Preparing Students & Young Adults for a Rapidly Changing World

Not long ago, career paths were more predictable. Students could complete their education, enter the workforce, the military, or become entrepreneurs. They could anticipate an excellent standard of living, a home, cars, vacations, financial security, and the ability to retire by age 65. – This was the American Dream, and the US was the Land of Opportunity.

Today’s environment is markedly different. Our young adults must prepare for a new age of change – The Age of Artificial Intelligence.

Technological advancement and artificial intelligence are reshaping industries at an unprecedented pace. Employment structures are evolving. Employers require critical thinking, problem-solving, and effective written and oral communication in culturally diverse teams.

Employers expect new hires to be able to:

• Use technology and AI to manage and offer innovative solutions. You must be able to think and offer creative, effective solutions.
• Make complex company and personal financial and investment decisions to produce a positive return on investment.
• Evaluate your continued education/training. To have a competitive edge, you must continue to learn.
• Adapt to economic shifts influenced by AI and global competition
• Start now to build these skills!

College graduates enter employment without preparation in financial decision-making and critical thinking. Fifty percent of new college grads are either underemployed or unemployed.

Decker & Associates equips students with durable decision-making frameworks that remain relevant regardless of economic shifts or age. Online material with integrated companion notebooks prepares students in financial decision-making. They learn:

• Analytical reasoning
• Long-term planning discipline
• Applied economic interpretation
• Risk evaluation and tradeoff analysis
• Financial modeling and investment literacy

How is this possible? Students initially resist thinking. For 12 years, they have been rewarded for memorizing course content. To transition them to fundamental critical thinking, we have students apply the Real Life ARED Model for Critical Thinking to major decisions and problem-solving, like selecting careers, buying a car, living with family, etc. They learn to Analyze the problem, conduct Research, using libraries, search engines, adult conversations and prompt engineering of Large Language Models (LLMs), to understand the background, possible solutions, short- and long-term consequences of the solutions, and develop a plan for implementation. They then Evaluate their possible answers through collaboration, modify the results, and finally Defend their solutions and strategic plan, in writing or oral presentations.

You have probably noticed that Real Life is not just another course. It challenges and motivates students in valued life skills, while developing confidence and leadership competencies.

Since the late 1970s, Decker & Associates has provided award-winning, practical financial education to individuals, families, employers, and community organizations.

In response to educator and parent demand, Decker Real Life courses were introduced in 2012 to bring applied financial reasoning into the high school classroom.

The curriculum has since expanded and is now adopted in multiple states and available to young adults and homeschools. Today, as the world rapidly changes, we include ARED to provide students with structured opportunities to apply intellectual ability to real-world decisions that impact their goals and aspirations.

Real Life course offers opportunities to:

• Reinforce District Mission Statements with students prepared for financially secure futures.
• Offer colleges a course that will motivate students to seek challenging, critical thinking curricula required for future employment
• Avoid costly mistakes. College students and young adults, it’s not too late. In our course, you will receive financial education, apply ARED, set goals, create a written plan, implement wise decisions, and create a successful life.

Complete the CONTACT US form for more information.