Teachers are invited to engage their students in this outstanding academic competition. The competition is open to all middle and high school students who have taken an economics or economics-related course in school. There is no fee to participate.
Teams of 3 or 4 students will be given a case consisting of a family with financial challenges and play the role of financial consultants. Every student team’s goal is to understand and analyze the family’s current financial situation to recommend strategies.
Teams will be provided a case study prior to the event to use to develop a financial plan. On the day of the competition teams will give an oral presentation of their financial plan to a panel of judges.
The 2026 Personal Finance Case Study has concluded. Information about the 2027 Personal Finance Case Study coming soon!
Click here for rules for the Personal Finance Case Study.
This is a qualifying event for the National Personal Finance Challenge. The high school team with the highest combined Personal Finance Case Study presentation score and Personal Finance Challenge online test score will advance to the National High School Personal Finance Challenge.
Prizes for Personal Finance Case Study Winning Team:
High School
1st place: $500
Middle School
1st place: $500
2026 Winners
Middle School Division
First Place
Team: American Financial
School: Orange Grove Middle School
Teacher: Dawn Willman
Second Place – Tie
Team: G & C Financial Partners
School: Orange Grove Middle School
Teacher: Dawn Willman
Second Place – Tie
Team: Prosperity Financial
School: Orange Grove Middle School
Teacher: Dawn Willman
Third Place
Team: Maroon Finance
School: Mountain Sky Junior High
Teacher: Lori Glover
High School Division
First Place
Team: Sharpe Shooters
School: BASIS Chandler
Teacher: Richard Aitken
Second Place
Team: Intangible Assets
School: Gilbert Classical Academy
Teacher: Cathleen Gary
Third Place
Team: Goodnight
School: Hamilton High School
Teacher: Diana Weaver