TD is helping consumers in every stage of life gain financial confidence in an uncertain economy.
Being financially proficient is the foundation for personal independence, security and stability. At a time when nearly all U.S. households are navigating economic uncertainty, 42% of the population is struggling to manage money due to a lack of financial knowledge. Most adults have received little formal financial education, leaving many to learn through experience as they make decisions about saving, borrowing, investing and planning for the future.
Building financial knowledge is a lifelong learning journey, says Andrew Stuart, Head of Consumer Products, TD Bank U.S. “Beyond the individual transactions of banking, there's an equal opportunity to provide advice. We have a responsibility as an industry to provide trusted guidance in a world full of noise.”
TD focuses on equipping people with tools and knowledge to make informed financial choices in different life stages. This relationship-driven approach helps connect people with guidance and resources when they need them most.
“Financial information is everywhere,” agrees LaTanya Bryant, Branch Manager of Newburgh, N.Y., TD Bank U.S., “but trust and guidance are rare.”
No student is too young to begin building financial knowledge. Whether saving for a first purchase, preparing for college or learning how everyday financial decisions shape future opportunities, early exposure to financial concepts can have a lasting impact.
“Time is your friend,“ Stuart says. “The younger you start, the more secure you're going to be.”
One of the first major financial transitions many people face comes when preparing for college or entering adulthood. Questions about budgeting, borrowing, managing expenses and balancing competing priorities can shape financial wellbeing for years to come.
To help students and families make informed decisions, TD provides tools such as a student cost calculator that illustrates how loans, budgeting and long-term repayment decisions can affect future financial goals. The bank also offers workshop sessions on how to understand paychecks and create first budgets.
The financial knowledge gap often widens further for first-generation college students navigating debts and loans. TD teams up with schools and community organizations to help young people develop practical money-management skills and confidence that can serve them throughout their lives. For example, Bryant works with the Boys & Girls Club of Newburgh and regularly uses a simple white board to help teens plot their financial futures.
“It's often the first time anyone has talked to them about money and what money means,“ Bryant says. “But it's about confidence. Money is the platform they build their dreams on.“
Kevin White, Director of the Boys & Girls Club of Newburgh, agrees that Bryant's financial education sessions have had a real impact on the youth in the program.
“Through interactive activities such as budgeting exercises, real-life scenario discussions, and mock 'decision-making' challenges, our students were able to apply what they learned immediately. By the end of the program, many participants demonstrated a stronger understanding of how to open and manage a bank account, the importance of credit and how everyday financial choices impact their future."
Building confidence for what comes next
As students move into adulthood and financial lives become more complex, the need for trusted guidance only grows. Decisions about homeownership, borrowing, investing, retirement planning and more all require balancing competing priorities and understanding long-term implications.
“We help clients prioritize the fundamentals first — having emergency savings, proper cash-flow management, paying any debt obligations. That way, we enable them to adapt financially to any circumstance,” says Dwight Gillins, Retail Market Manager, TD Bank U.S.
That philosophy shapes how TD approaches financial knowledge. Rather than focusing solely on transactions, banking teams work to understand each client's goals, circumstances and priorities before recommending solutions.
“We see the client behind the application. We want to understand where they are on their financial journey,” says Stuart.
From information to action
While financial information is more accessible than ever through websites, social media, gamification and artificial intelligence tools, information alone does not always lead to confidence.
In-person guidance is important at all stages of people’s financial journeys. From Bryant's work with the Boys & Girls Club to TD Premier's support for individuals navigating major life and financial milestones with a financial adviser, personalized advice and human connection remain essential. TD also offers seminars on topics spanning every stage of life, from first-time homebuying to starting a business.
Whether clients engage digitally or in person, the goal is the same: helping people understand how financial information applies to their unique circumstances and long-term goals
Being prepared to navigate uncertainty
This education all leads toward building resilience and confidence that sets people up for life, because in an increasingly complex banking landscape it is not enough simply to offer products and teach people how to transact on their accounts or how to save money.
Financial preparedness is a lifelong capability that helps people navigate uncertainty, evaluate opportunities and make decisions.
“If your financial world is challenging and you lack the knowledge to change that, it limits your choices,” Stuart says.
By helping individuals and families better understand their options and use the financial tools available to them, TD aims to put people in a stronger position to achieve their goals and navigate whatever comes next.