By Aashna Shah
Most students graduate know how to solve equations, write essays, and memorize history. But when it comes to understanding money, the skill that affects nearly every part of adult life, many are left to figure it out alone. That is the gap Futures Financials is working to close.
Founded by Danny Jang and Wesley Leung, Futures Financials is a student-led organization with a mission to strengthen financial literacy for students worldwide. Alongside them, founding officers Hans Patel, Justin Pua, and Maxine Oliveria help lead the organization’s programs and outreach, bringing structure, energy, and a clear sense of purpose to everything the team creates.
What makes Futures Financials stand out is how they teach. Instead of using one-size-fits-all slideshows, the team organizes in-person education events called Teach-Ins, built around the students in the room.
Each session is designed to be personalized and interactive, combining real-life financial topics with discussion, hands-on learning, and a sense of creativity that keeps students engaged. Their Teach-Ins end with activities that turn finance into something students can actually enjoy.
Some sessions wrap up with a Shark Tank-style pitch, where students present an idea and learn what makes something financially realistic. Others include a buy-or-sell game, where students react to stock snapshots and practice decision-making in a way that feels fast, competitive, and memorable. Futures Financials is not just teaching financial concepts. The team is helping students develop confidence, curiosity, and the ability to think critically about money long before they face those choices on their own.
Looking ahead, the Futures Financials leadership team is planning to expand beyond their current reach by partnering with organizations in other countries. They are also preparing to launch a Financial Literacy Fellowship this summer, which will allow more students to take leadership roles and bring financial education into their own communities.
As emerging leaders, the Futures Financials team represents what youth-driven impact can look like when it is built with both strategy and heart. They are building the solution themselves.
Aashna Shah is an Indian American sophomore at Syosset High School interested in business, fashion, and storytelling. She hopes to use fashion as a pathway to uplift underserved communities. She also serves as the Submission Coordinator for Kaleidoscope, where she helps curate and elevate youth voices through storytelling.
