3rd Decade

Excellent financial training and advising for people under 35. Initial training is worthwhile, the mentorship and habit forming are exceptional. I've recommended this program to dozens of people, and everyone who has taken it has thanked me.

This is exactly the type of truly useful learning that is suspiciously missing from the standard education in the US. I cannot over state my gratitude to 3rd Decade and to my advisor, Dana. Thank you!

I heard about 3rd decade from a former graduate of the program. It seemed too good to be true! My boyfriend at the time and now husband, applied and got accepted! We always struggled to have in-depth conversations about finances, savings, and financial goals and this course allowed us to overcome that. It was an opportunity to learn about financial literacy and to set in motion a plan to save for the future. The best part of the program is the financial advisor that we got to work one-on-one with after the learning portion of the program. Jennifer is truly wonderful and she has changed our lives in ways that are hard to measure but that all revolve around financial literacy. My husband’s work doesn’t have retirement savings but our financial advisor, Jennifer helped him create a Roth IRA so he can now save for retirement. I recommend anyone that meets the criteria for this program, to apply and get the most out of this opportunity. Would love to see this program get introduced into high schools or community colleges. It is truly such an asset! Thank you, 3rd decade!

I am a volunteer mentor with 3rd Decade and I am so impressed with and inspired by their dedication to serving young adults through financial education support and empowerment! Everything this team does is top tier quality from their platforms and resources for participants, organized trainings, and stunning marketing/ social graphics!

Amazing education for learning financial literacy, great curriculum and engaging course!

3rd Decade is an amazing financial mentorship program. It is a program that provides a course in financial literacy and in-depth look into your own personal finances to prepare for your future. You receive a mentor who follows you on your financial plan over two years. I appreciated that my mentor understood my complex relationship with money. I just completed the course in January 2024. It is the course that I wish everyone had available to them. I am so glad that they have expanded their offerings to be nationwide. I have friends and co-workers who have completed the program. I highly recommend!

I was a participant in the 3rd Decade program, with the classes starting in fall of 2021 and my final progress meeting in December 2023. It was fantastic! It helped me build my financial literacy, giving me the context to understand retirement savings, budgeting, and more. I am so glad I got the opportunity to do this! The course and the advice from my financial mentor helped me set up my RothIRA wisely, plan how to save for retirement, and actively save for maternity leave during my first pregnancy, supporting me after the birth of my son. I tell friends, family, and my students about 3rd Decade and what a wonderful resource it is.

I started 3rd Decade a couple of years ago and really had no clue what I was doing or where I was heading financially. At the time I was working and making money, paying the bills, and not thinking much about the future. I wasn't sure I would like this course when it was recommended to me, I figured I would check it out and maybe quit if it wasn't for me. So happy to say that I was pleasantly surprised. Not only does the course motivate you to sit down and learn about financial planning, but it does so in an interesting and easy-to-follow manner. For something that can be so intimidating and confusing, 3rd Decade made me confident and excited to continue. The course has so many great resources available and it is offered at a great pace for those of us who have no knowledge in investing, retirement accounts, and banking opportunities. I learned more than I could have imagined.

After the course, I was assigned my financial mentor (which you get to pick from a great group of people), and met for the first progress meeting. The fact that this program offers this resource is phenomenal. Nowadays, I find it so hard to find people just willing to help. However, it's clear that the 3rd Decade crew has one goal - to help and support you in becoming financially confident and able. They go above and beyond, and it's clear they really love what they do. My mentor did some amazing work, making personalized plans for me and offering advice I couldn't find anywhere else. Every meeting after that, my mentor was ready to answer questions, excited to dive into my current financial status, and had so many resources ready for me before, at, and after my meetings.

It is truly impossible to express all that this program has done for me. I feel so confident in my future and my ability to maintain and track my finances. I felt taken care of, heard, and ultimately, like I mattered and that someone truly cared to get me on the right path. 3rd Decade is a wonderful program, and I am so happy to have taken the leap and started when I did. Thank you so much!!!

