A survey of personal investors by The Share Centre has revealed that almost 80% had no exposure to financial education when they were at school.
Instead, the majority claim they learnt about the subject through their peers, with just 18% saying they were taught about finance as part of other subjects like maths and economics.
However, a whopping 90% said they think financial education should be compulsory, with almost half saying they wish they had learnt about pensions prior to leaving school.
It was also found that 50% would have liked to have been taught about the mechanisms of the stock market, while 38% wished they'd learnt more about tax and mortgages.
"With the plethora of relatively complex financial decisions required in life, it is clear that there is a need for greater financial education within the school environment," The Share Centre, chief executive, Richard Stone, said.
"With school leavers likely to end their higher education with large debts, housing now less affordable, and the savings ratio at an all-time low of 1.7%, perhaps there should even be a financial education GCSE everyone should take."
This comes after research by Capita Employee Benefits revealed 76% of employees in the UK believe improved financial education would help them cope with life issues like retirement planning.
It was also found that they think being taught about finance at work could help them to live within a budget, and enable them to better manage and pay off existing debts.
This could have both health and economic benefits, with a third of employees saying they have lost sleep as a result of financial worries, which is thought to be having a negative impact on productivity.
"The case for financial education is compelling," Capita Employee Benefits research and engagement manager, Gareth Davies, said.
"A workforce that is more financially aware and educated, with less stress, can only be a good thing for an organisation."