Money Lessons Gen Z Actually Wants to Learn with Ethan Williams
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How a 19-Year-Old Is Redefining Money Education for the Next Generation
When I first met Ethan’s mother at a conference in Ireland, I knew instantly that we shared the same mission: to make financial education accessible, practical, and empowering. Then she told me about her son, a 19-year-old who was already teaching his friends about investing and building a gamified financial-literacy app. I had to meet him.
In this episode of Expand Your Empire, I sat down with Ethan Williams, a young Australian entrepreneur who’s proving that financial literacy doesn’t have to be boring or complicated. From earning pocket money at five to investing at twelve, Ethan’s journey shows what’s possible when we start money conversations early and keep them fun.
Starting Young: How Early Lessons Shape Lifelong Habits
Ethan grew up in a home where money was an integral part of everyday life, not in a stressful way, but as something to be understood and respected.
“We were taught to save half of whatever we earned,” he told me. “Even if it was five dollars from a chore or birthday money. It was about valuing saving and thinking about your future self.”
By twelve, he was sitting with his dad buying stocks from the money he’d saved. That discipline, paired with curiosity, built the foundation for the entrepreneur he’s becoming.
Creating a Community Around Money
Like so many young people, Ethan’s creativity came alive during the pandemic. While others were binge-watching shows, he was filming finance videos on YouTube, managing his own portfolio, and answering questions from classmates about money.
“I was just happy to have some sort of impact,” he said. “People knew me as the person who was really interested in investing and wanted to help others learn.”
That passion turned into a small online community, proof that Gen Z isn’t avoiding finance; they just want it explained in ways that feel real.
Teaching Kids About Money Even When Parents Don’t Feel Confident
When I asked Ethan how parents can start these conversations, he made it simple.
It begins with experience:
- Let kids earn money tied to effort.
- Encourage saving part of it and spending the rest with intention.
- Help them see their progress visually, whether through cash jars or a simple spreadsheet.
“It’s not about chores,” he said. “It’s about learning the value of doing something and seeing that effort turn into something tangible.”
That perspective stuck with me. Money lessons don’t have to be perfect, they just need to start.
The Tree That Explains Compound Interest
When we talked about compound interest, Ethan gave an analogy I’ll never forget.
“Imagine planting a tree. It grows, and then it drops seeds that grow more trees. Over time, you get an entire forest.”
That’s compound interest, your money earning money, and that money earning more.
He reminded me that it works both ways: growth for investments, and danger for debt.
Making Finance Fun: Ethan’s Duolingo-Style App
Ethan started university but left after three weeks, not because he couldn’t handle it, but because it wasn’t moving fast enough toward his goal.
“I realized I could spend the next few years learning, or I could spend them building,” he explained.
He’s now developing an app he describes as “a Duolingo for finance.” It breaks down financial concepts into micro-lessons and simulations that let users practice budgeting, saving, and investing without real money.
“It needs to be fun, approachable, and still valuable,” he said. “I want people to actually look forward to learning this.”
Why Schools Are Still Missing the Mark
This part of our conversation hit home for me.
Ethan pointed out that despite its importance, money management is rarely taught in school, and that’s not an accident.
“Schools and corporations aren’t incentivized to teach financial literacy,” he said. “They profit from people being uneducated.”
He shared some sobering numbers: nearly 20 million U.S. students are enrolled in college with an average of $37,000 in debt, and over half end up working outside their degree field.
As Ethan said, I found myself nodding. This isn’t just a youth issue, it’s a generational one.
The Emotional Side of Money
When we talk about money, we usually focus on math, but Ethan reminded me that money is deeply emotional.
“Money is maps, but it’s also emotion,” he said. “People have attitudes toward it they don’t even recognize.”
He encourages people to first understand their relationship with money and then build systems that support that relationship, whether through automation or simple structure.
“You don’t have to love finance,” he said. “You just have to know yourself and set up systems that work for you.”
That’s a message I wish everyone could hear.
Education Is Empowerment
When I think about this conversation, I keep coming back to one thing: financial confidence changes everything.
It’s not about how much someone earns, it’s about understanding what to do with it, how to grow it, and how to talk about it openly.
Ethan’s work is a glimpse of what’s possible when education meets innovation.
If more families, schools, and communities embraced these conversations early, the next generation wouldn’t just make money, they’d understand it.
About Ethan Williams
Ethan Williams is a 19-year-old Australian entrepreneur and founder of Ethan Williams Finance, a platform dedicated to making financial education engaging and accessible. He’s currently building a gamified app designed to help young people learn money management in a fun, interactive way.
Follow his journey on Instagram or YouTube for updates on his upcoming app launch.
Instagram: Ethan Williams (@ethanwilliamsfinance) • Instagram photos and videos
YouTube: Ethan Williams Finance – YouTube
TikTok: ethanwilliamsfinance (@ethanwilliamsfinance) | TikTok