A foundational course on money, markets, and the economy — built for young adults ready to understand how it all actually works and why the US dollar matters to everything.
Register Your InterestNobody teaches you this in school. How does saving actually build wealth? What are stocks and bonds and why should you care? Why does the US dollar affect the price of everything from gas to groceries — no matter where you live?
This course gives young adults the real foundation — not textbook theory, but practical knowledge from someone who spent 25 years managing billions in global markets. By the end, you'll understand how money works, how markets move, and how to start building your financial future with confidence.
How the global economy actually runs, why interest rates matter, why the US dollar sits at the center of everything, and what that means for prices, jobs, and your daily life.
What drives stock prices, how to read basic valuations, and how to think clearly about meme stocks, social media hype, and crowd trades — so you can tell what's real from what's not.
How currency markets work, what drives exchange rates and your purchasing power, how commodity prices flow through to everyday life, and why gold endures as a store of value.
Bitcoin, altcoins, stablecoins, DeFi, NFTs — what's real infrastructure and what's hype. How to evaluate a project, spot a rug pull, and think about digital assets like a professional investor.
The compounding math that's rigged in your favor if you start now. Asset allocation, diversification, and the behavioral traps — FOMO, loss aversion, herd behavior — that trip up even experienced investors.
The global forces shaping your generation — AI, energy transition, US/China dynamics, the future of the dollar — plus a framework for ongoing self-education: what to read, what to ignore, and how to keep building.
~60 minutes each. Schedule coordinated with each group.
Interactive sessions with real examples, discussion, and Q&A throughout.
Kept small so everyone can ask questions and engage — this isn't a lecture.
Sessions are recorded. If you miss one, you can catch up before the next.
Over 25 years in global markets — managing $23B+ at OppenheimerFunds, working as an economist at the IMF and World Bank, and navigating every major market cycle since 1995. She holds a Ph.D. in Economics from the University of Rochester and has traveled to 63 countries. She now runs Cairn Economic Advisors from Boulder, Colorado, and is passionate about making economic education accessible to everyone — especially the next generation.
We're building groups now. Reach out to register your interest or ask any questions — scheduling is flexible and coordinated with each group.
A parent or family member is welcome to reach out on your behalf.
Register Your InterestNot at all. This course starts from the ground up and assumes no prior knowledge. It's designed for people who are just getting started.
All sessions are recorded and you'll have replay access. You can catch up before the next one — though the live discussion is a big part of the value, so showing up is encouraged.
Absolutely. A parent or family member is welcome to reach out through the contact form to register interest or ask questions.
No. This is financial education — you'll learn how money and markets work so you can make smarter decisions. Sara does not provide specific investment recommendations.
Reach out through the contact form — happy to chat.
This course is educational in nature. Dr. Sara Zervos Knutson does not provide specific investment recommendations, manage assets, or direct portfolio construction through this course or any Cairn Economic Advisors service.