3rd Decade has made a world of difference for my family! Thanks to them, we have financial security now, and will have financial security when we retire.

3rd Decade helped my husband and I so much with understanding our finances, setting up our retirement savings, and changing our behaviors with money. I'm not afraid to look at our finances anymore, nor to discuss them in a confident manner (no tears here). We've become debt-free, which feels amazing. Understanding this lead me to realize that other people like me who had no real financial education as a young person might miss out on making their own lives easier. I think it's such an important cause, that I've become a financial mentor myself. Explaining budgeting and how credit works makes me feel like there are more people out there able to do well for themselves, and perhaps even help others in the future.

I thought I was a great financial planner and had a good grasp of budgeting, etc. I still learned so much from this program, in some cases realizing that my "thrifty" habits were hurting me in the long run! I would recommend this program to anyone who wants to have a good financial plan for their present AND future.

3rd Decade equips participants with the knowledge and skills needed to make informed financial decisions through life. By implementing strategies like budgeting, goal setting, debt management, and risk mitigation, 3rd Decade supports participants to optimize their savings and work towards achieving their financial objectives. Easy to work with, a supportive team, amazing mentors and a wonderful way to take hold of the world of finance.

3rd Decade is an incredible nonprofit that has truly changed my life. I learned so much through the courses, but the best part is definitely the individual meetings with a financial member. Jennifer Edwards was amazingly helpful in looking at my personal situation and making recommendations for me that have helped me a ton! I cannot recommend this program enough.

Fantastic program. Learned a lot. Great courses and ongoing mentorship.

Í have a blood cancer that is treatable. Rocky Mountain Cancer Center is the treatment organization that has cared for me since May 2019. 3rd decade has been there with me with advice and financial knowledge all the way.
Thank you for being there during a very difficult time that continues in my life.

I was first a beneficiary of the program and I now manage the program. I can't imagine how different my life would be now if I hadn't found 3rd Decade 5 years ago. It is an amazing organization on the inside and out.

The most well designed financial literacy program I've taken! Definitely recommend.

I took the 3rd Decade course right after graduating from grad school. The timing couldn’t have been more critical for me. And I was encouraged to bring my partner in to the one-on-one personal finance meetings too, so that invaluable resource was shared across the whole household. I am always recommending 3rd Decade to my younger friends (I’m 36 now, so past the age of eligibility for the course). In fact, one of my co-workers told me TODAY that she is signed up for a course this summer. It feels good to spread the word about this amazing non-profit. 3rd Decade really can change lives by educating and empowering people to take control of their finances.

Expert advisors. Genuine compassion. Community-minded impact. These words come to mind when I think of 3rd Decade's 2-year financial education and mentorship program, all offered for free. Lessons are carefully crafted and earnestly delivered to people at a critical point in their young lives - when their investments will have the greatest return. 3rd Decade gives participants something incredibly unique and priceless: peace of mind. Knowing about personal finance is not their goal; they want you to practice personal finance. That is why this program is life changing. 3rd Decade is, indeed, a great nonprofit.

As a mentor of the program, I have found that not only are the participants benefiting but the mentors do as well. The information I learn from working with different participants who have vastly different life experiences that impact their financial situation provides me with resources to share with others I work with and for my own financial situation. In addition the warm fuzzy feelings I receive when a participant has made meaning changes to their lives based on my recommendations and recognizes the positive impact it has had on their life can't be beat!

I was referred by a colleague and I’m so grateful! 3rd decade gave a thorough crash course on all things finances, insurance, retirement, investments, taxes, and so much more! I feel more ready to handle my finances than I did six months ago. I’m looking into starting a ROTH IRA and getting rental insurance thanks to this program. Definitely a needed service for young people trying to understand the best path for their finances.

3rd Decade is an incredible course and resource for young people to learn how to navigate our crazy economy. I continuously recommend them to as many of my friends as possible. 3rd Decade teachers, financial mentors, and staff empower people to take control of their financial future. Thank you!

