FinEdPro: AI-Driven App to improve Financial Literacy for the Modern Learner

Project Summary

About

FinEdPro is an app that delivers personalized financial education through AI-powered simulations and goal-based learning paths.

Challenge

Despite the life-altering impact of financial literacy, Gen Z and Millennials in the U.S. continue to struggle with applying complex financial concepts in real life. Generic resources and lack of personalization leave them overwhelmed and disengaged.

Impact

I set out to create a solution that transforms abstract financial knowledge into tangible, customized guidance—bridging the gap between knowing and doing with the help of AI.

What I Discovered (Research Insights)

24

Survey responses

15-35

The survey participants' ages

7

Sources of secondary research

The Ongoing Financial Literacy Crisis in the U.S.

According to the 2023 TIAA Institute-GFLEC Personal Finance Index, financial literacy remains low across U.S. adults—especially Gen Z and Millennials. Gen Z correctly answered only 38% of the index questions, on average, in 2023, well below the already poor average of the population as a whole.

Financial Literacy by generation (Distribution of correct answers to P-Fin Index questions)

Top findings

Younger generations prefer learning through gamified, interactive content over traditional formats.
There is a strong demand for tools that help users simulate and plan personal financial scenarios.
AI is seen as a promising tool for providing tailored financial advice, but users still want control and transparency over their data.

What Young Adults Really Want from Financial Education

User Quote: "Sometimes the tips given aren't tied to what your goal may be ("Invest in X and Y" but no explanation of why)."

Through a targeted survey of Gen Z and Millennials in the U.S., I uncovered three key insights that shaped the direction of the app:

Generic Doesn’t Work
Respondents felt overwhelmed by general financial advice and said it often lacked relevance to their personal lives. They wanted tailored content that adapts to their unique goals and situations.
Simulation Over Theory
There was strong enthusiasm for interactive learning tools—especially simulations that model real-life financial scenarios like saving for retirement or budgeting for a major purchase.
Make It Feel Personal
Beyond facts and figures, users wanted an app that considers their emotional relationship with money. They appreciated the idea of emotional check-ins that help them reflect on their mindset and anxieties before diving into content.

These findings validated the need for a personalized, emotionally intelligent financial education experience—and became the foundation for FinEdPro’s feature set.

Using AI to Personalize Financial Learning for the New Generations

Personas & Low-fi prototyping

Based on the findings from my research, I decided to design a solution that directly addresses the needs and preferences of younger generations who struggle with financial literacy. The result is an innovative app that uses AI to deliver personalized learning paths and interactive lessons tailored to individual financial goals—bridging the gap between abstract concepts and real-life application.

Due to time constraints, I focused on one key scenario relevant to my target audience—learning about 401Ks—and developed a user persona to guide design decisions and ensure the experience remained human-centered and relatable throughout the process.

Early User Feedback That Refined the App

To bring my concept to life, I created a very low-fidelity prototype focused on a single, high-impact scenario for the user persona I had developed: learning about 401Ks. I tested this prototype with five potential users from my target audience and gather the following feedback:

It Supports Real Learning Progression
The prototype aligned with Bloom’s taxonomy—users could understand, apply, and begin to create their own financial strategies.
Finance Needs a Human Touch
Testers emphasized the value of integrating emotional check-ins to help users feel more supported and less intimidated by financial topics.
Reflection Builds Confidence
Users proposed a feature that lets them reflect and share feelings—highlighting the importance of emotional awareness in financial decision-making.

Prototyping with Purpose: Sophie’s Path to Financial Confidence

With user feedback in hand, I moved into the high-fidelity design stage, focusing on crafting a realistic and emotionally intelligent journey for my persona, Sophie. Due to time constraints, I prioritized a single, high-impact scenario: helping Sophie understand what a 401K is and feel more confident about retirement planning. This decision allowed me to go deep on one learning path, applying insights from earlier testing to refine the experience—from emotional onboarding to interactive lessons and personalized AI guidance. Below, you'll find a series of screens that bring Sophie’s journey through FinEdPro to life.

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Onboarding

She indicates her financial goals, specifically mentioning her interest in learning about 401K and retirement planning.

Personalized Learning Path

From the dashboard, she selects the option to learn about 401K from the personalized learning paths offered by the app.

401 (K) Lesson-Emotional
aspect

Before diving into the lesson, the Chatbot AI (Finley) asks Sophie to address any concerns or questions she may have about this topic. Understanding her feelings and previous knowledge will help tailor the lesson to cover her specific needs.

401 (K) Lesson

The app presents Sophie with a tailored lesson module on 401 (K), including information on what it is, how it works, the benefits, and factors to consider when contributing.

Interactive Learning Experience

Sophie engages with the interactive lesson, which includes quizzes, interactive examples, and explanatory videos to ensure comprehension.

Simulations

After completing the lesson, Sophie is prompted to engage with the AI chatbot.
The chatbot guides her through simulations based on the lesson content, allowing her to practice different scenarios related to 401K contributions and their impact on her financial future.

Personalized Financial Advice

Based on the information provided, the chatbot advises Sophie on how much she should contribute to her 401K to maximize her employer's matching benefits and optimize her long-term retirement savings.
The chatbot provides a clear breakdown of the recommended contribution strategies and the potential growth of her retirement savings over time

Summary and Next Steps

Sophie receives a summary of the advice provided by the chatbot, including recommended actions regarding her 401K contributions.

She is encouraged to explore other modules and resources within the app to further enhance her financial literacy and achieve her financial goals.

Conclusions & Next Steps

This product aims to bridge the gap between information overload and practical application in financial literacy. It offers users a personalized financial education experience, enabling them to discuss and practice what they've learned with an AI-powered personal finance advisor. Drawing on insights from PwC's Global Artificial Intelligence Study (PwC, 2023), this app will incorporate AI chatbots to facilitate personalized financial education. These chatbots will allow users to input financial information at their own pace without integrating with external apps or disclosing more information than they're comfortable with. Users can select specific financial topics, set financial goals, and engage with the AI assistant to receive instant access to tailored information and advice, including simulations based on their input.

Next Steps

Expand User Testing

While initial feedback on the prototype has been positive, broadening the testing pool is crucial for future iterations.

Investigate AI in Financial Literacy

Investigating future AI advancements and how they can be leveraged to provide personalized, engaging learning experiences.

Prioritize Safety and Privacy in AI Use

It's essential to learn more about AI and how to protect user data and privacy, especially in financial applications involving sensitive information.