What a Video Game Can Teach Kids About Money

In this episode of 'Get Ready: Before Life Happens,' host Tony Stewart welcomes Mac Gardner, CFP and co-founder of The Four Money Bears in Berryville, to discuss the transformative power of gamified financial education for children. Gardner shares the origin story of the Four Money Bears, a children's book that introduced young kids to the four core money behaviors—spending, saving, investing, and giving—through relatable bear characters. Building on its success, Gardner and partner Ryan Gallini launched Berryville, a digital, gamified platform where kids run a berry stand, learn financial concepts in context, and develop real-world money skills through play. The episode emphasizes that financial literacy must start early, be engaging, and be implemented through interactive experiences rather than passive learning. Gardner argues that the current gap in financial education lies not in availability of resources, but in their implementation and retention, and that platforms like Berryville bridge the divide between financial technology and financial education by making learning fun, adaptive, and accessible to all, especially underserved communities. The conversation also highlights the importance of entrepreneurship as a foundational skill and the need for lifelong learning about money.