money every year.
Students under 24 may qualify for education credits up to $2,500.
Filing is free for most students via IRS Free File.
Know the difference between gross and take-home pay.
🚀
Entrepreneurship Mindset
Every business starts with a problem worth solving. Learning to identify a need, calculate costs, and price a product are skills that pay off for life.
Revenue − Costs = Profit. Always know your numbers.
Service businesses (tutoring, lawn care) need almost zero capital.
Your personal brand starts today — be intentional online.
Interactive Tools

Put your money knowledge to work.

Practice budgeting, savings planning, and financial decision-making right now — no sign-up required.

📊
Monthly Budget Calculator
Enter your income and expenses to see how much you have left over each month.
Remaining$320
🎯
Savings Goal Planner
How long will it take to save for something you want?
📈
Compound Interest Calculator
See how investing early and consistently grows your wealth over time.
🤔
Needs vs. Wants Quiz
Test your financial instincts — categorize each item as a need or a want.
Session Presentations

What we taught in the classroom.

These are the actual presentations the FInD team delivered to students at Christopher Columbus High School. Click any deck to read through it.

Presentation 1
The Power of Early Retirement Planning
Why the years between 18 and 25 are the most valuable for building long-term wealth through compound interest.
10 slides

Presentation 2
Understanding Credit Cards and Debt
How credit cards work, the pros and cons, interest rates, and how to avoid the debt trap as a young adult.
12 slides

Presentation 3
Understanding Credit Scores: Your Financial Report Card
What credit scores are, how they are calculated, why they matter, and how to start building good credit now.
10 slides

Presentation 4
What Does a Dollar Really Cost?
Inflation, opportunity cost, time value of money, and the compound interest effect on every spending decision.
10 slides

Free Resources

Keep learning beyond the classroom.

Vetted, free resources for students at every stage — middle school through college.

Courses
Khan Academy Personal Finance
Free, self-paced lessons on banking, taxes, insurance, and investing.
khanacademy.org →
Government
CFPB Money as You Grow
Free guides from the Consumer Financial Protection Bureau for teens and young adults.
consumerfinance.gov →
Curriculum
Next Gen Personal Finance
Free classroom-ready curriculum used by 80,000+ teachers nationwide.
ngpf.org →
Taxes
IRS Free File
File federal taxes free if you earn under $79,000. Perfect for first-time filers.
irs.gov →
Credit
Annual Credit Report
Check your free credit report from all three bureaus — no card required.
annualcreditreport.com →
College
Federal Student Aid
Grants, loans, and work-study guidance for every step of your college journey.
studentaid.gov →
Reference
Investopedia Dictionary
Plain-language definitions for every financial term you'll encounter.
investopedia.com →
Apps
Budgeting Apps
Try Mint, YNAB, or Copilot to track spending and stay on budget.
mint.intuit.com →
Workshop Activity

Credit Score & Credit Card Games

Real scenarios. Real decisions. Find out if you know what actually helps or hurts your credit score.

650
Your Credit Score
Fair580-669
Poor 300-579
Fair 580-669
Good 670-739
Very Good 740-799
Exceptional 800-850

Answer Key

1. $600 savings, $500 balance dueA: Pay full balance+30
2. Old unused credit cardB: Keep it open+15
3. $350 tires, have $350 cashB: Use card, pay off next month+15
4. Bank offers higher credit limitA: Accept it+20
5. Apartment hunting, 3 optionsB: Check credit first, top choice only+10
Perfect: 650 + 90 = 740 (Very Good)
Total Spent
$0
0% of $1,000 limit
Safe Zone: under $300 (0-30%)Danger Zone: over $300
FInD Speaker Series

Learn from leaders in the real world.

We bring entrepreneurs, investors, and financial professionals directly to students — raw, honest conversations about money, business, and building a future.

