Mr. Smoak, as many of you who attended Wando High School in the early 1980s will recall, was more than just a teacher—he was an institution. For those unfamiliar, Mr. Smoak taught us more than math or economics; he taught us life. If you were ever caught with your shirt untucked, he’d make you fix it immediately. If you cheated on an exam, you’d endure his relentless and infamous rebuke: “Cheater boy” or “cheater girl.” His presence demanded respect and accountability. But perhaps his greatest legacy was his tireless effort to teach financial literacy to a bunch of teenagers who, quite frankly, didn’t know how important it was—or how rare it was to receive such an education.
I can still remember sitting in his classroom as he explained concepts like stocks and bonds, double taxation, and the rule of thumb that housing should never cost more than 20% of your income. These lessons, taught at a high school level, became cornerstones of how I approached money for the rest of my life. He wasn’t just preparing us for a test; he was preparing us for life. And for me, he succeeded.
My parents didn’t teach me about money, and none of my first jobs did either. I worked at my dad’s Beetle Shop, did government inventory at the Naval Weapons Station, helped an insurance company build a golf course, and later worked at Liberty National Bank. Yet, none of those jobs taught me how to manage money. Even at the bank, where finance was the business, there was no one telling me how to save or budget. It wasn’t until I started my career at IBM in 1984 that financial literacy came into focus again. IBM assigned us financial advisors—professionals from Edward Jones—to help manage our money because we were earning salaries that required careful planning. But by then, I already knew the fundamentals, thanks to Mr. Smoak.
As I reflect on those lessons now in 2025, I see how timeless and vital they remain. Yet, I also recognize how much more is possible as we move towards 2030. Financial literacy, once the domain of rare educators like Mr. Smoak or expensive advisors, is on the verge of being democratized. With the advent of AI, every child could potentially have their own “Mr. Smoak”—a personal, intelligent companion capable of teaching nuanced financial lessons from a young age.
Imagine this: an eight-year-old at Target, holding $10 given by their grandmother, turns to their AI companion and asks, “What should I do with this?” The AI doesn’t lecture them about compound interest or stock portfolios—it simply guides them through the decision, offering age-appropriate advice that builds a foundation for future financial literacy. By the time that child becomes an adult, they’ll have an intuitive understanding of money that many of us didn’t acquire until much later in life—if at all.
As a techno-optimist, I believe this is not just possible but inevitable. By 2030, we’ll see a world where financial literacy is embedded into everyday life. AI companions will serve as personal financial advisors for everyone, regardless of income or age. They’ll help us navigate a consumer-driven economy, encouraging smarter decisions about housing costs, transportation budgets, and savings plans. They’ll teach children how to think critically about money, not just spend it impulsively.
In a world like this, everyone will have their own “Mr. Smoak,” and financial literacy won’t depend on a chance encounter with a great teacher. It will be universal, accessible, and built into the fabric of society. And if Mr. Smoak were here to see it, I think he’d be proud. But he’d still make you tuck in your shirt.