NGPF Speaker Series: Join us for a candid and inspiring conversation with Alaina Trivax, middle school teacher, personal finance writer, and author of Follow the Money: A Fun Financial Literacy Game for Kids (Penguin Random House, August 4). Alaina's own money journey — from taking out private student loans as a first-generation college student with no credit history, to managing two households on a teacher's salary while her husband completed medical training — taught her that financial confidence isn't something you're born with; it's something you learn. We'll discuss how those hard-won lessons shaped her book, which combines money fundamentals with an interactive game where kids ages 8–12 make their own choices to earn, save, and spend. Alaina will share why the book is designed especially for parents who don't feel confident teaching money themselves, how real-life scenarios like budgeting for a party or investing in stocks make abstract concepts stick, and practical ways families can start money conversations today. You'll walk away believing what Alaina knows firsthand: everyone can learn to manage money.