Financial Social-Emotional Learning 

A healthier relationship with money requires more than just financial knowledge – it takes skills, resources, and motivation. Cicero brings money to life, showing students how their ability to manage money directly affects their ability to have the life they want.

Cicero speaks from experience as a past stock broker in NYC, real estate investor and landlord, insurance agency owner, on-screen actor,  

Self-Awareness 

Self-awareness goes hand in hand with self-confidence, and confidence-building fosters a growth mindset. Students can realize that needing help financially means believing that they are still capable of achievement: Just because I got stuck and feel frustrated doesn’t mean I can’t advocate for myself, get help, and get past that roadblock. Next time I feel like this, I can do it again. I can learn and be successful. 

Self-Management 

Often when young adults need help financially, they have already reached a point of frustration and self-doubt.  The first order of business is to validate the emotions and help them identify those feelings: “I know you’re stressed and frustrated right now, but there is help available. We are going to learn how to move forward, so let’s take a deep breath, and start from where we are” This process teaches students to manage stress, and rewards them for having the courage to reach out for help when they need it. 

Another aspect of self-management is being able to set goals. 

Responsible Decision making 

Teaching students to make responsible decisions is monumental. How can students identify when their struggle toward understanding means they should get help? Rather than just saying, “I can’t do this so I won’t do it,” students can instead realize that coming to a place of confusion or frustration just means there is another opportunity to make a wise decision, persist, and get additional support. 

Relationship Skills 

Communicating effectively is one of the hardest things for young students. Articulating their problem and explaining exactly how and why they need help financially is often best done with a parent or educator's assistance. As students observe how the financial conversation also affects parents and educators alike the relationship strengthens as a common bond is created. They learn how to build a relationship with a trusted adult and problem-solve effectively. 

Social Awareness 

Two of the most consequential components of motivating youth and speaking about financial literacy are empathy and compassion. Speaking with young adults at all stages of the learning curve, sets a tone where the student feels safe and supported. By interacting with empathy and compassion, students also learn social cues about showing respect in interactions with new people in their own learning communities.