About

Why this exists.

The Opening Bell Project started with a simple observation: most students never meet anyone who works in finance, and most people in finance never get asked to explain their job to a sixteen-year-old. Both sides are better off when they do.

The idea

We pair high school teachers with financial professionals and give both of them a lesson that's built, tailored, and ready to run.

Teachers get an alternative lesson plan and a day off planning. Professionals get a prepared hour and a room full of questions. Students get an interactive experience built around real decisions and real market data, and leave with skills that apply to the financial world whether or not they ever work in it.

The project was founded by a financial professional who spent the first five years of his career teaching and the last six in the markets, and who kept going back to classrooms because the hour always worked.

What we believe

  • Financial literacy is a skill, and skills are learned by doing
  • Real data beats hypotheticals; students can tell the difference
  • Defending a decision out loud teaches more than getting it right
  • The people who do the work are the best ones to explain it
  • A good lesson takes real work to build, and should fit the class it's taught in
  • This should be free for schools
Get involved

Two ways in

Teachers: request a visit. Tell us your subject, your grade, and a few dates.

Financial professionals: volunteer a class period. We'll prep you and match you with a school.

Schools, districts, and organizations that want to bring the program to more classrooms: email us and we'll talk.

Get in touch. Teachers, schools, and financial professionals: email us and we'll reply within a few days.