The 3rd Decade program feels too good to be true - but it's real! The classes and mentorship given through this program are so incredibly helpful for any person who needs the basics on retirement, savings, and financial advice. Their staff is helpful, kind, and responsive, and their mentors help guide you through your own financial situations and questions in a judgment-free zone. I recommend this program to everyone who is able to take it!

I cannot recommend this program enough. Having gone through the program, I feel a great deal of control and purpose in my life and in my financial future. I came in quite stressed about money but not knowing what to do or how to make smart financial decisions. I now feel confident and capable to build wealth for my future and I have redefined my relationship with money. The classes are incredibly helpful and the two year relationship with the financial advisor provided me so many benefits. I've shared this program with at least 10 close friends because of how amazing it is.

3rd decade really helped educate me on retirement plans, mortgages and life insurance. Since starting with 3rd Decade, I've now confidentially investing in my retirement plan, life insurance and recently closed on my first VA home loan with my husband. Everyone needs 3rd Decade in their life for their inclusive and easy to follow learning format of all things financial.

I appreciate the commitment that the 3rd Decade has to teaching young men and women skills to be successful in their financial management journey.

My experience has been as a volunteer mentor. Seeing the financial progress made by the participants I have mentored with just a few financial tips has been especially rewarding for me.

3rd Decade helps young adults get on the path to financial security. The coursework and financial mentorship 3rd Decade provides is having a positive ripple effect in communities around the country!

How is this not more widely known?! Such a valuable investment of my time, even after spending the last two years trying to build my financial literacy via podcast, newsletter, general research etc...

The biggest takeaway benefit is having all the information presented in a digestible manner, from a single, trustworthy entity. Rather than cross-referencing multiple sources, everything you need to know and wanted to ask is available in comprehensive, but condensed sessions that leave you feeling empowered and optimistic about your future financial status, regardless of what it is at present.

I went through the 3rd Decade program at a pivotal point in my life, and the knowledge and advice I gained through the classes and our consultations impacted my financial life in a long-lasting way. I feel so much more prepared to handle financial emergencies and think about retirement than I did before.

Excellent educational opportunity, many different topics and engaging teachers. Everyone should participate in this class!

I'm a self-nominated 3rd Decade Ambassador! When I participated in the program I shared all the information I was learning with others, anyone who would listen really. And since then as the program has grown I keep referring people to join! I learned so much from the program and I continue to learn and feel more confident in vetting information and trusting my knowledge base to help me continue to grow in financial security. The people at 3rd Decade are great! They offer guidance without judgement and the results I've had since participating have put me years ahead of where I ever expected to be.

I am so incredibly thankful for 3rd Decade! Prior to completing the program, I didn't have financial literacy. This wasn't knowledge my parents were able to pass on to me. I appreciated the way that 3rd Decade taught financial literacy. It was easy to understand and clear on the steps I needed to take to manage my money wisely. The ability to meet with a financial advisor and discuss my specific situation was so valuable! With 3rd Decade's guidance I am now on track to reach my future retirement goals. Thank you!

3rd decade provided me with so much invaluable education upon graduating college and entering workforce for the first time as a full-time employee. I find myself referring back to the resources and information that was shared throughout the course on a regular basis and I always share the education I learned with others whenever I get the chance. I wish this was something every young adult had access to!! Hopefully one day soon.

I have been nothing but impressed and grateful for 3rd decade. When I was accepted into a cohort I was in a season of hitting some walls when it came to finances simply because I had never learned about personal finances. I was not bad with money but had little idea what I should actually be doing with my finances to set myself up for success. Not only was their curriculum engaging and easy to grasp, I never felt behind or shamed for not knowing something already. I was so encouraged by the facilitators and the cohort community. I walked away with an amazing session with a financial mentor and a kickstart to my roth ira. Participating in 3rd decade was the biggest win for me and my financial future.