Coronavirus: MassMutual brings FutureSmart financial education course online for distance learners

SPRINGFIELD -- The MassMutual Foundation has made its FutureSmart financial education program accessible online to middle schoolers across the country.

The foundation, the charitable arm of the Springfield-based insurance giant, said Wednesday that the program can be helpful keeping kids learning while schools are shut down during the coronavirus pandemic.

Normally presented in schools or at big theatrical events like one last May at the MassMutal Center in Springfield, FutureSmart can help students understand finances, build better money habits and prepare for all the big moments ahead of them, MassMutual said in a news release.

“With the proliferation of distance learning in communities across the country, we have the opportunity to expand access to this important program and empower every student to strengthen his or her financial acumen,” said Dennis Duquette, president of the MassMutual Foundation. “More than two million students have completed the financial education curriculum in the last five years, and by providing greater access to our program online at this critical time, we’re excited to welcome more students to the FutureSmart experience.”

FutuerSmart is a partnership between the MassMutual Foundation and student engagement materials provider Everfi. The course is available in English and Spanish.

The online FutureSmart course offers seven, 30-minute modules that educate students on emergency savings, budgeting, paying bills, investing, interest rates and charges, and more.

Students can continue their financial education via the FutureSmart app, which launched in 2017. The app is an exploratory life simulation that takes students through financial decisions they may face, such as saving, paying for higher education, and opening and monitoring bank accounts.

Everfi has opened access to a full library of its most popular online courses regardless of state or school affiliation through the school year to help address the need for fresh curricula during this time.

“Over the last five years while working with the MassMutual Foundation we’ve gotten to see firsthand what sort of generous and caring individuals they are and we are not at all surprised that during this time of uncertainty they would want to open the FutureSmart program to middle school students across the country,” said Ray Martinez, founder and president of Everfi, in a news release. “The MassMutual Foundation has long been dedicated to making sure our nation’s youth are financially literate and we congratulate them on reaching the incredible milestone of impacting and educating two million students on this important topic.”

A list of available courses is available at the Everfi Family Portal.

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