Let’s face it: the school system does not do a great job of teaching personal finance. Very few of us come out of high-school or even college understanding how to invest, build wealth, plan for retirement, or even create a simple budget.

It’s unfortunate. But it certainly doesn’t mean you’re stuck!

Learning about personal finance isn’t as intimidating as it might seem. And once you start digging in, it's surprising how empowering it can feel to get a better grasp of these concepts. You may even find you’re further along than you think.

The key is knowing where to start and choosing resources that match where you are in your journey.

Our advisors pulled together a list of their favorite books, tools, and resources to help you (and your kids!) build financial confidence, no matter your experience level.

1.The Richest Man in Babylon by George S. Clason

Format: Book (also available as an audiobook)

Why we like it: Although this book was written in 1926, it’s still amazingly relevant today. It’s a timeless classic that uses simple parables to teach foundational money concepts, and a great first step if you’ve ever said, “I wish someone would just explain this stuff to me plainly.” Choose this one if you want to build confidence with core money principles like saving, budgeting, and paying yourself first.

Who it’s right for: Anyone just getting started, or anyone who feels intimidated by financial jargon.

2. Rich Dad Poor Dad by Robert Kiyosaki

Format: Book (also available as an audiobook)

Why we like it: While this book is more motivational than technical, it will shift your mindset around money, assets, and wealth-building. It’s great for reframing the way you think about wealth and long-term investing.

Who it’s right for: Beginners or mid-career professionals who want to rethink how they approach financial independence, and anyone looking to break out of the paycheck-to-paycheck cycle and start thinking like an investor.

3. Simple Wealth, Inevitable Wealth by Nick Murray

Format: Book

Why we like it: This is one of our team’s favorites. It’s rooted in the importance of behavior over timing and reinforces why staying the course matters. It shows readers how real wealth is built with patience.

Who it’s right for: Long-term investors and anyone who gets nervous during market swings (especially valuable for people who find themselves checking their portfolios a little too often).

4. Total Money Makeover by Dave Ramsey

Format: Book (also available as an audiobook)

Why we like it: This is a straightforward, tough-love approach to budgeting, debt payoff, and getting financially stable. It’ll help you get control over your income and create a plan you can actually stick to. This one’s great for building a strong foundation, but do keep in mind that some investment advice may not align with every long-term strategy.

Who it’s right for: People looking to eliminate debt and build solid financial habits from the ground up.

5. Morningstar’s Investing Classroom

Format: Free, self-paced online courses

Why we like it: These courses are a practical and highly credible source for learning investing basics at your own pace. If you’re interested in learning about stocks, bonds, diversification, and the principles of long-term investing, this one is for you. Best of all, you can learn on your own schedule, with no pressure and no jargon.

Who it’s right for: Anyone who wants to understand the “why” behind portfolio strategy.

6. The Psychology of Money by Morgan Housel

Format: New York Times bestselling book (also available as audiobook)

Why we like it: If you’ve followed us for any period of time, you know we talk a lot about how emotions can impact people’s money decisions. We like to recommend this book because it focuses less on how to manage money and more on how we think about money. This is a great read if you’ve ever made a money decision you couldn’t quite explain, and regretted later (probably all of us!). 

Who it’s right for: Anyone, but especially those making big decisions or struggling with emotional money habits.

7. WSJ’s Retirement Book List

Format: Article

Why we like it: Curated by Wall Street Journal editors, this is a solid list that includes retirement resources for different needs and stages of life. The list contains books about both the financial and emotional sides of retirement, and they’ll help you approach things from a long-term perspective. 

Who it’s right for: Anyone planning for retirement, especially those seeking a variety of voices and perspectives.

8. A 1:1 session with a financial advisor

Format: A good old-fashioned face-to-face conversation

Why we like it: It’s tailored. It's personal. And, if you’ve started using any of the above resources, it helps you apply what you’re learning to your real life. Working with a financial advisor results in a plan that is not only detailed, thorough, and actionable, but also reflects your unique values, goals, and future. Reach out if you’d like to talk with one of Granite’s investment advisors. 

Who it’s right for: Anyone who would like the help of a professional in getting some clarity around their financial situation, or who wants help building a solid and actionable financial plan.

For Kids & Teens: 4 great resources to get them started

1. Money Ninja by Mary Nhin (Ages 3–8)

This is a fun, illustrated book that introduces young kids to concepts like saving, spending, and sharing.

Great for: Storytime with subtle money lessons baked in.

2. Investing for Kids by Dylan Redling & Allison Tom

Can kids understand investing? You bet! This book gives simple explanations of stocks, bonds, and compound interest with easy activities. (And parents may learn something, too!)

Great for: Curious kids who love asking “How does that work?” (Let a book answer their neverending questions for a change.)

3. Greenlight Debit Card + App (Ages 8–18)

One of the best ways to learn is by doing. This debit card lets kids earn, save, and spend with parent controls. They’ll learn hands-on, real-world money skills, and will feel very cool with their very own debit card. 

Great for: Learning financial responsibility while still having guardrails. (Like bumper bowling but for money.)

4. Junior Achievement’s Free Financial Literacy Programs

These programs provide interactive, age-appropriate content for classrooms and homeschool settings. They span K-12, lessons are hands-on, and they’re built to help kids and teens understand how money works in the real world. 

Great for: Parents or educators looking to teach money skills in a structured, supportive way. (Or for anyone who wants to invest in the financial literacy of future generations! Junior Achievement is an amazing nonprofit “dedicated to giving young people the knowledge and skills they need to own their economic success”. If that’s important to you, you can donate to their mission here.)

There’s no one-size-fits-all approach to learning anything, including personal finance. Some people like books. Others prefer courses or other hands-on tools. But no matter how you learn, what matters is that you start. 

Wealth planning doesn’t have to be intimidating. In fact, once you begin, you may be surprised by how much you already know, or even how much you enjoy the process. We’ve had clients who were sure they didn’t want to broach these topics walk away from one of the above resources feeling empowered and even enthusiastic. 

So pick a resource that appeals to you and get started. And if you ever want help applying what you’re learning to your own goals, our team at Granite is here to guide you.