Financial Independence and Development

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 🐂 The Bull Pen
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 — Financial Independence and Development — 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
Financial Independence and Development
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 — Financial Independence and Development. 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
Investment Fund

The Hernandez-Solaun Family FInD Student-Led Investment Fund.

Coming to Christopher Columbus High School in August 2026 — the Hernandez-Solaun Family FInD Student-Led Investment Fund, the first of its kind in Florida.

Coming to Columbus · August 2026

The Hernandez-Solaun Family FInD
Student-Led Investment Fund

Real money. Real markets. Real experience.
Read on to find out how to get involved.
FInD (Financial Independence and Development) is a student-led program at Christopher Columbus High School that builds real financial literacy through three structured phases: learning, teaching, and investing. You can start as early as 9th grade. Students who complete the required steps and reach junior year become eligible to apply for the Hernandez-Solaun Family FInD Student-Led Investment Fund Cohort.
The Three-Phase Pathway
Phase 1 · Grades 9–10
Learn
  • Join FInD Club
  • Complete the Financial Literacy course
  • Attend the Business Speaker Series (4+ sessions per year, both years)
  • Train to become a Certified Peer Finance Instructor
Phase 2 · Grades 10–11
Teach
  • Continue attending the Business Speaker Series
  • Complete Certified Peer Instructor training
  • Teach financial literacy at partner Title I schools
  • Deepen your market and investment knowledge
Phase 3 · Grades 11–12 · Cohort Eligible
Invest
  • Continue all Phase 1 & 2 activities
  • Eligible to apply to the Investment Fund Cohort
  • Competitive application + written assessment
  • Finalist interview with faculty & wealth advisor
When can I apply? Cohort eligibility requires junior or senior standing (11th or 12th grade) and completion of all Phase 1 requirements. Phase 1 and Phase 2 activities remain open and strongly encouraged for upperclassmen. The earlier you start, the stronger your application. There are no shortcuts.
Hernandez-Solaun Family FInD Investment Fund — 10 Students Selected

Select juniors and seniors conduct company research, perform risk analysis, and present investment recommendations to a licensed wealth manager who executes actual trades with real school funds. Students write professional investment memos and participate in portfolio management alongside professionals. This is the closest experience to working at a real investment firm available to any high school student in Florida.

Why Start in 9th or 10th Grade?
Build a real foundationThe Financial Literacy course and Speaker Series give you the core knowledge you'll need when the cohort application asks tough questions.
Develop leadership by teachingBecoming a Certified Peer Finance Instructor and teaching at partner schools builds deep understanding that stays with you for life.
Stand out when it countsBy junior year, students who started in 9th grade will have two full years of attendance, teaching experience, and demonstrated commitment.
Make a community impactFInD isn't just about you. Phase 2 takes what you've learned and brings it to Title I schools that need it most.
Questions? Reach Out

FInD Co-Founders

Joey Hernandez-SolaunClass of 2027
Ethan GordonClass of 2027

Faculty Advisor

Mr. Kevin CorazonBusiness Professor

Finance Advisor

Mr. Joseph FernandezLicensed Wealth Advisor (Pro Bono) · Founder, Invenio Wealth Partners
Cohort I · Launching August 2026

Ready to Get Involved?

Whether you're in 9th grade or a junior ready to apply — here's exactly what to do. Scan the QR code or read below to get started.

Start Your Application → ↓ QR Code
FInD QR Code — Scan to Apply

Scan to learn more
& apply

How to Get Involved — By Grade
  • 1
    9th Grade — Join FInD Club

    Start here. Join FInD Club, enroll in the Financial Literacy course, and begin attending the Business Speaker Series. Every session counts toward your eligibility.

  • 2
    10th Grade — Keep Showing Up

    Continue the Speaker Series (4+ sessions this year too), deepen your finance knowledge, and begin your Certified Peer Finance Instructor training.

  • 3
    10th–11th Grade — Teach

    Complete your certification and teach financial literacy at partner Title I schools. This is where knowledge becomes leadership.

  • 4
    11th or 12th Grade — Apply to the Cohort

    Once you've completed Phase 1 and reached junior standing, you're eligible to apply. Admission is competitive and limited to 10 students.

What the Cohort Application Involves
Personal & Academic Info

GPA, relevant coursework, and finance background.

Finance Knowledge Assessment

Five written questions on markets, valuation, risk, and macroeconomics. Genuine comprehension over definitions.

Interest & Commitment Questions

What sparked your interest? What have you studied? How will you make time for this?

Faculty Recommendation

One letter from a Math, Economics, Business, Accounting, or Statistics teacher — submitted directly by the recommender.

Finalist Interview

Selected applicants interview with faculty advisors and the professional wealth manager before final decisions.

Eligibility Requirement

Junior or senior standing + completion of Phase 1 requirements. No exceptions.

Ready to Apply?

Complete the Cohort I application in full. Every field is required.
Superficial or incomplete responses will not be considered. Admission decisions are final.

Start Your Application →
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.

🐂
FInD Applied Finance Lab
The Bull Pen
Florida's First High School Student Investment Fund
✦

These are the people and businesses who believed before the world knew. They bet on two high school students with a bold idea and helped turn it into the first ever student-led investment fund in the state of Florida. Their confidence, generosity, and vision made this possible. We are forever grateful.

$25K Raised So Far
#1 First in Florida
2026 Est. at Columbus

Our Founding Supporters

Members of The Bull Pen

First Founding Member
Columbus Launchpad
Columbus Launchpad
Founding Member
Awarded $25,000 to launch the FInD Applied Finance Lab - the first of its kind in Florida.
3.0 Capital
3.0 Capital
Founding Member
+

Your name here

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.