What Happens When Teens Master Money? A World of Opportunity Opens Up.

Last summer, 30 Boys & Girls Club teens took on a challenge usually reserved for post-high school: the Amplified Planning Externship. Through Boys & Girls Clubs of America Board of Director Carrie Schwab Pomerantz, teens across eight Club locations had the opportunity to build their financial literacy, explore financial planning as a career, and earn a certificate of completion valued by colleges and employers.

They didn’t just participate; they excelled. 96.6% of Club kids passed the program, outperforming the average adult pass rate of 74.8%. Most Club kids also earned top marks, finishing with an A.

For Carrie, those results highlight the potential unlocked when young people have access to career exposure and real-world learning experiences.

“I have been fortunate to build a meaningful career in financial services, an industry that continues to offer tremendous opportunities, even as AI changes how we work,” said Carrie Schwab Pomerantz, board of directors, Charles Schwab.

“This Externship, in partnership with Boys & Girls Clubs of America, allowed me to share my experience with Club kids and introduce them to the many career paths available in financial services. I hope they will see a place for themselves in this industry because financial services needs their talent, perspectives and ideas.”

That vision was at the heart of The Externship, empowering teens to not only manage their personal finances, but plan for their futures.

Exploring Financial Planning for Work & Life

Financial planning is a profession built around helping people navigate life’s biggest decisions, from planning for college to retirement. It’s meaningful work, it’s in high demand, and it offers a career path that most young people haven’t had the chance to see up close.

Through the Amplified Planning Externship, Club teens participated in an online program to grow their financial literacy knowledge and achieve a certificate of completion that is highly coveted in the industry. Over eight weeks, they observed real client meetings, gained experience with professional planning tools employers look for on resumes, and learned directly from expert financial planners.

As an added benefit, teens earned 500 Certified Financial Planner Board Standard Pathway experience hours, putting them one step closer to certification should they choose to follow that career path.

While The Externship provided a unique lens into the profession, it also built on Boys & Girls Clubs’ broader mission of equipping teens with financial skills for the future. Programs like Money Matters: Make It Count, in partnership with the Charles Schwab Foundation, teach Club teens about debit cards, credit scores and budgeting using the 30/20/10 rule. After-school opportunities like this play a major role in why 81% of teens say the Club helped them learn ways to grow their savings.

Giving Teens the Financial Skills to Thrive

For teens like Eva, those lessons became even more meaningful through hands-on experiences.

Searching for ways to spend her summer meaningfully, the high school junior enrolled in the Amplified Planning Externship at Boys & Girls Clubs of East Providence after it was recommended to her by the Club’s Community Outreach Director, Damian Ramos.

“Before The Externship, I didn’t think too much about saving money or investing for the future,” said Eva. “During those eight weeks, my friends and I got to ask questions and use new money management platforms. Most kids my age don’t know half these tools exist.”

Each week tackled a different lesson, with teens learning about budgeting, student loans, even retirement funds, applying key financial concepts to their lives.

“The financial planners taught us that it’s never too early to start practicing money management,” said Eva. “I know I’ll have to take out loans for college, so being able to think ahead and create a payment plan is really helpful.”

In some cases, these lessons extended beyond the teens, inspiring conversations at home.

“My mom is supporting three kids in different life stages, from elementary to grad school. She’d check in during my Externship lessons, and we’d talk about ways to update our family budget,” shared Eva.

Building Transferrable Skills Across Careers

Eva’s experience reflects a broader impact seen across participating Clubs, with teens gaining confidence, career insight and personal finance skills.

“The Amplified Planning Externship was another way for our teens to learn practical skills for life after graduation,” said Damian. “One participant, Lucas, knew he wanted to pursue a career in finance. He’s a senior now and after doing The Externship, he has a better idea of which college majors to explore.”

All teen participants received a $2,500 stipend upon completion. Even those not pursuing finance careers found The Externship valuable for their ambitions.

“I want to go into corporate law, so using my financial planning knowledge to understand how law and business often coincide will help me do better in my career,” said Eva.

Damian agrees, noting how financially savvy teens can stand out as well-rounded candidates in their chosen careers.

“Opportunities like The Externship allow more teens to explore professions and build transferrable skills across fields. At our Club, most teens are interested in careers that give back – law, medicine, political science. They all want to use their skills to help build a better world.”

Partnerships like the Amplified Planning Externship are one of many ways Boys & Girls Clubs help prepare young people for great futures. Find a Club near you and discover more opportunities for teens to thrive.