Peter Myers’ high school students often share the same financial dream: They want to be a millionaire.
In Myers’ role as a financial literacy advocate and educator on Long Island, New York, his follow-up to their stated dream comes easily. “That’s a great goal, but how are we going to get there?” Myers asks.
At Iowa State, Myers became passionate about financial literacy — which he describes as being empowered and equipped with the tools to navigate budgets, investments, and debt — while working in student government. After graduation, Myers worked in corporate finance until he decided to shift his focus to education.
“At The Greater Des Moines Partnership, I started building out financial literacy workshops, and that’s where the passion grew even more,” Myers says. “I could see it was making a difference for people.”
In New York, Myers’ efforts have helped move financial literacy coursework from optional for schools to a requirement to be taught in grades K–12. Myers has seen the positive impact the coursework can have on students and their families. Students’ focus evolves from wealth as a status to how they can alter generational cycles of financial struggles.
“I have had students ask me, ‘How can I build credit, and how can I help my mom and dad get out of debt or build their credit score?’” Myers says. “There are so many avenues like sports gambling, day trading, or cryptocurrency that are targeted to and appeal to students as ways they can gain wealth quickly, but it’s my goal to help them understand the risks that come with each outlet so they see a clearer, steadier path to financial freedom for themselves and others.”
