Angel Investments

Financial literacy is arguably one of the most important skills one can learn, but people do not always have the access — whether due to socioeconomic, geographic, or other reasons — to the tools needed to learn them. Angel Rich, founder and CEO of the Wealth Factory, has made it a priority to address this issue, which she says is greater than most imagine.

"Financial illiteracy is all around us," says Rich. "I would say that [it] is a national crisis and should be addressed."

With Wealth Factory, Rich aims to create greater access to tools that help people — regardless of race, gender, or economic status — spend responsibly, reduce their debt, and boost their credit, putting them on the road to financial independence. One product, an app called Wealth Stacker, teaches how to pay down debt while going through brightly colored, Candy Crush-like levels while presenting financial literacy trivia questions. The game appeals to a broad audience, even reaching children and international audiences. The reason for its success, says Rich, is clear.

"Not only is it extremely applicable" to many people's lives, she says, "it is [also] engaging.”

In this edition of the Harvard EdCast, Rich examines the intersection of financial literacy, technology, and education, and speaks about how financial education and support must be equitable.

About the Harvard EdCast

The Harvard EdCast is a weekly series of podcasts, available on the Harvard University iTunes U page, that features a 15-20 minute conversation with thought leaders in the field of education from across the country and around the world. Hosted by Matt Weber and co-produced by Jill Anderson, the Harvard EdCast is a space for educational discourse and openness, focusing on the myriad issues and current events related to the field.