From Knowledge to Impact: The CPA's Role in Financial Literacy with Julia Bush

From Knowledge to Impact: The CPA's Role in Financial Literacy with Julia Bush

From AICPA Personal Financial Planning (PFP) by AICPA & CIMA

March 9, 2026 · 17 min

About this episode

This episode discusses the critical role of CPAs in promoting financial literacy and the impact they can have in communities.

Financial literacy is not just a client issue; it is a national opportunity for CPA financial planners to lead. With only half of Americans understanding basic financial principles and many households living paycheck to paycheck, the profession is uniquely positioned to step beyond the conference room and into classrooms, community groups, and public conversations. In this episode, host Cary Sinnett discusses with Julia Bush how CPAs can turn technical expertise into measurable impact. Julia explains why financial literacy remains one of the most critical life skills Americans are often expected to "teach themselves" and why that model continues to fall short, particularly for students. While 30 states now require personal finance education in high schools, funding and implementation gaps persist. The conversation explores: The behavioral gap between knowing and doing in personal finance Why accountability and small actionable steps matter How CPAs can partner with schools, nonprofits, and community groups The impact of organizations like Junior Achievement Practical first steps financial professionals can take to create measurable change For CPA financial planners, this episode…

People in this episode

Host: Cary Sinnett

Guest: Julia Bush

Topics covered

  • financial literacy
  • CPA engagement
  • personal finance education
  • community involvement
  • behavioral finance
  • accountability in finance

Keywords

  • financial literacy
  • CPA
  • personal finance
  • education
  • community groups
  • accountability
  • Junior Achievement

Sponsors

AICPA's Personal Financial Planning Section

Mentioned in this episode

Organizations: Junior Achievement, AICPA, Institute for Financial Education and Prosperity

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