Financial literacy for young adults · ages 18–30
Helping young adults build financial confidence early.
Practical, judgment-free conversations that make money make sense.
The Mission
Many young adults begin making important financial decisions before they have had the opportunity to learn the fundamentals of personal finance. The choices they make during their late teens and twenties can shape their confidence, opportunities, and financial future for decades.
The 72 Project exists to help bridge that gap. Not with a textbook or a lecture, but through real conversations that help young adults build practical skills, make informed decisions, and take advantage of the one thing they can never get back: time.
My goal is to teach personal finance concepts to young adults in a way that feels approachable, empowering, and relevant.
The Story
Some of the most important conversations of my life happened with my dad. He loved to learn, had a passion for investing, and genuinely enjoyed sharing what he learned with others.
When I was 22, he sat down with me and, with some quick math on the back of a napkin, showed me the power of putting your money to work early. At the time, it felt like a simple lesson about investing. Looking back, I realize it was really a lesson about time.
That conversation shaped the way I think about money and opportunity. It is a lesson I have carried with me ever since, and one I hope to pass on to the next generation.
The best financial lessons often begin with a conversation.
Conversations that compound.
The Name
Why “The 72 Project”
The Rule of 72 is a simple way to estimate how long it takes an investment to double. Divide 72 by your expected annual return, and you’ll get a rough idea of how many years that might take.
To me, it represents something much bigger than an investing calculation. It is a reminder of how powerful time can be when it comes to money. Small decisions made early, including the decision to start learning, can have an impact that grows over the years.
It is a simple formula, but the lesson behind it is the foundation of The 72 Project.
The Series
The 72 Project Signature Series
Three one-on-one conversations, walking through the money decisions that matter most in your twenties. Practical, judgment-free, and built around you.
1 · Banking, Budgeting & Credit
2 · Investing, Compound Interest & Retirement
3 · Protection, Loans & Planning
Background
A background in finance. A passion for education.
I spent most of my career in corporate accounting, finance, and commercial real estate. I earned a Bachelor of Business Administration in Accounting from the University of Notre Dame and an MBA in Finance from the Kellogg School of Management at Northwestern University.
During my corporate career, I became a Managing Director at Studley, Inc., a commercial real estate advisory firm later acquired by Savills, where I advised corporations on real estate strategy and financial decision making.
I stepped away from corporate life to focus on raising my four daughters. During that chapter, I began thinking less about what I had done before and more about what kind of work I genuinely wanted to do next. I knew I enjoyed making financial concepts easier to understand and wanted to put that interest to work in a meaningful way. That led me to earn my AFC® (Accredited Financial Counselor) designation and begin teaching financial literacy through CARE Chicago.
Through teaching and conversations with students and young adults, I saw how many were beginning to make important financial decisions without ever having the opportunity to learn the fundamentals of personal finance in a practical, approachable way. I saw an opportunity to make those fundamentals easier to understand and more relevant to the decisions they were already making.
That realization led me to found The 72 Project.
Today, The 72 Project brings together my experience in finance, my love of teaching, and my belief that financial education does not have to be intimidating. My goal is to make money easier to understand and help young adults feel more confident making financial decisions for themselves.
Erin Trella
Founder, AFC® · The 72 Project
AFC® Accredited Financial Counselor
BBA, Accounting University of Notre Dame
MBA, Finance Kellogg School of Management at Northwestern
CARE Chicago Active Teacher & Board Member
A meaningful graduation gift
Give the gift that compounds.
Skip the gift card. Give someone you care about the one thing no one else will: a real financial education, at one of life's most important transitions.
A gifted Signature Series includes all three conversations, a Smart Money Starter Kit to keep, and a personalized gift announcement so they can schedule their sessions to begin whenever they're ready.
Ready to Start the Conversation?
A free call to learn more or schedule, for young adults ready to get started. No pressure, just a conversation.