Financial Literacy/ Accounting: Understanding how to manage money, whether that means budgeting, calculating profit and loss, or interpreting financial statements, is a must-have in this field. There are various types of accounting statements, so understanding each type is also important. 

Math Skills: Finance is built on numbers. Algebra, percentages, and statistics are used regularly to calculate interest, evaluate risk, and analyze data. Taking courses like AP Statistics or higher-level math can give you a big head start.

Data Interpretation: Finance involves breaking down charts, graphs, and numerical data to find trends and guide decision-making.

Financial Decision-Making: There isn’t always one right answer in finance. You’ll have to analyze the options and choose the best strategy depending on the situation to create a clear framework for the company. After all, intuition isn’t always right. 

Risk Management: Finance is closely tied to risk, as knowing how to weigh pros and cons and make the safest possible decision is key.

Attention to Detail: Small mistakes in finance can lead to huge consequences. Accuracy matters, especially when dealing with numbers and transactions.

Technology Tools: Learning platforms like Excel, Google Sheets, or even budgeting apps will help you organize data and save time. Knowing how to use all their features will make your portfolio stronger as well.

DECA: Compete in finance or personal financial literacy cluster events like Accounting Applications or Financial Consulting, and learn how to analyze case studies and present solutions.

• The Stock Market Game (SMG): Try programs like The Stock Market Game to get comfortable with how trading and investing work without any real-life implications.

Become a club treasurer/secretary: Budgeting for a club and managing logistics builds real financial planning and record-keeping skills.

Finance competitions (Wharton Investment Competition, National Personal Finance Challenge, Global Youth Investment Summit, etc): These develop decision-making and presentation skills using real finance scenarios with chances to win prestigious awards.

Summer business or finance programs (Berkeley Business Academy, Girls Who Invest, etc): Get hands-on experience learning about stocks, economics, and business principles.

School Clubs:

• Investment Clubs: This will give you all the important information pertaining to how to get started in the financial world.

• Math Club/ AP Statistics: Finance is grounded in math, and these will help build strong foundations in data and logic.

• Speech & Debate: Knowing how to explain financial decisions clearly is just as important as making them