A conversation withTanya Van Court

Founder & CEO, Goalsetter

At a time when inflation is high, education costs are rising, and the average American scores just 48% on financial literacy tests, we believe it’s our collective responsibility to empower young people to take control of their financial futures. Whether schools are focused on strengthening Career and Technical Education (CTE) pathways or fulfilling new financial education mandates, we know that a solid understanding of money management is critical for every student in America. But financial education alone is not enough. When financial conversations inside the classroom translate to healthy financial behaviors outside the classroom, true transformation occurs. Research shows that people who start saving in their twenties are 66% more likely to retire by age 60 and afford major milestones like homeownership or paying off student debt - demonstrating the long-term impact of early action on financial resilience and building wealth. And driving students from financial conversations to financial activation is where Golasetter stands out. In a 2025 research study, 4 out of 5 high school students who completed Goalsetter’s curriculum reported saving more money after learning financial education concepts through Goalsetter. That is the definition of financial literacy that is preparing students for life.

We’ve just launched our new AI-powered financial education platform, designed to personalize the learning journey for every student. It combines the latest in artificial intelligence with real-world classroom conversations to create a truly adaptive and impactful experience—one that’s built to meet students where they are and take them further than they ever thought possible.

Our impact is proven in the classroom, and goes far beyond the classroom as well. In school settings, we’ve increased students' financial aptitude from 38% to 85% - a 47-point jump. We know how to reach students on the platforms and with the formats they already love. And because our platform supports both synchronous and asynchronous learning, students can engage anytime, anywhere. Outside the classroom, the lessons stick. In a recent survey of Goalsetter users in St. Louis, nearly 1 in 2 students reported having meaningful conversations with their parents about financial lessons they learned on our platform. That’s why we are so passionate about reaching students and their families, too. With our multi-platform offering, we support in-class learning and extend those lessons into the home for impact that’s both far-reaching and long-lasting.

Our founder’s background includes leadership roles at Nickelodeon, Discovery Education, and ESPN—brands known for captivating and educating youth. That DNA lives in everything we do. From TikTok-style videos to gamified quizzes and real-life simulations, Goalsetter brings financial education to life for middle school, high school, and college students in dynamic, relatable, and fun ways. But we don’t just build for kids - we build with them. We actively connect with students to listen, learn, and incorporate their voices into our content. We collect ongoing feedback to understand what’s working, what resonates, and how we can continuously evolve to meet their needs. And at the heart of our curriculum is a powerful philosophy: personal finance is personal.

We don’t believe in a one-size-fits-all approach. Instead, we create space for students and teachers to reflect on their own lived experiences and beliefs about money, wealth, and opportunity. These reflections guide students in setting and adjusting tangible short- and long-term goals, and developing healthy financial habits. Our students aren’t just passive recipients of knowledge—they actively engage with it. Each module includes case studies and opportunities for both classroom discussion and real-world application, and the platform allows learners to move at their own pace, making the experience both personalized and impactful.

Our curriculum is designed to make teaching financial education easy, effective, and enjoyable. Developed by experienced educators and curriculum specialists, Goalsetter Classroom includes detailed lesson plans, videos, interactives, assessments, case studies, and professional development. We support teachers not only in using our platform, but in strategically integrating it into their overall program. It’s truly plug-and-play—no need to spend hours sourcing materials or aligning lessons. Everything is mapped to national and state standards, and our auto-grading features save teachers time on administrative tasks. Our platform also integrates seamlessly with school systems through Clever, ClassLink, and more.

Our content is engaging, accurate, and up to date. Goalsetter partners with financial institutions and subject matter experts to ensure that our lessons reflect current laws, such as this year’s tax code, so students are always learning the most relevant information.

Yes! We’re offering a limited-time Free Trial of our new Goalsetter Classroom platform for teachers in need of a turn-key solution to bring financial literacy to life in their classrooms this year.