Welcome to the California FinanceChallenge ONLINE!
What is the National Personal Finance Challenge?
The National Personal Finance Challenge is an opportunity for students to demonstrate their knowledge of personal finance by connecting with other students from across the state in an online competition.
The top scoring teams are invited to the state championships in person competition with student teams from across the state. State finalist competitors will be assigned a fictional case-study with time to prepare a presentation sharing their recommendations for the fictional client before a panel of judges including economists, business leaders and financial professionals.
Research has shown that student clubs and competitions increase student participation, promote attendance, and help students achieve higher grades and standardized test scores.
There is no financial cost to either teachers or students to participate in the National Personal Finance Challenge!
How does the Challenge work?
- Teachers register
- Teachers sign up their team(s)
- Teams take the online exams
- Top scoring teams advance to the state competition which will be held virtually, in real time, to determine the California champion
- The winner of the state contest will represent California in the National Semi-Finals and potentially National Finals.
What is your next step to joining the FUN?
- Teachers- You can create as many student teams as you'd like and the California Council on Economic Education will pay all registration and participation fees! Register today and start creating your student teams.
- Students - Study hard! And remember... You must take the exam individually. No outside materials are to be utilized during the exam; i.e. no calculators, textbooks, teammates, AI etc.
Prizes for the State Competition Winners:
2026 prize amounts:
- First place- $500 per team member
- Second place - $300 per team member
- Third place - $100 per team member
Prizes for teachers: For each registered team that completes the challenge, you will be entered into a drawing for one $100 Gift Card.