Frequently Asked Questions

THE BASICS

  • The 72 Project is a three-part series of one-on-one conversations about money, built for young adults. We cover banking and credit, investing and compound growth, and protecting what you build. You leave with the Smart Money Starter Kit and practical next steps you can put to use.

  • Young adults, generally ages 18 to 30. Recent high school graduates heading to college, students, and people in their first job or first few years of working. If someone is under 18, a parent or guardian consents before we begin.

  • No. There are no prerequisites, no homework, and no test. If you have never opened an investment account or looked at a credit report, we start there, and nothing gets assumed along the way.

  • Good. A lot of the material is built for people who have already started. If you have opened a Roth IRA, created your first budget, or have a 401(k) with a match to sort out, we can move through familiar material quickly and spend more time on what is useful to you. That might mean understanding how compounding works over decades, what is actually inside an index fund, thinking through student loans, or getting a better handle on insurance and longer-term planning. The curriculum guide gives us a starting point, but the conversation can go where you need it to.

  • No. We talk about habits and decisions, not portfolio sizes. You can start saving or investing with a very small amount, and you do not need a large balance to open many types of accounts. Starting the habit early matters far more than starting with a lot of money.

  • Sessions are scheduled in 90-minute blocks, and most run about 75 to 90 minutes. The exact length depends on the material we cover and the questions you have. If time allows and you still have questions, I am happy to stay a little longer.

  • In person when we can find a time and place that works for both of us, and over Zoom when that is not possible. Both cover the same material.

    I am based in Deerfield, Illinois. The Deerfield Starbucks and the study rooms at the Deerfield Public Library both work well. I always like meeting over a coffee, but I am flexible.

GETTING STARTED

  • A free 15-minute conversation to hear what you are hoping to get out of the Series and answer any questions you have. There is no obligation, and if I don't think it is a good fit, I will tell you.

  • You book the Discovery Call yourself through the link on the site. The three Series sessions need longer blocks of time, so we plan those together by phone. We can schedule the first session or all three at once, whichever you prefer.

  • Nothing, unless you want to. I will bring a curriculum guide covering what we plan to work through, along with a hard copy of the Smart Money Starter Kit at our first session. If there are topics in the guide you are more interested in, we will spend more time there. Feel free to bring your questions, but otherwise we start from scratch. Please do not send account numbers or passwords by email.

  • No. You can start with a single session for $150, and if you decide to continue, that amount is credited toward the full Series. Most people do find the three build on each other.

FOR PARENTS AND GIFT GIVERS

  • Yes. The Signature Series can be given as a graduation gift or for another milestone or transition. The recipient has 12 months to schedule their sessions. Reach out through the Contact page and I will send you the next steps.

  • They do. Part of what makes these sessions work is that the young adult chooses to show up, so scheduling is theirs to own. You are welcome to nudge.

  • No, and this is deliberate. What a young adult shares in a session stays between us. I am happy to confirm that sessions were scheduled or completed, so you know the gift was used, but I do not share the content of our conversations. If the participant is under 18, different rules apply and a parent or guardian consents before we begin.

    I am always happy to share the educational materials we use in the Series. Parents are welcome to see what I am teaching; I just keep the young adult's individual questions and our conversations private.

  • Reach out. Within the original 12 months, the remaining sessions can be transferred to another young adult, such as a sibling or a friend, so the gift does not go to waste.

COST AND LOGISTICS

  • The three-part Signature Series is $350. A single session is $150, credited toward the Series if you upgrade later. The 15-minute Discovery Call is free.

  • Then say so. I keep a small number of no-cost spots open each quarter for young adults who want to do this and cannot cover the fee. There is no application and no paperwork. Mention it on the Discovery Call, or send a note through the Contact page, and if a spot is open it is yours. If they are taken, I will tell you when the next ones open. The sessions and the Starter Kit are exactly the same.

  • Three one-on-one sessions, the session guides, and the printed Smart Money Starter Kit, which is yours to keep and come back to.

  • Payment in full is due at the time of purchase. I accept Zelle and checks. Once you are ready to move forward, I will send you the payment details and exact amount.

  • If you change your mind within 30 days of purchase and before the first session, I refund you in full. If you complete the first session and decide not to continue, I refund $150 and you keep the first session and the Starter Kit. After two sessions the Series is non-refundable. Full details are on the Terms page.

  • You have 12 months from purchase to complete the Series, and I will work with you to find times that fit your schedule. If you are heading to college or your circumstances change, we can also meet over a break or over Zoom. If you need additional time, just reach out.

WHAT THIS IS AND IS NOT

  • No. I am an Accredited Financial Counselor (AFC®), a credential administered by AFCPE® that reflects training in financial counseling and education. I teach and explain. I am not a registered investment adviser, and I do not manage anyone's money.

  • No. I will not recommend a specific stock, fund, or account for your situation. What I will do is explain how investing works, what index funds are, how compounding behaves over decades, and what questions to ask, so that your decisions are yours and you understand them.

  • No. I do not sell products and I do not accept commissions, referral fees, or compensation from any financial institution. My only compensation comes from the people I work with, which means I have nothing to steer you toward.

  • I treat our conversations as private and do not share what you tell me except in the limited circumstances described in the Privacy Policy. These conversations are educational and are not legally privileged communications with an attorney, doctor, therapist, or other licensed professional.

STILL HAVE A QUESTION

  • Email erin@the72project.com or book the free 15-minute Discovery Call. I would rather answer a question than have you wonder about it.