Philadelphia Hosts Free Teen Financial Empowerment Summit With Wharton and Goldman Sachs Experts
A free Teen Financial Empowerment Summit was held in Philadelphia on September 26, 2026, featuring experts from the Wharton School and Goldman Sachs. The event gave high school students hands-on lessons in investing, credit, and college financing. Organizers said the goal was to close the financial literacy gap before young people enter adulthood.
High school students in Philadelphia got hands-on financial education from Wharton School faculty and Goldman Sachs professionals at a free Teen Financial Empowerment Summit held on September 26, 2026.
The event covered investing basics, how credit works, and strategies for financing college without taking on excessive debt. Organizers said the summit was designed to give young people practical knowledge before they face major financial decisions.
The summit comes as national data shows a decline in financial literacy among Americans. The 2026 TIAA Institute-GFLEC Personal Finance Index found that Americans correctly answered an average of only 47 percent of financial literacy questions, a statistically significant drop from previous years. The National Financial Educators Council estimates that only 57 percent of Americans are currently considered financially literate.
As of mid-2026, 39 states require students to complete a dedicated personal finance course for graduation, up from fewer than 20 states a decade ago. But advocates say classroom instruction alone is not enough, and events like the Philadelphia summit provide the kind of real-world engagement that sticks.
Goldman Sachs has run financial literacy programs for young people through its 10,000 Small Businesses and other community initiatives. Wharton has a long history of outreach to high school students through its Wharton Global Youth Program.
Organizers said they plan to expand the summit to other cities in 2027. Registration for the Philadelphia event was free, and transportation assistance was available for students from lower-income neighborhoods.
