The National Personal Finance Challenge is an opportunity for students to demonstrate their knowledge of personal finance by connecting with other students from across the state in an online competition. The top scoring teams are invited to the state championships where they compete for cash prizes!
The highest score will then compete for the state title and the chance to move on to the National Finals and win the grand prize award.
Eligibility
- Students must be enrolled in middle school or high school courses for the 2020-21 academic school year to participate in the high school competition (grades 6-12)
- All student teams MUST have an educator or coach
- Please note that the Middle School Division (Grades 6-8) consists of an online test ONLY
California State Final Prize Amounts
First Place
$1500
($300 per team member–including team coach)
Second Place
$1000
($200 per team member–including team coach)
Third Place
$500
($100 per team member–including team coach)
Resources
2021 Personal Finance Challenge – Compiled Lessons and Resources
Retired Case Study – 2019
Making Personal Finance Decisions
from Econlowdown
Financial Fitness for Work
from Council for Economic Education
How It Works
Register Student Teams
December – April 8, 2021
Last day to register: March 21, 2021 Extended to Thursday, April 8, 2021
Please note that students must take the test before it closes on April 8, 2021 at 11:55 PM PT. We recommend registering well in advance to avoid any issues with the test submission.
Take the preliminary online test!
Monday, March 21, 2021 – Thursday, April 8, 2021
The preliminary online test is taken individually by students
The test closes at 11:55 PM PT on April 8, 2021.
Announce State Finalists
Monday, April 12, 2021
Virtual California State Finals
Thursday, April 29th, 2021
National Semi-Finals
Tuesday, May 25, 2021
Students will compete with other state finalists from across the country for a chance to move on to the National Finals!
National Finals
Thursday, June 6, 2021
During the national finals, students will compete for the grand prize award!
2020 Personal Finance Challenge Highlights
April 15, 2020
As a result of the COVID-19 pandemic and school closures, the California Council on Economic Education (CCEE) worked rapidly to transition the Personal Finance Challenge (originally set to take place at the Federal Reserve Bank of San Francisco branches in Northern and Southern California) to an online Zoom format. Statewide shut downs did not prevent these students from showing off their money moves on April 15, 2020.
Guest judges included Dave Des Rochers, former NFL Seattle Seahawks player and current Vice President/Partner of Path2Happisuccess, Stephen Sherline, Managing Director and Head of Southern California Private Wealth Management at Union Bank, Lena Robinson, Director of Community Development at First Republic Bank, Steven Qiu, Senior Vice President & Retail Regional Manager at CTBC Bank, and Sharie Sohrabkhani, Senior Relationship Manager at US Bank.
On May 4, 2020, California’s Personal Finance Challenge state champions from Adrian Wilcox High School won the National title, placing first among 9,000 students from across the country.
2020 Personal Finance Challenge State Champions
Second Place
Troy High School
Fullerton, California
Teacher: David St. Clair
Cassia Yeo, Shivana Anand, Jonathan Chang, Pratinav Sharma
First Place
Adrian Wilcox High School
Santa Clara, California
Teacher: Anthony Raffetto
Shaunak Kale, Shivaansh Kapoor, Jonathan Chang, Pratinav Sharma
Third Place
El Segundo High School
El Segundo, California
Teacher: Bonnie Maye
Leah Abitante, Vincent Costa, Jesus Soria, Jonathan Anderson
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