Local financial advisor and co-owner of Carpenter Financial Services Joe Carpenter recently returned to his alma mater, Bishop McCort Catholic High School, to enlighten students about budgeting, credit and debt, housing, college planning and additional personal finance topics.
Johnstown-based firm Carpenter Financial Services sponsored the coursework for the 2021-2022 school year, which includes content from Ramsey Education’s “Foundations in Personal Finance” curriculum. The course teaches young people the basics of saving, spending and healthy habits in money management. More than four million students across the country have been exposed to the financial literacy curriculum to fulfill academic requirements in mathematics, economics and other related subjects. In December, Carpenter visited Bishop McCort to speak directly to the school’s students, and he plans to return in the spring semester as well.
“Many states, including Pennsylvania, do not require personal finance coursework as a part of their educational standards,” Carpenter said. “However, our young people face more complex financial decisions than ever, so it’s critical to start building their knowledge early in order for smart decisions to have ample time to pay off.”
Substantial debt in the areas of credit cards, car loans, student loans and residential mortgages make financial literacy a timely and essential skill to integrate into classrooms. Proactive education can prevent mistakes and help people avoid life-altering consequences, which can take years to repair. This need became increasingly clear in the current environment of changing legislation, stock market volatility and temporary, pandemic-related financial support.
“This class is beneficial to my students in that it shows real life situations, demonstrates knowledge they should have gained and will use, and prepares them for reality after high school,” said Michael F. Kasuba, Mathematics Teacher at Bishop McCort Catholic High School.
To learn more about the curriculum, visit https://www.ramseysolutions.com/education/foundations-personal-finance-hs.
About Carpenter Financial Services:
Operating in Johnstown, Pennsylvania since 1953, Carpenter Financial Services began as an accounting firm founded by Samuel C. Carpenter. In the 1980s, sons Samuel G. Carpenter and Joseph Carpenter continued to grow the family business and added broader financial services to meet clients’ needs, including retirement planning, insurance solutions and investment management. Today, the firm works with clients across the country to build the foundation for financial security and ensures they have the tools necessary to make informed financial decisions. Joe Carpenter is a Chartered Retirement Planning Counselor®, a Certified Fund Specialist®, a Certified Senior Advisor and a Federal Retirement ConsultantSM.
About Bishop McCort Catholic High School Inc.:
Bishop McCort Catholic High School (BMCHS), built in 1922, is an incorporated Catholic high school located in Johnstown, Pennsylvania, approximately 67 miles east of Pittsburgh. Students of all religious denominations are challenged to develop independent critical-thinking skills necessary to be competitive in today’s global economy. One indicator of the quality of McCort’s academic program is the success of students in baccalaureate studies. The class of 2021 enjoyed a 100% graduation rate with 97% planning to pursue post-secondary degrees and 3% technical schooling or military service. Learn more about BMCHS at mccort.org.