This Women's History Month, the Arvest Women of Work (WOW), one of our eight Associate Impact Groups, embarked on a mission to directly influence the next generation of financial decision-makers by partnering with Girl Scout Troop 1517 of the Girl Scouts of Western Oklahoma Region, headquartered in Oklahoma City. This initiative was sparked by conversations on what it truly means to recognize the influence and empowerment women have in making financial decisions, including the importance of building strong foundations at an early age. The vision was made possible through the already existing Arvest EmpowerED financial literacy program, which is open to anyone, not just Arvest customers, and is also available in Spanish.
Investable assets are projected to rise for women, with a proven trend reflected in US Assets Under Management (AUM) numbers: $10 trillion in 2018, $18 trillion in 2023, and a projection of $34 trillion by 2030. Note that, even with these staggering numbers, women's financial reach is likely greater and underreported. The good news is that women are leveraging the financial power they hold and building confidence through a variety of professional networks, community groups, and even increasing informal conversations among friends and family.
The connection we made with Girl Scout Troop 1517 was mutually impactful and beneficial. From planning to scheduling, the answer from the troop leaders was a resounding, "yes!" They recognized that financial literacy is an important topic that aligns with their mission of helping girls grow greater confidence to build a better world. The group of seven Girl Scouts, ranging from 3rd to 5th grade, was enthusiastic about the conversation and activities on the topic. Together, they learned the difference between needs and wants, opportunity cost, and trade-offs. The conversations were engaging, and the closing session on setting short- and long-term goals gave everyone plenty to discuss.
Of course, no one left empty-handed! The girls put their craft skills to work by decorating personalized banks, and our Arvest volunteers had the opportunity to purchase Girl Scout cookies directly from the troop. It was a great way for the girls to demonstrate their entrepreneurial skills. Now, can you guess how many boxes were sold?
We plan to continue our partnership with local Girl Scout troops to teach financial literacy using our EmpowerED resources, believing that community growth happens at all ages and levels. Let's continue identifying ways to celebrate and empower all women this Women's History Month and beyond.
