Los Angeles · Live · In-Person

The money class
school forgot
to teach them.

A one-time, two-hour live session giving high schoolers the financial foundation most adults wish they'd had at 16. Real skills. No sales pitch.

Reserve a Seat — $119 →
Money 101: What School Didn't Teach You
01
Paychecks & Taxes — gross vs. net, W-2 vs. 1099
02
Budgeting — the 55/20/25 system, needs vs. wants
03
Saving & Compound Interest — why starting at 18 wins
04
Investing — index funds vs. gambling
05
Credit & Debt — scores, traps, early mistakes
Format
Live, in-person
Length
2 hours
Class Size
Max 25 students
Investment
$119
78%
of Americans live paycheck to paycheck — not from low income, but from no plan.
$38K
average American credit card debt — built from habits formed in the first years on their own.
67%
of adults have never made a budget. Not irresponsible — just never taught.
📋
LAUSD is adding financial literacy as a requirement — starting next year.
A semester of mandatory classroom theory is very different from two focused, interactive hours with someone who actually cares about this. Give your student the foundation before day one.
What They'll Learn

7 topics. 2 hours.
Everything school skipped.

01
Paychecks & TaxesGross vs. net, W-2 vs. 1099, and why their first paycheck will surprise them.
02
Budgeting That WorksThe 55/20/25 system, needs vs. wants, giving every dollar a job.
03
Saving & Emergency FundsPaying yourself first, why consistency beats amount, what a cash buffer really does.
04
Compound InterestThe one concept that changes how you think about money. Starting at 18 vs. 30 — real numbers.
05
Investing BasicsIndex funds vs. picking stocks, how the market works long-term, why boring beats flashy.
06
Credit & DebtHow credit scores are built, the minimum payment trap, using credit without being used by it.
07
Common Money MistakesLifestyle creep, buying wants with debt, waiting too long. Awareness is the first step.
✓
No products sold. No accounts opened.Pure education. No sales pitch. No brand has paid to be in this room.
🎯
Practical & real-world
🙋
Interactive, not a lecture
👥
Max 25 students
📋
Personal action plan
How It Works

Simple.
One class.
Real results.

1
Reserve a seat below
Pick a date, pay once. You'll get a confirmation with location and details.
2
Show up — nothing to prepare
Students just need to bring themselves. Everything else is provided.
3
Two hours of real learning
Interactive exercises, real pay stubs, hands-on budgeting. Not slides and bullet points.
4
Leave with a plan
Every student walks out with a personal money action plan they built themselves.
Reserve Your Student's Seat
FormatLive, in-person · Los Angeles
Length2 hours
AudienceHigh school students
Class sizeLimited — 25 students max
$119
one-time · no recurring fees
Reserve a Seat on Calendly →
⚡ Spots fill fast. Classes are capped at 25.
Sibling discount: $89 for a second student in the same session. Email us after booking to apply.
About

"I started this because every student deserves to understand money before life forces them to figure it out. The earlier you have that foundation, the more confident and in control your entire life becomes."

I'm Dr. Michael Karas, the founder of Stay Ahead Academy. I started this because I wish someone had taught me this at 16. Like most people, I had to figure out money on my own — and looking back, the earlier you learn these fundamentals, the more financially stable and stress-free your life becomes. Every concept in this class is something I wish I'd known sooner. Your student doesn't have to wait.

Built on one belief:
the earlier, the better.
Real-world over theoretical
Every concept tied to something students will face within 2 years.
Interactive over passive
Students build budgets, analyze pay stubs, and make real decisions.
Confidence over complexity
The goal is good early decisions — not making experts.
Zero sales pressure
No accounts opened. No products sold. No agenda except the curriculum.
FAQ

Questions parents ask.

Does my student need any financial knowledge beforehand?
Zero. Designed for students who have never thought about money seriously. We start from scratch. No background required.
What grade levels is this for?
Any high schooler, 9th–12th grade. Especially relevant for juniors and seniors approaching jobs, college, and financial independence.
Are any products or accounts sold during class?
Absolutely not. No brokerage accounts, no insurance, no financial services. Pure education — nothing for sale in that room.
LAUSD is already adding this — why do this too?
A semester of mandatory classroom content is very different from a focused, hands-on 2-hour session. This gives your student the framework before day one.
Is there a sibling discount?
Yes — $89 for a second sibling in the same session. Email after booking your first seat and we'll apply it.
What does my student walk away with?
A personal money action plan they built in class, plus the confidence to make smarter financial decisions starting that week.
Contact

Have a question?

If you have any questions about the class, location, pricing, or anything else — don't hesitate to reach out.

✉  stayaheadacademy101@gmail.com