Episode 1 · FInD Speaker Series
Foundations in Financial Independence & Decision-Making
A live conversation on building financial literacy, entrepreneurship, and the mindset needed to thrive in today's economy — hosted by FInD Finance Lab.
📅 2025 🎙 FInD Finance Lab ▶ Live on YouTube
🎙
More Episodes Coming Soon
We're scheduling our next speakers. Know someone who would inspire students? Let us know.
💼
Entrepreneurship
Episode coming soon
📊
Investing 101
Episode coming soon
🏦
Banking Careers
Episode coming soon
Our Team

Built by students, for students.

FInD was founded and is led entirely by students at Christopher Columbus High School who believe their peers deserve real financial education.

Joey Hernandez-Solaun at the New York Stock Exchange
Founder & President
Jose "Joey" Hernandez-Solaun
Founder, FInD Financial Literacy Club & Founder and President, FInD Applied Finance Lab
Joey is the visionary behind FInD: Foundations in Financial Independence & Decision-Making. Driven by a belief that every student — regardless of zip code or circumstance — deserves access to practical financial education, Joey built FInD from the ground up as a peer-led, zero-cost program for high schools across Miami. Joey's mission is simple: close the financial literacy gap before students leave high school.
LinkedIn
Ethan Gordon at the New York Stock Exchange
President & Co-Founder
Ethan Gordon
President, FInD Financial Literacy Club & Co-Founder, FInD Applied Finance Lab
Ethan's passion for investment has helped drive FInD forward, helping expand from financial literacy to finance and investing as a whole. Serving on the executive board for both DECA and FBLA, as well as competing at the state level, has enabled him to gain an in-depth understanding of financial markets and investing, which will help educate the next generation of young investors.
LinkedIn
GR
Gonzalo Rodriguez
Co-Founder
JL
Jake Langer
Secretary
MR
Maxx Rodriguez
Treasurer
JF
John Figueras
Director of Finance
JMR
John Michael Rodriguez
Director of Outreach
CG
Carlos Gutierrez
Senior Representative
NJ
Nicholas Junior
Junior Representative
LR
Lucas Rodriguez
Sophomore Representative
Session Feedback

Tell us what you thought.

Anonymous. Takes about 3 minutes. Every answer is read by the FInD team and shapes what we teach next.

Section 1
Quick Background
Helps us understand who is in the room.
Section 2
What You Learned
Think back across both days.
Section 3
Rate the Sessions
1 = Not helpful at all  •  5 = Extremely helpful
12345
Day 1 — Compounding, inflation, retirement & budgeting
1
2
3
4
5
Day 2 — Credit scores & credit cards
1
2
3
4
5
The activities and worksheets
1
2
3
4
5
How clearly the material was explained
1
2
3
4
5
Overall — both days combined
1
2
3
4
5
Section 4
In Your Own Words
Be as honest as you want. Every answer helps.
Section 5
One Last Thing

Your responses are completely anonymous.
Every answer is read by the FInD team.

✓

Thank you!

Your feedback has been received. Every response is read by the FInD team and directly shapes what we teach next.

Get Involved

Ready to bring FInD to your school?

We bring proven financial literacy and entrepreneurship education to your students at zero cost. We handle curriculum, instruction, materials, and funding. You provide the space and students.

Contact Joey

Send a message to Jose "Joey" Hernandez-Solaun, Founder of FInD.

Joey will get back to you as soon as possible.

✓

Message sent!

Your message has been delivered to Joey. He will get back to you at the email you provided.

Contact Ethan

Send a message to Ethan Gordon, President of FInD Financial Literacy Club.

Ethan will get back to you as soon as possible.

✓

Message sent!

Your message has been delivered to Ethan. He will get back to you at the email you provided.

Partner With FInD

Tell us about your school or organization and we will be in touch.

We typically respond within 48 hours.

✓

Message sent!

Thanks for reaching out. The FInD team will get back to you within 48 hours at the email you provided.

Join FInD

Columbus students only. We will reach out with next steps.

Applications are reviewed by the FInD leadership team.

✓

Application received!

Thanks for your interest in FInD. The leadership team will review your application and reach out to you soon.