Maya Hartwell

Why WealthSprout Exists

Maya spent eleven years teaching math in a public middle school. She watched students master algebra, geometry, and statistics — and graduate without knowing how a credit card worked, why a Roth IRA mattered, or what a paycheck deduction meant.

She paid off $31,000 in debt at 35 and opened her first retirement account at 37. None of it was taught to her. She figured it out the hard way — from podcasts, late-night spreadsheets, and a few expensive mistakes that didn't have to happen.

When her oldest daughter started asking questions about money, Maya went looking for a resource that felt right for a real family. Not babyish. Not a dry textbook. Not a YouTube rabbit hole. She couldn't find one.

So she built WealthSprout — the financial education she wished had existed when she was eight. And sixteen. And thirty.

About Maya's Work

Every article, workbook, and resource on WealthSprout is researched and written by Maya. She brings a classroom teacher's eye for explaining complex topics clearly, and a parent's instinct for what kids actually need to hear — not just what's technically accurate.

Maya's writing draws on her classroom experience, her own financial journey, and her ongoing research into child development, financial psychology, and parenting. She believes financial literacy is one of the highest-leverage things a parent can give a child — and that it should be honest, age-appropriate, and actually enjoyable to learn.

Before founding WealthSprout in 2025, Maya contributed personal finance content to several parenting publications and ran financial literacy workshops at her local community center. She holds a B.S. in Mathematics Education and a certificate in Personal Financial Planning.

Editorial Standards

WealthSprout content is held to a high standard. Here's what that means in practice:

• Every article is fact-checked against primary sources — IRS publications, FDIC guidelines, product documentation, and peer-reviewed research.
• Affiliate relationships are disclosed clearly. When WealthSprout recommends a product that earns a commission, it's labeled. We only recommend products Maya would genuinely use for her own kids.
• Nothing on this site is financial advice. WealthSprout is an educational resource. Families should consult a qualified financial professional for personalized guidance.
• Content is reviewed and updated regularly — especially interest rates, product details, and regulatory information, which change frequently.
• We write for real families, not financial professionals. Our goal is clarity, not comprehensiveness. If a concept would confuse a curious ten-year-old, we explain it differently.

WealthSprout Programs

Every program is designed for parents and children to work through together — not as homework, but as shared discovery.